From December 17 Riga Art Space opens a large scale exhibition of Latvian contemporary art. Outstanding artists and their works which are imposing and challenging will be presented under the title „Is It That He Does Not Seek The Truth, But Does Want To Influence?” The exhibition is also the first attempt in Latvia to show together art, ideas and important channels how real art life operates. Curator of the exhibition is Head of the Exhibitions of Riga Art Space Inga Steimane.

Latvian Tourism Development Agency (LTDA) has issued a new tourism map, "Riga and its Surroundings", to present the most interesting places in Riga to foreign tourists and encourage them to explore Riga and beyond.

A small motorised train, a real Latvian sauna, preparations for setting a new Guinness world record - these are but a few novelties that Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum offers visitors in the summer season of 2011.

Riga Tourism Information Centre has reopened in the renovated Schwab House at Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) to provide the city's tourist information to Riga guests.

In the second half of May 2011, a group of activists from the Russian city of Kirov will embark on a maxi-scooter tour titled "Jānis Rainis' Way Home". The journey will take 14 days, featuring visits to the Russian cities of Slobodsk, Yaroslavl, Pskov, as well as Latvia's Jelgava, Jurmala and Riga.

On 1 March 2011, a new Riga Tourist Information Centre (Riga TIC) has been opened at 16 Kaļķu Street in Old Town Riga.

Just go up, up regardless of the chilly weather, see the snowy rooftops of Old Town and even further... Come to Līvu Square and try the Ferris Wheel until January 10. Now adults and children have a chance to see Old Town from high above both at bright daylight and the night full of beaming lights.

A skating rink on top of Galleria Riga Shopping Mall is open until the end of March. Come, reach out to the stars and enjoy the unique panorama of Riga from the 7th floor, as well as winter delight at the 200-square-metre skating rink. Open every day from 10 am to 10 pm. Price: Ls 2 an hour.

Riga, capital of Latvia, is a fast changing city. In summer, you can enjoy the sun and heat, in autumn - red leaves, in spring - blossoms all around. In winter, Riga transforms into a true winter wonderland.

The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is a great leisure place for families throughout the year as here you can have a look at the many classic buildings, inhale the fresh pine-tree air, and learn about Latvian history.

Snowy Riga has all set for New Year's celebrations - come to see in the New Year in the capital of Latvia! Concerts, fairs, winter joy and a splendid fireworks display on 31 December 2010 in Riga.

Until January 15, paintings, sculptures, dimensional objects, and drawings on a Christmas tree theme, created by fourteen Latvian contemporary artists, are publicly accessible in the entrance hall of the Riga City Council. The exhibition is presented by the Māksla XO Art Gallery at the initiative of the Riga Tourism Development Bureau (RTDB). The curator - Ilze Žeivate, head of the Māksla XO Gallery; the architect - painter Andris Vītoliņš.

Until January 8, Bergs Bazaar will feature Ziemupe (Winter River) Santa Claus' office (right next to the Christmas tree) where kids and their parents can participate in various workshops and find the best presents.

Riga is regarded as the birthplace of the Christmas tree; local people used to decorate it already many centuries ago. Today, what may be the oldest Christmas tree ornament, is on display at the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation. The now restored ornament (17th - 18th century) was found during archeological excavations in Old Town Riga in 2003.

You can learn more about Riga by following Christmas trees - twenty five of them are set up all over the city; some feature classical decorations, some are artistic experiments. Follow the trail from any spot in Riga and catch Christmas joy in the birthplace of the Christmas tree!

Until January 15, Wohrmann Garden Park has turned into a unique park of international Christmas trees. 25 Christmas trees will be decorated with symbols from different countries. This is a project by students from the Latvian Academy of Art in collaboration with foreign embassies and the Riga Tourism Development Bureau. Throughout winter, string lights will illuminate small flags - come and find your tree!

Riga is full of surprises - watch the movie "10 Special things about Riga, Capital of the North" and learn 10 things you should know about the city. Know the most beautiful sights, learn about local sweets and the most interesting places to visit in Riga, as well as how to ask for one more beer!

On the first Advent Sunday (November 28) hundreds of people came together in Old Town Riga to see lighting of Riga's main Christmas trees.

This season, Riga's Dome Square and Town Hall Square will feature gorgeous 30-year-old Christmas Trees chosen by Mayor of Riga Nils Ušakovs at Tīreļi Forestry. The symbol of the Riga Tourism Development Bureau - the very first Christmas Tree, also took part in the event.

From November 18 to March 1, Riga will have a special décor with its “beaming” cafes. In the darkest time of the year, Rigans and visitors can follow a path of elegant restaurants, music pubs and modern cafes. Follow the light and learn more about cafes in Riga!

From November 18 to 21, Riga will hold the third festival of light - "Staro Rīga" (Beaming Riga), along with the celebration of Latvia's Independence Day on November 18. The festival is a several-day-long exhibition of outdoor installations, which are used to transform Riga's panorama using modern light and video technologies. The subject of the 2010 festival is "Optical Illusions", the motto - "Beaming Riga - Beaming You".

On September 21, the unique Ghetto Museum was opened in Riga at 14a Maskavas Street. The museum is located in the area bordering the former ghetto. Besides, Riga is among the few European cities where former Nazi camp areas have remained standing, unscathed by architectural change. This neighbourhood still consists of small wooden houses with wood-carved shutters, cobblestone streets and rusty outdoor sinks in courtyards. Russian merchants and poor Jewish families once lived here. This is the second Ghetto Museum in post-Soviet territory; the first one was opened in Warsaw, Poland.

