Invitation to Take Part in the Gaismasziņa Event

Sarkandaugava, Čiekurkalns and the Aldaris Beer Museum invite residents to the "Gaismasziņa" event in honour of Latvia's 97th birthday.

18 November in Sarkandaugava and Čiekurkalns

On 18 November from 18:00, residents are invited to jointly light up the central streets of the neighbourhoods with candles - Tilta iela and Čiekurkalna 2. līnija - creating a light promenade along their full length. Residents are invited to bring homemade candleholders with a wish attached, creating a festive sense of community.

During the festive week - from 16 November - we invite you to decorate your home windows and take part in a competition: photograph your creation and share it on social media using the hashtags #gaismasziņa and #sarkandaugava or #čiekurkalns. The authors of the most patriotic decoration will receive a prize from the Aldaris Beer Museum.

19 November at Aldaris

On 19 November at 20:00 in the Aldaris Beer Museum hall, a festive concert will take place featuring The Coco'Nuts and Future Folk Orchestra. At 21:00 the Aldaris Beer Museum will award the authors of the most patriotic light installations. Admission to the concert is free.

By organising the "Gaismasziņa" event, the Sarkandaugava and Čiekurkalns development societies wish to draw attention to the sense of community in the neighbourhood, creating a celebration around us and sharing it together. Residents are invited to come to Tilta iela and Čiekurkalna 2. līnija from 18:00 with garden candles or candleholders to which wishes have been attached - "gaismasziņas" (light messages) for our Latvia.

Tilta iela is the central street of the Sarkandaugava neighbourhood, which has changed over time and currently mainly serves as a transit road. Tilta iela is 500 metres long and got its name from the bridge over the Sarkandaugava river, which was built as a permanent bridge in 1928, replacing a pontoon bridge. Notably, the bridge was opened to pedestrian traffic on exactly 18 November. Written memories of a neighbourhood resident tell:

"In my memories, Tilta iela in the old days takes me back to the 1930s. Back then Sarkandaugava had more of a village character. Tilta iela - the most splendid street, a promenade street, where there was something to see, where you could show yourself off. Especially on national holidays, when we dressed up and went for a stroll, to meet, to chat, to delight in the decorated shop windows and the fireworks with torches along the pavement edges..."

On 18 November, residents are invited to recreate the lost promenade feeling on Tilta iela, making it splendid and festive on Latvia's national holiday.

Čiekurkalna 2. līnija is the longest street in the neighbourhood, which winds through all of Čiekurkalns, ending at the historic Cross Barracks, now the home of the NBS Headquarters Battalion. The Cross Barracks were certainly home to many participants in Latvia's independence struggles, so in honouring them and expressing joy at the founding of the Latvian state, it is this very street that will be lit up with candlelight.

The event is organised in collaboration between two northern Riga neighbourhoods - Sarkandaugava and Čiekurkalns - and the Aldaris Beer Museum, participating in the "Rīgas Karnevāls" participatory initiative.

You can also follow the progress of the "Gaismasziņa" event on social media - https://www.facebook.com/Sarkandaugava