Riga to host 13th Father's Day march and festival this Sunday

On Sunday, September 13, Riga will hold the 13th edition of the Father's Day march and festival, organized by the Latvian Parents' Organization. Participants will gather at the Freedom Monument at 11 a.m., and an hour later families will walk along Brīvības Street to Vērmanes Garden, where the festival programme continues. Attendance and all activities are free of charge.

New this year: focus on expecting fathers

For the first time, the festival will feature a "Stage for Expecting and New Parents," hosting talks throughout the day with specialists on pregnancy, the changes men experience when becoming fathers, and other topics relevant to new parents. Speakers include a midwife, a communications expert, and a psychiatrist. The initiative is supported by a stem cell bank, and a baby care area will also be available for families with infants.

The organization's head explains that the event aims to reach not only current fathers but also men preparing for fatherhood, stressing the importance of family traditions at a time when birth rates in Latvia are declining.

Concerts and activities

Vērmanes Garden will host a full day of concerts, with performances by the bands "BikiGRUPA," "Pirmais kurss," and "Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi." Visitors can also try a prize wheel with a prize fund exceeding 1,500 euros, experience a free fall from a height of four meters, or drive mini tractors. Additional sports, creative, and educational activities will be available for the whole family, including the chance to make gifts for fathers and grandfathers.