The Karosta Festival will take place in Liepāja from June 2 to 8 for the seventh time. As usual, it will be held at the beginning of summer to draw attention to Karosta and ensure that the artworks created during the festival can be enjoyed by residents and visitors throughout the season.
This year’s theme is “Karosta – 135. Karosta’s Heyday”.
The festival marks 135 years since Russian Tsar Alexander III issued an order for the construction of Karosta. Throughout the festival, we will reflect on Karosta’s 135-year history, celebrating both its golden era—when stately officers and elegant ladies walked its streets—and its modern-day revival after years as a closed city.
We’ll explore Karosta’s historical sites through the eyes of Liepāja photographers and revisit the photo plein air “Karosta – A Photo Port” that once took place here. This year, Liepāja photographers will present a large-format open-air photo exhibition in Redan titled “Karosta Mysteries.”
We’ll also revisit the Karosta Flower Festival. Together with artist Agnese Rudzīte, we will create Karosta’s largest flower mandala in Redan. Visitors are welcome to bring flower bouquets or garlands to contribute to the mandala. Redan will bloom!
We’ll recall the project “Karosta – A Port of Cinema”, during which Karosta Prison hosted screenings of Latvian documentaries. This year, films shot in Karosta and Liepāja will be shown for free at Piemare Elementary School.
The story of the ghost of Karosta Prison will come to life again, performed by the Liepāja Independent Theatre in Karosta Prison.
Naturally, there will be plenty of art and music, various performances, activities, and creative workshops for children. Saturday evening will feature a spectacular fire show by Andris Kreicburgs in Redan.
There will also be a new bike tour, as many lesser-known places in Karosta are waiting to be explored.
During the festival, the artist Element-ton will create a new piece of street art in Karosta’s urban environment.
The festival will conclude on Sunday with a concert by the Vilnius University Choir Gaudeamus, conducted by Rasa Gelgotienė, at the Karosta Arsenal.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Tuesday, June 3
19:00 – Karosta Prison: Liepāja Independent Theatre performance “The Ghost of Karosta Prison”
Wednesday, June 4
19:00 – Karosta Prison: Liepāja Independent Theatre performance “The Ghost of Karosta Prison”
Thursday, June 5
19:00 – Piemare Elementary School: Laila Pakalniņa’s film evening – feature film “Shoe” and documentary “Wake Up!”
Friday, June 6
19:00 – Piemare Elementary School: Film “Restless Minds”
21:00 – Film screening: “Forever Young”
Saturday, June 7
15:00 – Bike tour “Karosta’s Secrets” with guide Inita Kirši
Start: Atmodas Boulevard near O. Kalpakas Bridge
End: 18:00 – Redan
18:00 – Redan:
- Creation of the largest Karosta flower mandala with artist Agnese Rudzīte
- Open-air large-format photo exhibition “Karosta’s Mysteries”
- Exhibition of floral artworks made by students
- Performances
- Activities and creative workshops for children
- Concert and party with Harijs Roziņš and the jazz band “41 .alianse”
- Buffet
- Kreicburgs fire show
Sunday, June 8
11:00 – Bike tour of Liepāja fortifications with history specialist and guide Agnis Timermanis
Start: Intersection of 14. novembra Boulevard and Brīvības iela
End: 15:00 – Karosta Arsenal
15:00 – Karosta Arsenal: Concert by Vilnius University Choir Gaudeamus
Program:
- Ēriks Ešenvalds – “Stars”, conductor: Rasa Gelgotienė
- Percussion composition, conductor: Ignas Garla
- Franz Liszt – “Chorale”, conductor: Rasa Gelgotienė
- Percussion composition, conductor: Ignas Garla
- Donatas Zakaras – “Letters to Sofia”, conductor: Rasa Gelgotienė