Eleven New Cultural Tourism Projects Join the Liepāja 2027 Programme “Midsummer on the Farm”

The co-funding competition “Midsummer on the Farm”, organised by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, has concluded. A total of 14 project applications were received from Liepāja, Kuldīga Municipality and South Kurzeme Municipality. Following the evaluation process, 11 projects were selected for support. The total funding available through the competition amounts to EUR 80,000.

“The project applications demonstrate that farmstead owners and local communities have both the motivation and the ideas needed to preserve Midsummer traditions and carry them forward in a contemporary way. The supported projects will offer an opportunity to experience these celebrations in the environment where they have historically developed – rural farmsteads – bringing together traditions, people and local stories in a vibrant shared experience,” says Baiba Bartkeviča, Artistic Director of Liepāja 2027.

The applications were evaluated according to their quality and relevance to Latvian Midsummer and summer solstice traditions, accessibility, the farmstead’s capacity to welcome visitors, the team’s readiness to implement the project, the justification of the budget and the project’s contribution to the development of cultural tourism. Applicants who participated in the “Midsummer on the Farm” masterclass series in spring 2026 received additional points.

The supported projects are:

• Midsummer at Ratnieki Farmstead, Otaņķi Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – visitors will prepare for the celebrations together, weave flower crowns, make torches, take part in traditional games and dances, and experience a sunset ritual, the lighting of the Midsummer fire and the traditional pūdele fire. The project has been awarded EUR 7,805.
• Midsummer in Pape’s Ķoniņi Village at Vītolnieki, Pape, Rucava Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – Rucava’s Midsummer traditions will be experienced through decorating the farmstead, weaving flower crowns, singing, games and dances, followed by seeing off the sun by the sea and continuing the celebrations around the bonfire. The project has been awarded EUR 8,000.
• Grand Midsummer at Dižozoli, Priekule Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – the two-day celebration will include workshops in making Midsummer cheese, flower crowns, torches and floating fire sculptures, as well as decorating the farmstead, dancing, singing, lighting the traditional pūdele fire and launching the fire sculptures onto the pond. The project has been awarded EUR 6,140.
• Midsummer Day at Āžkalni, Kazdanga Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – at the farmstead surrounded by forest, visitors will take part in cheese-making, flower-crown weaving, clay and bow-making workshops, traditional games and dances, as well as preparations for the Midsummer fire and a torchlight procession. The project has been awarded EUR 7,999.
• Midsummer at Mežlauki Farmstead, Tadaiķi Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – the free event will offer opportunities to discover traditional Midsummer plants, weave flower crowns, make torches, watch a cheese-making demonstration and participate in games, songs, dances and a Midsummer fire ritual. The project has been awarded EUR 5,000.
• Midsummer on the Farm “9 GARDENS” / Nordic Solstice in Kazdanga, “Māras dārza spēks un pirtiņa”, Kazdanga, South Kurzeme Municipality – the participatory celebration will explore plants and Latvian sauna traditions, involve visitors in preparing a festive meal and creating the environmental artwork “9 GARDENS SUN”, and conclude with a traditional singing procession and the welcoming of the sunrise. The project has been awarded EUR 8,000.
• Midsummer at OTAS Farmstead, Kurmāle Parish, Kuldīga Municipality – in this contemporary solstice experience, visitors will weave flower crowns, make cheese and festive decorations, play music and dance, while the culmination of the evening will feature a fire ritual, a fire wheel and the lighting of the traditional pūdele fire. The project has been awarded EUR 7,700.
• Solstice at Maztāši, Medze Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – local amateur arts groups, folklore performers and craftspeople will bring Latvian Midsummer traditions to life and promote them in an authentic rural setting. The project has been awarded EUR 7,950.
• Midsummer at Ziemeļi Farmstead, Medze Parish, South Kurzeme Municipality – the celebration for families and the wider public will include flower-crown and torch-making, games, dances and a folklore programme, concluding with a shared gathering around the bonfire. The project has been awarded EUR 7,470.
• Solstice (un)rest in Jaunliepāja, Anna Market Square – the historical market square will host communal decorating activities, a Kurzeme folklore programme, cheese-making and tasting workshops, flower-crown weaving and an introduction to Latvian symbols through henna art. The project has been awarded EUR 7,345.
• Solstice at the Golts Farmstead, Golta Creative House courtyard, Liepāja – in this Vecliepāja courtyard, visitors will decorate the farmstead, weave flower crowns, discover traditional Midsummer plants, sing, play games and dance, as well as take part in a creative workshop using recycled paper. The project has been awarded EUR 1,100.

The supported events will take place at farmsteads from 21 to 23 June 2027.
“Midsummer on the Farm” is part of the Liepāja 2027 project cluster “Nordic Solstice”, which focuses on Latvian Midsummer and summer solstice traditions, their preservation and contemporary continuation, while also building connections between Baltic and Nordic cultures. The supported events will invite visitors to experience the summer solstice in authentic settings and discover local traditions, communities and the stories of rural farmsteads.

The project “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” is implemented by the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027”, the Liepāja City Municipality, and official partners – the South Kurzeme Municipality, the Kuldīga Municipality and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. The Liepāja 2027 programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS CleanR Grupa, Jsc; its main partner in air mobility and international communication, AS Air Baltic Corporation, Jsc; its promoting financial literacy and business growth partner AS SEB banka, Jsc; its land mobility partner, SIA Lux Express Latvia, Ltd.; its legal partner, SIA Sorainen ZAB, Ltd; its water transport mobility and international communication partner, SIA Stena Line, Ltd. and car rental partner SIXT. Media partners: VSIA Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs, Ltd., SIA Žurnāls Santa, Ltd., SIA TVNET GRUPA, Ltd. and AS Kurzemes Radio, Jsc.

Released by:

Ilze Elbere
Liepāja 2027 Foundation
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 25 951 515
E-mail: ilze.elbere@liepaja2027.lv