Those fond of walking will appreciate the guide "Ventspils under the Christmas Lights", which will lead you through the city streets twinkling with Christmas lights, allowing you to discover the most beautiful Christmas decorations marked on the map. The proposed route also includes 9 decorated Christmas trees. The guide is available for download at ventspils.lv, whereas the printed version is always available at the Tourist Information Centre at Dārzu iela 6.

Ventspils lights upAs a tradition, on the square Lielais laukums, located beside the Concert Hall "Latvija", the main Christmas tree brings joy to the locals every year. This year's Holiday décor additions are the "Light Drums", which will complement the composition of illuminated music instruments on the square Lielais laukums, and the numbers representing the upcoming year 2023 with the respective zodiac sign of the Chinese horoscope - the rabbit - at the square entrance from the side of the streets Lielais prospekts and Kuldīgas iela. No less interesting is the holiday decoration from the last year - the "Christmas Piano" with a height of 3.8 m, which is an interactive light installation with practical use, allowing everyone interested trying their hand at the piano playing.

Christmas spheres painted by the students of Ventspils School of Arts. In the city centre, you will be able to capture magical festive mood, walking down the illuminated alley Laikrakstu aleja and passing trees decorated with sparkling umbrellas. Nearby, on the square Dzirnavu laukums, a romantic atmosphere is created by large-sized candles arranged in a circle in the middle of the square.Walking down the street Kuldīgas iela, a festive mood is created by a string of light bulbs in the trees. Each week, one candle will be lit in the Advent wreath as a Christmas countdown.This year, the Science Centre "Vizium" has surprised everyone with a stylized light object located at the main entrance. In the centre of Pārventa, a large decorated Christmas tree and a pair of glittering reindeer on sleighs are waiting for you to take beautiful photos.

Christmas Train "Ventspils Train"To enjoy special Christmas mood, the "Ventspils Train" will run on a special Christmas route on the weekends and during the Christmas holidays, with the usual starting point at Kuldīgas iela, near the Concert Hall "Latvija". Follow the train schedule at ventspils.lv.

Ventspils Museum will host creative workshops in both the Castle of the Livonian Order and the Seaside Open-Air Museum. The activities are suitable for everyone, especially for children of elementary and primary schools.

Until 23 December, the Seaside Open-Air Museum invites everyone to participate in the Christmas game "No Points, No Snow Man", which will consist of 6 different tasks. After completing each task, the participant will be awarded points, which at the end of the games will be used to "purchase" parts of a snow man and to create fun drawings. Children will resolve riddles, participate in fun games, discover old Latvian Christmas beliefs, and complete dexterity and mind tasks. Not only is the activity fun, but it also promotes teamwork, gets you carried away by the game, and allows you learn more about Christmas traditions.Until 21 December, the Castle of the Livonian Order invites you to create warm decorations for the Christmas tree of the castle. It will hold a creative workshop suitable not only for students and families, but also for work colleagues and groups of friends. Registration at muzejs.ventspils.lv.

With the Christmas just around the corner, Ventspils Digital Centre and the Science Centre VIZIUM invite you to spend the holidays in the circle of family and friends, participating in various thematic workshops and activities.Activities and workshops for creative holidays:

• Creative Advent workshop: 10, 11, 17, and 18 December, 1:00 PM

Until 18 December, at the end of each Advent week, the Science Centre VIZIUM will hold workshops where the participants in the circle of family and friends, accompanied by the hard-working and goofy VIZIUM dwarfs, will create Christmas decorations and presents. Each weekend, the workshop will have a different theme. Tickets are available at the ticket office of the Science Centre and at https://vizium.lv/tickets. For the ticket price, see the general pricelist of creative workshops.Location: Science Centre VIZIUM, Rūpniecības iela 2

• Workshop of wrapping odd-shaped gifts and creating stickers:19 December, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

During the workshop, the participants will discover various tricks of how to wrap odd-shaped gifts and to create beautiful stickers that can be attached to gifts or greeting cards. For training purposes, the wrapping paper and materials required to create stickers are included in the price. The participants must bring their own odd-shaped gifts and wrapping paper. In order to participate in the workshop, previous registration is required by completing the application form at: www.adre.se/davanusainosana.Participation fee: EUR 18.00Location: Ventspils Digital Centre, Akmeņu iela 3

