Fairy Tale Festival 2025

On August 30th at 1:00 PM, the traditional Fairy Tale Festival will take place at the Džūkste Fairy Tale Museum (in Džūkste parish, Lanciņu school, Tukums district) with the motto "If you have a craft, you will be fed." This year marks its devil's dozen – the festival is being held for the thirteenth time. The main theme will be ancient crafts, inviting both young and old to try out skills and life wisdoms together with the whole family as the new school year begins.

The Fairy Tale Festival is dedicated to the Father of Fairy Tales, Ansis Lerhis-Puškaitis (1859–1903), who, as a young teacher, not only began recording Latvian folk tales but also composing his own and using them for teaching. Among the 6,650 folklore texts he recorded, some are fairy tales. A. Lerhis-Puškaitis is known as a versatile personality – teacher, gardener, public figure, writer, researcher, and folklorist. His contribution to folklore collection, literature, and horticulture continues to inspire the organization of the Fairy Tale Festival.

From the folklorist’s treasure chest, this year at the 13th Fairy Tale Festival, tales revealing the stories of ancient crafts and their importance across generations will be highlighted. They remind us of the value of handiwork in times when many tasks are replaced by technology.

Festival guests will have the opportunity to experience these crafts firsthand – to meet a blacksmith, shoemaker, tailor, beekeeper, baker, fisherman, laundress, weaver, hunter, and housekeeper. Each visitor will not only be able to watch but also participate and try out the skills on site, especially encouraging younger participants to think about future professions and the unique significance of handiwork.

The Fairy Tale Festival will be opened by the adult theater studio “Kāre” from the Šlokenbeka Manor Cultural Center with the play “First Day of School”. For the delight and excitement of children, there will be an opportunity to view the world through a prism of bubbles, and everyone will enjoy a market of treats.

Inside the museum, the exhibitions “The Magic of Owls” and “In the Colors of Nature” can be viewed.

Participation – with a museum entry ticket (3.00 EUR). Free for preschool-aged children.