Every June, Riga lights up with the enchanting traditions of Līgo and Jāņi, Latvia’s Midsummer festival. As the city gathers to welcome the summer solstice, parks and squares come alive with song, bonfires, and a community-wide spirit of celebration. Different spots in the city become a hub of festivity where locals and visitors alike gather to share the experience of Latvia’s most beloved holiday.

The festivities typically embrace pagan traditions with a touch of mysticism, rituals, spells, and a diverse program with performances by Latvian traditional music groups.

At the heart of the celebrations, you’ll find the ancient Latvian customs still thriving—flower crowns woven from wild herbs while a man named Janis will wear head crowns of oak branches, traditional folk music, and dances around the bonfire that go well into the night. The Līgo Market in Dome Square adds charm with stalls filled with handcrafted flower wreaths, Latvian cheeses, honey, and festive souvenirs.

Savour Jāņu series, a traditional caraway cheese, and wash it down with us, a refreshing Latvian beer.

During this time in Riga, you can witness folklore reenactments and experience the day in a way that feels both timeless and deeply rooted in Latvian culture.