Torches leave the Brothers’ Cemetery at 4:40 PM. Lāčplēsis Day in Riga runs through the centre tonight: candles, a procession and a free concert at Uzvaras parks.
On Wednesday, 11 November, Riga marks the day set aside for Latvia’s freedom fighters, following the city’s programme from the Brothers’ Cemetery through Freedom Square to the 11. novembra krastmala.
Key facts
- 4:00 PM: remembrance candles at the Riga Brothers’ Cemetery
- 4:40 PM: torchlight procession from the cemetery to Freedom Square; fighters are honoured at the Freedom Monument at 6:00 PM, and the walk continues to the embankment at 6:30 PM
- 7:00 PM: a fire raft is launched on the Daugava at Akmens Bridge; at 7:30 PM the men’s group Vilki leads singing at the Riga Castle wall
- Roads: the 11. novembra krastmala closes to cars from 5:00 PM to midnight, between Vanšu Bridge and Akmens Bridge
- Concert: free entry on Bāriņu iela by Uzvaras parks — JUUK at 7:00 PM, The Sound Poets at 8:00 PM, then Rīga, mūžības skartā at 9:00 PM
Where does the torchlight procession go?
Riga Council says the walk follows Varoņu iela, Gaujas iela, Miera iela and Brīvības iela, then Brīvības bulvāris, Freedom Square and Kaļķu iela. Traffic may be held or closed along that route while the procession passes.
People traditionally leave candles at the Riga Castle wall. The council and State Real Estate (VNĪ) ask you to use glass holders and the steel screen and sand trays there, designed by architect Pēteris Blūms, so wax and plastic do not scar the stone. At the Brothers’ Cemetery, put candles on the trays provided, not on the grave slabs.
What’s closed, and where’s the concert?
From 5:00 PM to midnight, the embankment is shut to cars between Vanšu Bridge and Akmens Bridge. While it is closed, two-way traffic will run on Pils iela from Poļu gāte to Doma laukums, and across Doma laukums from Pils iela to Jēkaba iela, by Riga Cathedral. Bāriņu iela is already closed, and stays that way until noon on Thursday, 12 November.
The council says cars left in the no-parking zones may be moved. For bus changes, follow Rīgas satiksme; the wider holiday shutdown list is in our November road closures guide.
If you want music after the procession, the free concert is on Bāriņu iela by Uzvaras parks.
From 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM the War Museum has military equipment on show and a memorial fire.
Bring a glass-held candle, leave the car, see you on the embankment.
Photo: Candles at the Riga Castle wall on Lāčplēsis Day, 11 November 2010, Saeima / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
