What's on in Riga, Latvia through the year

Quiet — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Christmas market on Dome Square (28 Nov – 7 Jan (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Peak crowds — Jurmala beach season, Jani and Ligo

• Festival

  Riga Opera Festival

  5–25 Jun · usuallyMajor festivalBook early

  The national opera runs its season's best productions back to back for a fortnight in June, in a house that is small enough that every seat is a good one. Tickets go early. Source ↗

• Season

  Jurmala beach season

  20 Jun – 25 Aug · usuallySea warm enoughCrowded

  The Baltic is swimmable for about two months and Jurmala is half an hour by train, so the whole city goes on a hot weekend. The pine woods behind the dunes are the better half of it.

• Holiday

  Jani and Ligo

  21–25 Jun · usuallySchool holidaysClosures

  The city empties for the countryside on 23 June: bonfires until dawn, oak wreaths, caraway cheese and beer. Shops shut for two days and Riga is as quiet as it ever gets. Source ↗

Busy — Jurmala beach season, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Jurmala beach season (20 Jun – 25 Aug (usually))

Peak crowds — Jurmala beach season, Riga City Festival

• Festival

  Riga City Festival

  14–24 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  A free weekend of stages, markets and river events across the old town and both banks in the second half of August. It is the largest thing the city does that is not about Christmas. Source ↗

Still on: Jurmala beach season (20 Jun – 25 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — Staro Riga light festival, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Staro Riga light festival

  15–19 Nov · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Light installations on the old town and the embankment over the independence day holiday on 18 November, when it is dark by four and the whole country is out walking. Source ↗

• Festival

  Christmas market on Dome Square

  28 Nov – 7 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New Year

  Huts around the cathedral from the end of November into early January, with a second market at the Livu Square. Riga claims the first decorated Christmas tree and will tell you so. Source ↗

Quiet — school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas market on Dome Square (28 Nov – 7 Jan (usually))