Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival

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The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world. It is a very important part of Latvian culture and social life all over the world. Being one of the Baltic song festivals, it also became a part of the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list in 2008. These festivals have been held since 1873, every five years, with the part, the Latvian Dance Festival added on in 1948. The XXVII Nationwide Latvian Song and XVII Dance Festival this year marks the 150th year of the Song Festival Tradition and will be held in Riga, Latvia from June 30th to July 9th, 2023. @FourWalls you can still make it, it is really spectacular, and then you can come back and tell me what you think of Riga and this festival. In short, 40,000 participants from 43 Latvian administrative regions, as well as other countries like the US where Latvians maintain and develop the Song and Dance Festival will arrive in Riga. For ten days there are over 60 events taking place like choir, dance, wind band, kokle (a Latvian music instrument), vocal ensemble, and amateur theater productions. Latvia has a population of 1.96 million people and can expect half a million visitors to this festival and I know crowding Riga to its limit but such a proud tradition. If you can’t zip over to Latvia this year, then next year you can join in the fun in Canada. Toronto, Canada has been chosen as the place for the North American Latvian Song and Dance Festival from July 4 – July 7, 2024. In the photo, you can see my mom in her traditional Latvian costume in which she married my dad. For those interested and wanting to know more please follow the link: