Bānītis Festival 2025

On September 6, everyone is invited to the annual Bānītis Festival, which is being held for the 25th time this year. This significant event, which began in 2000, is dedicated to the only regularly operating narrow-gauge train in the Baltics, celebrating its 122nd anniversary this year.

This year's Bānītis Festival will be held under the motto “It's not life, it's cinema!”. Festival visitors are invited to experience moments that are as vivid and exciting as a real movie screening. Throughout the day, a wide-ranging program awaits everyone in Gulbene, Stāmeriena, and Alūksne. Each stop will be like a new movie scene, full of joy, laughter, and surprises.

The festivities in Gulbene will start at 11:00 AM with the opportunity to explore the Bānītis home – the depot, the offerings of the educational and interactive center “Railway and Steam”, an exhibition dedicated to industrial heritage, and participate in creative workshops. At 12:30 PM, Bānītis will be sent off on a festive journey, musically enriched by the Gulbene Cultural Center's brass band.

In the evening, starting from 5:00 PM, a short film program "Short Latvian #2”, a performance by the Gulbene People's Theater “Spindzeles” on the train platform, and finally – an acoustic concert by Kārlis Kazāks will take place in the Bānītis depot apple orchard.

In Stāmeriena, the festive hustle will begin at 12:00 PM with the opening ceremony, a program of folk dance groups and musical performances. Throughout the day, there will be a market, the annual run around Lake Stāmeriena, and a children's program, with the evening climaxing in a dance party with the band “Putukvass” starting at 9:00 PM.

The Alūksne station will become a festival stop from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, featuring a special vintage travel suitcase parade. Everyone is invited to come with their travel suitcase to create a shared festive atmosphere. Visitors will enjoy greetings from the musical ensemble “Midnight Brigade”.

See you on September 6 in the land of Bānītis, where the train whistles and life unfolds like a movie reel! In the leading role, of course, is Bānītis itself!