Ērenpreisa Festival in Mazsalaca to Celebrate Town's 98th Anniversary and Bicycle Master's 135th Birth Year

From July 16 to 19, Mazsalaca will hold the 16th Ērenpreisa Festival, celebrating both the town's 98th anniversary and the 135th birth anniversary of bicycle master Gustavs Ērenpreiss. The event is organized by the Valmiera Municipality.

The festivities begin on July 13 with exhibitions. At the Mazsalaca City Library, the exhibition "Eyes Afraid of Work, Hands Not Afraid of Work" by clients of the "Laiva" day care center will be on display until August 28. A meeting with the authors will take place on July 13 at 1:00 PM. From July 14 to August 30, the Philosopher's Arbor will host the photo exhibition "Mazsalaca Through the Eyes of Youth" by the Mazsalaca Youth Center, with a meeting on July 14 at 5:00 PM. On the same day at 3:00 PM, artist Liene Apsīte will lead a sketching session. Until August 28, the library's children's section will feature works from the "Dārziņš" preschool under the title "Colors in the Garden".

On July 15 at 10:00 PM, an outdoor cinema lecture "We and Cinema" at the "Stallis" venue will show archive footage from "Rūjienas TV", the film "Wild East. Where the Road Leads" (2021), and feature a discussion with director Ivars Zviedris.

July 16 at 6:00 PM kicks off with an educational walk "Stories of Rīgas Street", followed at 8:00 PM by the vocal group "Ēra" performing their 20th anniversary concert "20 Years in One Era" at St. Anne's Church.

On July 17 at 9:00 PM, a "Velo Rave" (bike party) will take place, followed by a concert by Miks Galvanovskis at 10:30 PM.

July 18 is the main day. From 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, a festive market will be held in the Green Square. At 11:00 AM, vocal groups "Pērles" and "Pērlītes" will perform, followed by the traditional bicycle parade at noon. Until 4:00 PM, a children's area will feature inflatable attractions, games, a balloon house, and soap bubbles. At 1:00 PM, the creative association "Pasaku nams" will present a play program "Forest of Wonders". From 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, the Vidusmeži ceramics and textile workshops will explore plant motifs. At 4:00 PM, the "Pottery Duel" competition will take place. The daytime concerts conclude with Kaspars Markševics at 3:00 PM, followed by awards for the bicycle parade. At 5:00 PM, the Valmiera County Fund will organize a charity ball rally from the Salaca Bridge. The Dinosaur Park will host youth activities, and a photo orientation game "Flow of Time" will run all week. SIA "Attīstības centrs "Gadalaiki"" will offer children's attractions and expert advice for parents.

Evening celebrations continue at the Lībiešu hillfort stage: at 8:00 PM, the band "Lauku muzikanti" performs, followed by a raffle of an Ērenpreisa bicycle, and at 10:00 PM, a dance party with "Krauja Band". The festival will be hosted by Mārtiņš Eņģelis.

On July 19 at 3:00 PM, a cemetery service will be held at Mazsalaca City Cemetery.

During the festival, several exhibitions are on display: the Craft House's ceramics and handiwork exhibition "Pots and Twined Weaves" at the Culture Center, and the artist collective exhibition "Life in a Fairy Tale", opening on July 16.