Jelgava's milk-carton boat regatta ends after 20 years; motorsport takes its place

Jelgava is preparing for the 26th Milk, Bread and Honey festival on 29 August, but the traditional milk-carton boat race will be absent for a fourth year. The event, first held in 2003, was discontinued after its 20th anniversary in 2022.

The idea came from Āris Dreimanis, then project manager at the municipal institution “Kultūra”. He said he was inspired by similar events in the United States and wanted to make milk the central theme of the festival. Seven local companies took part in the first regatta. Over the years, about 500 homemade vessels made from milk cartons were launched. The largest number of entries – 40 – was recorded in 2014.

Both Dreimanis and Ivars Pirvics, deputy head of “Kultūra”, point to several reasons for the end of the tradition. Organisers found it increasingly difficult to attract teams and to supply enough milk cartons for a one-hour show. Participation numbers steadily declined: 24 teams in 2017, 18 in 2018, 17 in 2020 and only 11 in the final race in 2022. There was also a changing attitude towards sustainability, as the event required tens of thousands of new cartons – 45,000 were distributed in 2011 and 42,000 planned for 2021.

The 2022 regatta was therefore arranged as a respectful closing chapter. The main prize went to SIA “Kanclers”, a company that had taken part fifteen times. Its director Ilva Mieze recalled that the final entry used the theme “Ceplis” and the motto “Kanclers is, was and will be mighty!”.

At present, there are no plans to restore the regatta in its historical format. Pirvics says traditions need to evolve, and although a return in a new form is not impossible, it would require a completely different material and organisational model. This year's festival instead includes a water motorsport championship featuring racers from Latvia, the Baltic states and abroad.