Ape City Festival 2025

Ape City Festival 2025 “I Gift My City”

From August 22 to 24, Ape invites residents and guests to a heartfelt and diverse festival program, with this year's unifying theme being “I Gift My City”. These words are not just a slogan – they are a feeling and an attitude that everyone can express through participation, smiles, creativity, or simply by being present.

The festivities begin on Friday evening with a prayer service at Ape's St. Matthew's Church, followed by the traditional setting of personal tables in the courtyard of the Ape Cultural Center, where each group can create their own special festive atmosphere - we encourage groups to register their table. At 8:00 PM, enjoy a concert featuring beloved musicians Inga Ulmane, Aigars Voitišķis, and Roberts Rass. Later, the celebrations will continue until 2:00 AM with DJ Kozloo.

On Saturday, Ape's streets will be filled with the hustle and bustle of a crafts market, sporting activities, attractions, and stylish airbrush tattoos for children, along with a special festive parade. At 4:00 PM, we will honor the leaders of the Smiltene district's song and dance festival ensembles for their significant contribution and perseverance in maintaining the ensembles' activities and preserving traditions.

The evening program kicks off at 7:00 PM with the Valmiera Viesturs Secondary School pop ensemble “Frekvence”. At 7:30 PM, bands 'Trio', 'Subito', and guests will perform in the concert “This Is How It Must Happen”. Later, at 9:30 PM, enjoy a performance by Ieva Kerēvica and her band. The festival concludes with a dance party featuring the band “Bruģis” until 4:00 AM. Admission for the evening concerts and dance party is 7 euros in advance, 10 euros on the day of the event (children under 7 free). Tickets can be purchased at the Ape Cultural Center, Craft House, library, and online at bilesuparadize.lv.

Throughout the festival, several exhibitions will be on display – Laura Mazule's painting series “Latvia's Great Trees” at the Ape Cultural Center, as well as Elita Patmalniece's vibrant artworks at the Craft House. At the VUGD courtyard, Dzirnavu Street 2, visitors can explore the equipment and behind-the-scenes of the National Guard and VUGD professions. There will also be various surprises.

On Sunday, cemetery festivals will take place – at 12:00 PM at Ape Forest Cemetery and at 2:00 PM at Ape City Cemetery. A time for remembrance and quiet gratitude.