Friday evening walk “Direction: NEW” in Ventspils
17.05.2022 - 09:50
On 20 May, the evening walk will take a new course – from the square Lielais laukums, along the street Lielais prospekts, to the new Science and Innovation Centre “VIZIUM”.

On 20 May, the evening walk will take a new course - from the square Lielais laukums, along the street Lielais prospekts, to the new Science and Innovation Centre "VIZIUM". As the name "Direction: NEW" already suggests, the new will meet the usual, allowing the old traditions find their way in the modern world. At the points of activities, the visitors will be able to participate in exciting workshops and interesting sports activities. For those interested in technology and adrenaline-rush activities, there will be special surprises. Let us not forget the pop-up musical restaurant and the open day at the company "Ventspils siltums".
The musical part of the walk will take place on the square Lielais laukums, where the Ventspils Big Band with Renārs Lācis in the lead will perform together with seniors, thus creating a unique joint improvisation duel. The visitors are welcome to enjoy the premiere of the performance "(Im)pulse" created especially for the Friday evening walk. It will tell an exciting story about the colourful kaleidoscope of an individual, where each event creates an impulse to movement, rhythm, life, and spring awakening. It will be performed by the drummer, percussionist, and composer Kaspars Kurdenko, the vocal ensemble "Mazā prinča planētas", the choir "Nošu planētas", and the percussionist trio of the Ventspils Music School. Well-known and popular artists in Latvia are also expected to arrive. The concert by the band "KautKaili" will feature nostalgic Latvian alternative pop songs from the 90s in combination with the profane soul music. The band is composed of Kristīne Pāže, Didzis Bardovskis, and Kaspars Vizulis. The next up will be the band "Rīgas modes" that performs guitar music of different eras, with a special emphasis on lyrics in Latvian. This band has received the awards "The Golden Microphone" and the "Austra Award", which encourages them to keep succeeding in the Latvian music industry. The band is composed of Kalvis Bormanis (vocal), Reinis Papulis (guitar - keyboard), Anete Stuce keyboard - vocal), Andris Apīnis (bass), and Mareks Ameriks (drums). DJ Otto Vočtavs will conclude the evening with his performance.
On the way from the Flower Clock to the Olympic Centre "Ventspils", there will be various creative workshops for children and teenagers, where everyone is welcome to leave an artistic print on different surfaces in many interesting and creative ways. At the Flower Ball in front of the Olympic Centre, the visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy entertaining activities for the entire family, such as board games, basketball throws, football, and street gymnastics. The Ventspils Tourism Information Centre (TIC), on the other hand, welcomes everyone to use the photo corner and to participate in a wide range of activities for young and old.
In the parking lot beside the Ice Hall of the Olympic Centre, the visitors will be able to watch the hockey game "Latvia vs. Austria" on a large screen. DJ performances, contests, and prizes in between the periods. Outdoor café, Ukrainian cuisine "Gran's Recipes", art exhibition "Ukrainian Embroideries", and master classes at the sculpture "Venta" created by Gļebs Panteļejevs, where the bronze-cast cow observes the traffic in the intersection of the streets Lielais prospekts and Brīvības iela. Musical performances by the trio of the Ventspils Music Studio "Intro" with Sergejs Somiks in the lead, and the band "Relief" of the Rhythm Music Department of Ventspils Music School, composed of Aleksis Zariņš, Eduards Bariss, and Oskars Nejs.
The visitors are welcome to participate in the open day at the company "Ventspils siltums", located nearby on Brīvības iela 38, and to take a closer look at the boiler-house. The percussionists "Transcendentāle" will conclude the evening with a spectacular performance and a fire show.
The next stop at the shopping mall "Tobago" is the place to be for those interested in technology and adrenaline-rush activities. The bravest visitors will be able to try out the water balls in the channel and electric go-karts, to meet the soldiers of the National Guard 46th Infantry Battalion and NATO Enhanced Forward Presence multinational battle groups, as well as to enjoy a demonstration of military equipment.
The Ventspils Science and Innovation Centre "VIZIUM", on the other hand, invites everyone to the Terrace Festival to enjoy an amazing panoramic view of the city. The Ventspils Digital Centre and the Centre for Young Researchers in Natural Science (Ventspils University of Applied Sciences) will organise creative workshops for children, whereas DJ Toms Grēviņš will offer a musical performance and raffle a special prize in course of the evening - a family entrance card to visit the science centre "VIZIUM".
If, however, you want to enjoy some spring mood, you are welcome to visit the Garden Festival at the Ventspils Technical School, where you will have the opportunity to try the refreshments prepared by the ambassadors of the "Balzāmbārs" (Riga) residence Pēteris Repečko and Rihards Onzuls, and delicacies prepared by the future chefs of the Ventspils Technical School, and to enjoy musical performances by the young musicians Patrīcija Anna Doniņa and Kristaps Kleinbergs.