A greyish glass ball with a metal hook, which Rigans used to decorate Christmas trees with 250 years ago, was found during archeological excavations in Old Town Riga. This object is regarded as the oldest known Christmas decoration in Riga.

The Music and Art Festival “Bildes”, which is one of the most interesting art festivals in Latvia, will celebrate its 25th anniversary in Riga in early October. The festival will feature both new and well-known musicians, who will also create works of art.

The Museum for the History of Medicine presents an exhibition dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the world-famous surgeon Nikolay Pirogov.

Riga will host one of the most splendid events for autumn and winter evenings – the festival of light "Staro Rīga" (Riga Shines) - from November 18 to 21.

The union of cycling friends "Apokalipses jātnieki" (Riders of the Apocalypse) has set up the club "Velozaurs" as a special place for all those who love cycling.

Latvian literary works are regularly published in many countries, and in the languages of both hundreds of millions or just hundreds of thousands of people.

Eight unique architectural, cultural and historical objects in Riga and eight in the city’s surroundings have been put on view for this year’s European Heritage Days.

Already for several years, beavers have "occupied" the centre of Riga along the Riga Canal. They’ve become an exotic peculiarity, creating an interesting countryside atmosphere mid-city. When walking through the city centre, you should pay special attention to the trees next to the canal, as many of them have suffered from beavers. Riga has about 120 of these animals in the centre and its outskirts - Ķīšezers, Sarkandaugava.

The new academic year in Latvian universities will be opened by performances by forty artists from seven countries on eight stages at Arēna Rīga and its surroundings. Rigans and visitors to the city are invited to join students in celebrating the beginning of the study year.

From August 28 to October 24, the Latvian National Museum of Art is presenting a retrospective exhibition "Nonsense Tales" dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Latvian painter Auseklis Baušķenieks.

On September 4 and 5, Zaķusala in the very heart of Riga will be the venue for fights between the Brothers of the Sword and a place where the medieval atmosphere will come back to life – its songs, ancient handicrafts and lifestyle.

This year the celebration of Riga's 809th anniversary and Riga Harbour's 810th anniversary was of larger scale than usual. The festival was attended by more than 200,000 people, among them visitors from Sweden, Germany, Norway, Finland, Russia, Italy, Spain, Estonia, Lithuania, United States, Portugal, the Netherlands and other countries – more than in previous years.

The resort city Jūrmala is the only place in Latvia where people have an opportunity to more learn about underwater research and the objects found under water.

As the new study year is approaching, the Bank of Latvia has issued the one-lat coin "Latvian ABC", which will be a great addition to coin collections.

The world-famous French star Mireille Mathieu will give a concert in Riga on November 25. The event will take place at Arēna Rīga (21 Skanstes Street).

On Friday, August 27, Žanis' name day, the ridgepole celebrations of the memorial to Žanis Lipke will take place at 8 Mazā Balasta Dambis in Ķīpsala.

The seventh Origo Folk Festival will be held from September 15-17 of this year, and this year the emphasis will be on Tibet and Moldova. Each day there will be folk dance and singing groups from different countries. Between performances, a DJ will play music in the area outside the Origo shopping centre, offering visitors a chance to hear the power of ethnographic music from countries near and far.

For the second year in a row, with the beginning of the new study year, September has been declared as Youth Month in Riga. A special programme of performances by young Rigans and other activities will be offered for young people and the general pubic throughout September.

Riga Castle stands on the bank of the Daugava proud and stately, witness to many attempts by Rigans and various other forces to take and control it. The castle has been destroyed, reconstructed and restored many times, and now it serves as the office for the president of Latvia.

The Latvian National Opera (3 Aspazijas Boulevard) is holding the performance BOYAKODAH by the Georges Momboye dance group from France on October 4 at 7pm. This will be their only show in the Baltic States.

On August 21, Riga will be the venue for the year’s biggest parade of vintage and retro vehicles “Riga Retro” as part of the Riga Festival. This is already the fifth time the event has taken place.

The Jewish Cultural Festival organised by the “Shamir” parish is to take place in Riga and Latvian regions for the second time, this year celebrating the new year of 5771 (according to the Jewish calendar).

Greek scientist Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), often regarded as the founder of European science, will pay a visit to Dome Square at the very heart of Old Town on Sunday, September 5.

The Association of Baltic Germans in Germany (Deutsch-Baltische Gesellschaft e.V.) presents the “Germans and the Baltic” exhibition, on display in the entrance hall of Riga Town Hall until September 3.

The workers of Latvian travel agencies and shops are among the world's happiest when new clients visit their premises.

Now Riga's old newspapers in Russian and German are available on the internet. The National Library of Latvia now presents the opportunity to read newspapers from the 20th and even the 19th century online.

The independent guide “Another Travel Guide Riga” is now available not only in English, but also in Russian. The guide presents Riga from a different angle from the usual travel guides.

The first Zaļās (Green) Street Festival will take place on August 21 as part of the Riga City Festival with a view to promoting eco-friendly thinking. The event will be arranged along the entire street providing an opportunity to observe and participate in eco-friendly lifestyle related activities.