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!
PROGRAMME OF THE GARDEN FESTIVAL OF RUNDĀLE PALACE*
| Time | Location | Event |
| 11.30–12.00 | Staircase by the fountain | Medieval dance performances |
| 10.45–11.15 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Juggling” |
| 12.15–15.45 | Riga Circus performance “Clown Act” | |
| 13.00–14.00 | Staircase by the fountain | Welcome speech by Laura Lūse, Director of the Rundāle Palace Museum 18th-century dance performances |
| 14.00–14.30 | Lawn on the eastern side of the palace | “Horse Ballet” |
| 14.45–15.15 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Rubber Man” |
| 15.30–16.00 | Staircase by the fountain | 19th-century dance performances |
| 16.15–16.45 | Green Theatre | Riga Circus performance “Acrobats” |
| 17.00–18.30 | 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** |
| 10.00–17.00 | Lawn on the eastern side of the palace | Horseback rides and rides in horse-drawn carts** |
| 10.00–18.00 | 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** |
* The programme is subject to change
** Activities for an additional fee
Tickets for admission to the Garden Festival
| For adults | 10,00 |
| For seniors | 5,00 |
| For pupils | 1,00 |
| For family with 3 or more children | 10,00 |
On the day of the event, tickets will be available for purchase at several points of sale in the palace grounds.
To save your time and avoid lengthy queuing, please, make use of the possibility to purchase e-ticket!
Guests of the Festival will be allowed to re-enter the territory of the French garden, however it will be mandatory to obtain a stamp in the Information tent or at the exit from the garden which will confirm that a ticket has been purchased.
GPS: 56.414819 24.026048
From Rīga through Bauska
From Rīga – 67 km along the road A7 to Bauska, from Bauska to Pilsrundāle – 12 km along the road P103.
From Rīga through Jelgava
From Rīga – 47 km along the road A8 to Jelgava, from Jelgava to Pilsrundāle – 43 km along the road A8 to Eleja and from Eleja by road P103 to Pilsrundāle.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: bus services “Riga–Rundāle Palace”, “Riga–Bauska”, “Bauska–Rundāle–Svitene”, “Bauska–Jelgava” (via Eleja or Jaunsvirlauka), “Bauska–Dobele”, “Bauska–Bērstele”.
Public transport timetables can be found here.
- Before visiting the Garden Festival, please examine the programme of events.
- On the day of the festival, tickets will be available at several sales points in the palace grounds. Still, to save time and avoid queuing at the cashier’s office, we kindly invite you to buy the tickets in advance online: E-biļešu pirkums – Rundāles pils
- Please check the weather forecast! If there is a rain forecast, raincoats will come in handy (umbrellas are not advisable at public events as they may be a nuisance to others); if hot weather is forecast, drinking water and a headdress will be of use.
- The events will take place in the French garden and the palace grounds. We recommend choosing footwear that is appropriate for gravel paths and lawn.
- Free-of-charge drinking water is available in the Spring Bosquet of the French garden. We invite you to refill your empty bottle with drinking water as necessary.
- During the festival, portable toilets will be available in the garden and in the parking lot. Their location will be marked in the garden plan, and there will be corresponding signs in the garden.
- Smoking is prohibited in public spaces and at public events. Smoking will be allowed in designated smoking areas (please follow the directions).
- A medical doctor will be on duty during the festival and necessary medical aid will be provided (please follow the directions!).
- Catering will be ensured by providers of catering services and local catering companies. Visitors are welcome to eat their own sandwiches in the Picnic Area of the garden.
- Payment cards will be accepted at the cashier’s office of the Museum and individual catering sites. However, there will be a fair of artisan and home-made products in the garden, and the small vendors will appreciate cash.
- Festival guests will be allowed to re-enter the French garden during the event. However, they will have to obtain a stamp in the Information tent or at the entrance to the garden which will confirm that a ticket has been purchased.
- We encourage everyone to be tolerant and kind towards each other, including when queuing for snacks or other goodies.
28.03.2025