Rundāle Palace Museum invites to the annual Garden Festival
As usual, on 28 June this year, coinciding with the most beautiful rose blossom season, we will celebrate the traditional Garden Festival in the French garden of Rundāle Palace. This year, the festival will be dedicated to the theme of “Dance in the Garden”.
The festival programme will be centred around dance from the Middle Ages to the present day, with particular emphasis on the dances that were popular in the 18th century. Clowns and acrobats from Riga Circus will perform in the Green Theatre. Children will have the opportunity to participate in various creative workshops in the Playground Bosquet or to be part of reenactment of the 1812 headquarters of Daugavpils Fortress led by the Daugavpils Living History Society, where they will not only be able to see the uniforms of army officers of the time but also view 19th-century weapons and participate in historical games. At the end of the festival, the folk-rock band Iļģi and Riga Dance Club will invite the visitors to join in the dance.
Check out the festival programme and mark 28 June in your calendar for a visit to the festival!
PROGRAMMA*
| Time | Location | Event |
| 10.45 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Juggling” |
| 11.30 | Staircase by the fountain | Medieval dance performances |
| 12.15 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus balance performance |
| 13.00 | Staircase by the fountain | Welcome speech by Laura Lūse, Director of the Rundāle Palace Museum 18th-century dance performances |
| 14.00 | Lawn on the eastern side of the palace | “Horse Ballet” |
| 14.45 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Rubber Man” |
| 15.30 | Staircase by the fountain | 19th-century dance performances |
| 16.15 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Acrobats” |
| 17.00 | Staircase by the fountain | Closing concert with the band Iļģi |
| THROUGHOUT THE DAY | ||
| 10.00–16.00 | Staircase by the fountain | Performances of brass bands |
| Green Theatre | Master classes of Riga Circus – plate juggling, ball juggling, art of poi-spinning, making of large soap bubbles, balancing, etc. | |
| Central area of the garden | Merry-go-round | |
| 10.00–16.45 | French garden | Orienteering in the French garden |
| 11.30 13.00 15.30 17.00 |
Staircase by the fountain | Orienteering raffles |
| 10.00–16.30 | Playground Bosquet | Creative workshops: giant wooden games, workshop of graphic arts, educational and interactive activities for the whole family; Meeting with the participants of the campaign “Flower Roads”. Exploratory and entertaining activities |
| 10.00–17.00 | French garden | Pony rides** |
| Lawn on the eastern side of the palace | Horseback rides and rides in horse-drawn carts** | |
| Alley by the Playground Bosquet | Reenactment of the 1812 headquarters of Daugavpils Fortress led by the Daugavpils Living History Society. Opportunity to talk to generals and officers, to view 19th-century uniforms and weapons and play historical games | |
| 10.00–19.00 | Lawn on the eastern side of the palace | Visit to the house of exotic butterflies** |
| French garden | Market of artisans and domestic producers | |
* The programme is subject to change
** Activities for an additional fee