XI Kokmuiža Festival – A Living Manor!

On September 6, the Kokmuiža Festival will take place in Kocēni for the eleventh time! This year's festival theme is the living manor. A manor is not just about the past or history; it is a vibrant cultural and community center in constant development, incorporating contemporary events and modern experiences. This year, a special event and adventure will be the Sansusī evening, which will give the festival a unique, artistically free atmosphere. Sansusī is a contemporary performing arts festival in Latvia.

The Kokmuiža Festival is an annual cultural event in Kocēni, Valmiera region, inviting everyone to enjoy a rich festival program and a historical ambiance. During the festival, visitors can enjoy concerts, theater performances, a manor market, creative workshops, and activities for the whole family, as well as discussions on the history of the manor and important contemporary topics. Local traditions and the brewing heritage of Kokmuiža are also honored. The festival takes place in the picturesque surroundings of Kokmuiža, offering a great opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of Vidzeme and enjoy being together!

FESTIVAL PROGRAM

10:30 AM The festival will begin with a special bell and chime improvisation performance by musician, outstanding drummer, and percussionist Ainis Zavackis, along with festival greeting speeches.

10:40 AM On the stage located within the Kokmuiža manor complex, there will be a Valmiera region manor network discussion titled “Manor – Everything is Changing.”

11:50 AM The festival will be enlivened by a dance troupe concert.

MANOR MARKET AND GOURMET DELIGHTS

10:00 AM–3:00 PM At the Kokmuiža Festival, early in the morning, traders such as artisans, home producers, and plant growers will be bustling to offer their self-produced, crafted, and grown goods at the Manor Market, located in the Kokmuiža manor parterre.

Throughout the day, you can enjoy the tastes of Kokmuiža and Gardu Muti sodas, made only from berries and fruits collected in Latvian fields and gardens. Gourmet delights will not be forgotten, with various vendors offering both cold and warm treats, as well as hearty meals to keep your spirits high for dancing until late at night.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS, IMPROVISATION, GAMES, AND ACTIVITIES FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD

10:00 AM–3:00 PM A photo booth will be available in the Kokmuiža manor parterre – take a picture and receive your festival photo.*

10:00 AM–3:00 PM Enjoy a boat ride on the Kokmuiža pond.*

10:00 AM–3:00 PM The Valmiera co-creation workshop DARE team offers the opportunity to print Kokmuiža festival symbols on your brought (preferably new) T-shirt, or if you don’t have one, you can purchase it on-site.*

11:00 AM–2:00 PM Free calligraphy workshop led by Laura Graudiņa, along with alphabet and letter games as part of the “Handwriting Lifeline” project.

11:00 AM–3:00 PM At the “Do and Create” workshop, families with children can make marionette puppets.

11:00 AM–2:00 PM Horse carriage rides guided by the Burtnieki horse breeding farm.*

11:00 AM–3:00 PM Activities offered by the Kocēni 38th Scout Unit.

2:00 PM The Rūjiena improvisation theater “Imprūven” will take the festival stage to ensure a cheerful atmosphere.

EXPLORE KOKMUIŽA AND ENJOY ART

12:00 PM and 3:00 PM Historical tours of Kokmuiža with historian and guide Ineta Amoliņa, starting point – Kokmuiža parterre by the sundial.

11:00 AM–8:00 PM Kokmuiža manor is open to visitors, featuring an exhibition of paintings by Māris Plāders.

11:00 AM–8:00 PM In the historic Kokmuiža granary at the Kocēni library premises, an interactive exhibition and tasks for the whole family “Together We Search for Kokmuiža’s Treasures” with artist Iveta Kreišmane.

MOOD MUSIC AND FESTIVAL BALL

1:00 PM A concert by singer Kārlis Kazāks.

9:00 PM–1:00 AM Festival ball with the band “Zelta Kniede.” Entry fee for the ball: 10 EUR. Tickets available in advance at “Biļešu Paradīze” or on-site.*

SANSUSĪ EVENING AT KOKMUIŽA

In the old estate building “Kokmuiža”

4:00 PM A family-friendly green ball with “BikiGRUPA.” The “Liels un mazs” publishing house poetry picture book series “Bikibuks” features 101 books illustrated by various contemporary Latvian artists. Poems beloved by many parents and grandparents in their childhood are brought to today’s children in a new musical format by “BikiGRUPA.”

5:30 PM The music theater performance “Alfas” (produced by “Dirty Deal Teatro”). The play “Alfas” is inspired by events in Jēkabpils in January 2011 when four police officers and a civilian conducted an armed robbery in a gaming hall, followed by a chase and shooting during apprehension on the Daugava riverside. During the performance, self-organized activities will be available for children and young people who might find the performance less engaging.

7:30 PM Sansusī musician battle mini-tournament (four-musician tournament). Sansusī musician battles are a musical tournament where professional musicians compete in musical wit, attractiveness, and mastery to win the audience and jury's favor. During the battles, musicians duel by performing prepared or improvised pieces.

9:00 PM A 20-minute disco. To conclude the evening, the traditional Sansusī 20-minute disco allows all attendees to collectively experience the event’s finale and move healthily while filling themselves with positive energy.

The Kokmuiža Festival program will be hosted throughout the day by Uģis Melders.