Rauna invites to Name Day celebrations

Rauna will host its traditional Name Day celebrations on 14 and 15 August. The two-day programme offers a mix of art, music and family activities.

On Friday at 6 PM, the exhibition “Rauna in My Eyes” will open at Skolas iela 1. Its theme is “Rauna Stories. Nature. People. History.” Fifteen local residents are taking part; until the opening they will draw, paint or photograph, drawing inspiration from each other. Linda Vecgaile, head of Rauna Culture Centre, said this is not an academic plein-air event but a shared summer adventure in which participants capture things that are easy to miss in everyday haste.

Immediately after the opening, a concert will take place in the inner courtyard of Rauna Castle ruins. Opera singer Inese Galante will perform together with young artists from the “Ineses Galantes talanti” competition. The line-up also includes percussionist Fēlikss Krievs, accordionist Toms Rolavs, pianist Melissa Takanbekova, flutist Anete Duntava, pianist Aleksandrs Kalējs – grandson of Aivars Kalējs – and Latvian National Opera soloist Artjoms Safronovs. The programme features beloved opera arias, classical compositions and contemporary melodies.

On Saturday at 10 AM, Smiltene Municipality will present commemorative gifts to newborn children of Rauna at Rauna Culture Centre. At noon, a free children’s play programme titled “The Day Melts Like Ice Cream” will begin. In the evening at 8 PM, the group “YŪT” will give an acoustic concert at Tanīsa Hill, followed by Ieva Sutugova and Mārtiņš Kanters with their programme “Peppermint Tea with the Music of Raimonds Pauls”.

Tickets are available in advance at “Biļešu paradīzes” ticket offices and online. Local residents can get a discount by picking up a coupon at Rauna Library beforehand. Organisers invite everyone to enjoy the festive programme and explore Rauna’s cultural and historical environment.