On May 4 at 12:00, in the spirit of the Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia, the Ziemupe Breakfast and the Opening of the Song Chest will take place in the centre of Ziemupe.
During the breakfast, the Song Chest created as part of the project “Spinning Songs into a Ball of Yarn” will be introduced, inviting local residents and those connected to Ziemupe to co-create the Ziemupe Festival, which will take place this year on August 9.
Participants will meet the artist of the Song Chest, Vika Štrauha, to begin the chest’s journey together. Visitors will also have the opportunity to join a Ziemupe sketching workshop and draw or outline their own sense of Ziemupe.
At the same time, video stories from the Ziemupe 600 anniversary celebrations held on August 6, 2022, will be shown—an event where, together with director Mārtiņš Eihe, the Story Places were created and the Paving Congress took place. Ziemupe is a small seaside village, where doing and creating together are essential to its existence. With the Ziemupe 600 celebration, the people of Ziemupe demonstrated their ability to create grand events, and this year they are taking on a new challenge.
“Let’s celebrate the Restoration of Independence Day together! With the thought that everything begins with us—our independence, our freedom, our celebrations. If we want this day to be beautiful—let’s come dressed in traditional attire, with musical instruments, songs, or poetry. If independence matters to us—let’s lay white tablecloths of honour. If we long for a sense of community—let’s bring food to share. If we want the Ziemupe gathering in August—let’s come and talk. Only through everyone’s participation can we shape our own celebration,” say the event organisers from the association Ziemupīte.
Everyone is welcome to join the breakfast—Ziemupe locals, those connected to Ziemupe, or anyone who wishes to be part of the Ziemupe Festival.
The project “Spinning Songs into a Ball of Yarn” is implemented within the Liepāja 2027 programme “Being Neighbours”, with funding provided by the Ministry of Culture, the Initium Foundation, and co-funding from the British Council Latvia’s People to People programme.
Daina Vanaga and Daiga Kadeģe
Association Ziemupīte
E-mail: ziemupiite@inbox.lv
On Friday, May 2, from 13:00 to 17:00, Aizpute’s historical centre on Jāņa Street will come alive with the very first Old Town Festival. This new tradition embraces sustainable living and invites both local residents and visitors from nearby areas to take part in a vibrant and engaging celebration.
