From 16 to 18 August, Preiļi will celebrate its 671st birthday!

This year, Preiļi invites everyone to celebrate together from 16 to 18 August the city’s 91st birthday and the 671st anniversary of the first mention of Preiļi in historical records. The city festival offers an extensive programme for all tastes and people of all ages, as well as visitors to the city.

From 16 to 18 August, an exhibition of the 5th International Author Doll Festival will be on display at the Preiļi Culture Centre. This year, it brings together 46 internationally renowned doll artists from 14 countries – Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, the USA, Russia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Turkey, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. For three days, doll artists’ masterclasses for children will be held at the Preiļi School of Music and Art.

On 16 August, we invite you to the fairy tale Trādirīdi at the Culture Centre, the evening concert “From Classical Opera to a Classical Musical” in the garden of the “Pie Pliča” guest house, the opening event of the 5th International Author Doll Festival and Youth Night  at the Preiļi Park open-air stage, featuring the only additional concert of the Republic Tour – Ozols/ansis/Viņa/Edavārdi. The evening will conclude with a dance featuring the music group “Ginc un es”.

The second festival day – 17 August – will begin with morning exercise in the city streets and wake-up performances in the city’s neighbourhoods. Later, those wishing to buy and sell will be able to meet at the Festival Day market on Raiņa Boulevard, while everyone else will be able to enjoy a morning concert programme for visitors of all ages. 

Nearby, the 2nd Latgale Snail Racing Championship will take place, and prizes will be presented to participants in the competition for the best-kept homes in Preiļi Municipality. As part of the Festival Day, we also invite you to visit the Local Residents’ tent, the information tent of the “ČETRI” Youth Centre, and the creative workshops and book lottery organised by the Preiļi Main Library.

The “Charity Ball Rally”, organised by the Central Latgale Inter-Municipal Foundation, will take place at the Preiļi Park open-air stage. At its conclusion, we will gather for the colourful festival procession “Preiļi in the Signs of Fairy Tales”.

At the Preiļi Park open-air stage, our partners will offer greetings to the city, followed by the Latvian National Theatre actors’ concert programme “Love”, a performance by the group “Tautumeitas”, and an open-air dance with the music group “Apvedceļš”.

The morning of 18 August will begin with festive services in the city’s churches and an organ music concert at the Preiļi Roman Catholic Church.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the concert and marching programme of the international youth brass band “Wersalinka”, as well as take part in the closing event of the 5th International Author Doll Festival exhibition and the lottery of the festival’s original artworks.

Throughout the three-day festival, the Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Arts will offer an extensive programme. Exhibitions and museum displays will be available to view, while a large-format puzzle will provide an opportunity to learn about the Borch heritage left to Preiļi.  Those who enjoy creative activities will have the opportunity to work at historic looms or try their hand at pottery throwing.

As part of the festival, the Preiļi Main Library invites everyone to the Book Festival, while active and sporty festival participants will be able to take part in Family Sports Games, morning fishing in the ponds of Preiļi Park, watch a stage of the Latvian Strongman Championship, the Preiļi Municipality Open Athletics Championship, a beach volleyball tournament, and a second-league football match between the Preiļi and Rēzekne teams.

We invite everyone to celebrate the Preiļi City Festival together!