JĀŅU DIENA TURAIDĀ

MIDSUMMER DAY AT TURAIDA: A FULL-DAY SOLSTICE CELEBRATION IN LATVIA ON 21 JUNE

On 21 June, Latvia will celebrate the summer solstice with an all-day Midsummer festival at the Turaida Museum Reserve, a major cultural heritage site near Sigulda. Running from 4:30 a.m. until midnight, the event invites visitors from across the Baltic region to experience Latvia’s most important traditional celebration through rituals, music, crafts, and shared festivities.

Midsummer, known in Latvia as Jāņi, marks the longest day of the year and has deep roots in pre-Christian traditions connected to nature, fertility, and the sun. At Turaida, the celebration will begin at sunrise with a Greeting of the Sun and the lighting of a ritual fire, led by the folklore groups Delve and Saules meitas. This symbolic ceremony marks the turning point of the solstice and the height of summer.

Throughout the day, visitors can explore the historic landscape of the Turaida Museum Reserve, with all exhibitions open and special guided tours available. From 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the programme includes a Midsummer inspiration trail featuring workshops in traditional singing, music-making, dance, wreath-making, and crafts. Educational nature walks led by ethnographer Indra Čekstere will introduce participants to meadow plants and their role in solstice traditions.

Music is central to the celebration. Renowned Latvian kokle ethnomusician and composer Laima Jansone will perform in the morning, while instrument maker and musician Pēteris Jansons will lead workshops on kokle music and demonstrate how traditional Midsummer bonfires are prepared. (The kokle is a traditional Latvian string instrument related to the Finnish kantele.) Folklore groups from different regions of Latvia will perform throughout the day, and a Midsummer market will offer local food and handcrafted products.

The evening programme focuses on communal celebration, with traditional singing, sing-alongs, call-and-response songs, and shared rituals. The festival will conclude with a sunset fire ceremony and a concert by Latvia’s internationally recognised folk-rock group IĻĢI, followed by traditional dancing with the participation of the Riga Dance Club..

More information: www.turaida-muzejs.lv

Contact: info@tmr.gov.lv | +371 26542116