Kuldīga youth call for a club for older teens and the return of carousels
Two young people from Kuldīga discussed leisure options in the town on the podcast "Kurzemnieks runā," saying older teens lack a gathering spot and residents want carousels back at town festivities. They also raised interest in a bowling alley and karting track.
Katrīna Stjopočkina, a graduate of Kuldīga Center Secondary School who will start studying international relations and European studies this autumn, and Andrejs Iļjins, an 11th-grade student at the same school, spoke on the "Kurzemnieks runā" podcast about how young people spend their free time in Kuldīga.
Both said they enjoy summer concerts and town festivals in Kuldīga and other Kurzeme towns, though they noted such events often overlap, forcing them to choose which to attend. They also mentioned swimming, watching films, and meeting friends at cafés or spots outside the town center.
Older teens lack a dedicated space
The pair said Kuldīga has a youth house, but it mainly attracts 13-16 year-olds, leaving older teens without a place of their own to meet, for example to play billiards. Stjopočkina noted the youth council has repeatedly discussed the need for active leisure options such as bowling or a karting track, and the idea of a youth club or bar has also come up.
Both also felt that since Kuldīga joined the UNESCO list and the town festival became the "Old Town Festival," the event's energy has faded and entertainment options, especially for younger children, have shrunk. Many peers complained over the summer that carousels are no longer part of the festivities, prompting some to travel to festivals in other towns specifically to ride one.
Engagement through the youth council
Stjopočkina, who chairs the Kuldīga youth council, said the council meets regularly with municipal deputies and feels heard. The two also touched on substance use among peers, noting that after a tragic drug-related death some time ago, they have not heard of further related incidents.
