Meteņi in Old Town

On 21 February, from 12:00 to 18:00, a large-scale Meteņi (Shrovetide) celebration will take place at Town Hall Square, inviting everyone to experience Latvian seasonal traditions through masks, rituals, music and shared festivities. The event offers a chance to see, feel, taste and hear how lively and diverse Meteņi traditions are, and how they come together with the modern urban environment.

Festival program

On 21 February, Riga Old Town invites visitors to celebrate Meteņi, one of Latvia’s most joyful traditional seasonal festivals, marking the farewell to winter and the welcoming of spring.

The celebration will begin at Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) with the lighting of a bonfire and a lively masked parade through the streets of Old Town. Visitors are encouraged to come wearing a mask or create one on site – traditional or contemporary.

Throughout the day, Town Hall Square will host traditional masked performances, strength competitions, creative workshops, a Shrovetide market, sled rides, food stalls and festive activities for all ages. The stage programme includes performances by popular Latvian music groups JUUK and Tautumeitas, followed by a concert by hip-hop artist Fiņķis in the evening.

New this year: from 12:00 to 15:00, Līvu Square (Līvu laukums) will transform into a Latgalian Farmstead, offering a unique experience of Aizgavēnis, the Latgalian version of Meteņi, with folk dances, games and singing.

Programme:

12:00 Opening of the celebration, bonfire lighting, masked parade
Route: Town Hall Square – Kaļķu iela – Skārņu iela – Audēju iela – Vaļņu iela – Kaļķu iela – Livs Square – Town Hall Square

13:00 Masked performance “Meteņi Gypsies”, boasting competitions
13:50 Concert by JUUK
14:30 Strength competition
15:00 Concert by Tautumeitas
15:40 Masked performance “Ķekatas”, mask competition awards
16:10 Masked performance “Budēļi”, folk dances
17:00 Fire ritual and concert by Fiņķis
18:00 End of the celebration

12:00–15:00 | Līvu Square
Latgalian Farmstead – Aizgavēnis
Folk dances, games and singing with Latgalian folklore groups