On 16 August from 14:00 to 20:00, the leafy paths of Karosta will once again become home for the traditional Lāčplēsis Garden Festival. This year’s theme, “Karosta Stories”, will honour the 400th anniversary of Liepāja and 135 years of Karosta, with a day dedicated to the tales and dreams of the neighbourhood.
“We want to show Karosta through the eyes of its children and young people, through the dreams of adults, and through the voices of grandparents who remember every corner of this place,” says festival organiser Baiba Vigule of the Baringtons K2 association. “This festival is a celebration of the stories that have shaped Karosta and an invitation to dream aloud about what it might become — perhaps even by its 150th birthday. Visitors will be able to record their own memories, imagine new futures, and together we’ll write the lyrics of a Karosta anthem.”
A well-established tradition of the festival is the “Karosta Person” award, celebrating individuals who have helped shape the community. Nominations are open until 3 August at ej.uz/karostasspeks2025, with public voting from 4–13 August at ej.uz/balsoKSC2025.
As always, the festival will open at 14:00 with the Liepāja Karosta Music School Orchestra setting the tone. They will be followed by Matīss Pavītols, a local singer-songwriter, and the trio “Draudzība” from Talsi, whose witty and festive arrangements bring well-known melodies to life.
At 18:00, the celebration of Karosta’s most recognizable person will reach its emotional high point with a concert by the Navy Orchestra, joined by soloists Agnese Jēkabsone and Viktors Ellers, and Liepāja Theatre actors, telling Karosta’s story from past to present in music and words. The evening will close with a joint performance of young and professional musicians on one stage.
From 14:00 to 18:00, the park will transform into a creative hub. Liepāja 2027 Foundation will welcome guests with the city’s now-popular swing bench and Anda Lāce’s interactive performance “Kur kāpurs rāpo” (Where the Caterpillar Crawls). At the Karosta story video studio, visitors can share their memories, while local authors, such as G. Rezevska, A. Puzarele, H. Kupjanska, I. Vlasova and Valentīns, will prompt attendees to uncover hidden legends, discover keywords, and get playful with letters thus creating new words.
The Karosta Music School will invite curious hands to try musical instruments, while creative workshops will offer decorations for visitors to capture memories at the community photo wall. For those seeking quieter corners, there will be a board game area and two deeply reflective photo exhibitions — “Karosta Mysteries” by 18 different photographers, coordinated by the Karosta Rescue Society, and “My Karosta Story”, created by the Karosta Children’s Day Centre in collaboration with the British Council Latvia. Also, at the Karosta Nature Service Point, as part of the “Future DiverCities” project, guests are welcome to explore the often overlooked natural beauty of Karosta.
At 16:00, guide Inita Ķirše will lead an excursion through the Lāčplēsis Garden surroundings, revealing its hidden layers, while children programme will continue at 16:15 with the Liepāja Travelling Puppet Theatre “Maska” play “Once Upon a Time in Micīšciems…”, a joyful tale of holiday preparations and seaside adventures.
And at 17:00, a festival favourite returns — on request of the public the foam party will bring seaside frolics to the heart of the park.
The festival’s closest neighbours will be joining in too — the 44th Infantry Battalion of the National Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service (VUGD), and a lively craft and local goods market, where traders can still register until 10 August at ej.uz/tirguskarosta2025.
Everyone is invited to help bring the festival to life – Karosta residents, organisations, and volunteers alike. Three community workshops will be held on 31 July, 7 August, and 15 August to co-create parts of the festival. Sign up at ej.uz/KKD2025.
The full programme is available at facebook.com/Lacplesadarzasvetki. Entry to the Lāčplēsis Garden Festival is free of charge.
The festival is supported by Liepāja 2027 Foundation, Liepāja Central Administration, Liepāja Culture Department, British Council Latvia, Liepāja SEZ, Latvian Navy, Latvian National Guard, State Fire and Rescue Service, Liepāja Karosta Music School, Family Support Centre “Miera Osta”, Project “Future DiverCities”, Karosta Rescue Society, Karosta Children’s Day Centre “Cerība bērniem”, and SIA “AG Simple”.
Financial support is provided by the State Culture Capital Foundation within the “Development Programme for Latvian Historical Lands” as part of the “Kurzeme Culture Programme 2025”, implemented by the Kurzeme Planning Region.
Please note: the festival will be photographed and filmed for publicity purposes.
Baiba Vigule
Association “Baringtons K2”
Phone: +371 29 918 081
Email: baiba.vigule@gmail.com
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