• Winter IT School "The World of Magic":27, 28, and 29 December; 3, 4, 5 January, 10:00 AM - 12:00 noon, 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM, and 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM

During the winter holidays, the students from grades 1 to 7 are welcome to spend their winter holidays in exciting technology workshops, which will provide them an insight into the mysterious world of magic. In order to participate in the workshop, previous registration is required by completing the application form at: http://www.adre.se/ziemasitskola. For children of pre-school and general education institutions in Ventspils, the participation is free of charge. For students of educational institutions of other regions and cities, the participation fee is EUR 7.00. Location: Science Centre VIZIUM, Rūpniecības iela 2

• Science show "Winter Show - H2O from A to Z". From December to February.

Water is the basis of life. Therefore, the show will focus on the characteristics and specific aspects of water. The science show will take place at the following times:Tuesday - Friday, 12:00 noonSaturday - Sunday, 12:00 noon, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PMLocation: Science Centre VIZIUM. Tickets are available at the ticket office of the Science Centre and at www.vizium.lv.Snow hill "Lemberga hūte"

As of 7 December, the beginner slope and the sledding hill are available on the snow hill "Lemberga hūte" to enjoy real winter fun. Before visiting the snow hill, please read the latest information on the rules, prices, and equipment rental available at www.lembergahute.lv.  Please be informed that the opening hours of the snow hill will depend on the weather. For more information on other recreational opportunities offered by the Olympic Centre "Ventspils", such as the public skating rink and the swimming pool, visit the website www.ocventspils.lv.

9 DecemberAt 7:00 PM - Concert by Linda Leen & Ventspils Big Band / Concert Hall "Latvija"At 6:00 PM - 11:00 AM - Horror track "The Mystery of the Livonian Order" in the Castle of the Livonian Order. Adults participate in pairs, whereas children must be accompanied by adults. Participation fee - EUR 8.50 per person.

10 DecemberAt 6:00 PM - 11:00 AM - Horror track "The Mystery of the Livonian Order" in the Castle of the Livonian Order. Adults participate in pairs, whereas children must be accompanied by adults. Participation fee - EUR 8.50 per person.

10 DecemberAt 1:00 PM - Creative Advent workshop / Science Centre VIZIUMAt 4:00 PM - Additional concert by Linda Leen & Ventspils Big Band / Concert Hall "Latvija"At 5:00 PM - Christmas concert "I Brought from the Sky" by the pop studio "Jūras akmentiņi" / Ventspils Baptist ChurchAt 6:00 PM - Country and schlager music celebration. 60th birthday of Māris Sloka, the lead singer of the band "Klaidonis" / Theatre House "Jūras vārti"    

11 DecemberAt 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM - Activity for children "Olaf Waits for Christmas" / Children's Town and Children's park "Fantāzija"At 1:00 PM - Creative Advent workshop / Science Centre VIZIUMAt 3:00 PM - Concert by the dance studio "Prieks" / Theatre House "Jūras vārti"At 4:00 PM - Seniors Ball / Cultural Centre 

15 DecemberAt 7:00 PM - Musical Christmas story for children "The School of the Snow White" / Theatre House "Jūras vārti"At 7:00 PM - Ventspils Chamber Music Days "Music of the Residents of Ventspils" / Concert Hall "Latvija"

16  DecemberAt 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Winter book festival - creative workshops, festive concert, and charity market / Main Library

17 DecemberAt 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Christmas workshops for families / House of CraftsAt 12:00 noon - Athletics competition "Christmas Cup 2022" / OC "Ventspils", Athletic HallAt 1:00 PM - Music class for the entire family / Musical LibraryAt 1:00 PM - Creative Advent workshop / Science Centre VIZIUMAt 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM - Opening of the exhibition "Dwarfs Are Real!" and meeting with the artist Agija Staka / Castle of the Livonian OrderAt 3:00 PM - Ventspils Open Ice Hockey League Finals / Olympic Centre "Ventspils"At 4:00 PM - Christmas concert. Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and Vestards Šimkus / Concert Hall "Latvija"At 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Christmas event for children "It's Raining Gifts" - collective visits. Performance, games, and exchange of gifts. Ticket price: EUR 7.00 / Cultural CentreAt 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Winter evening market / Old town market square

18 DecemberAt 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM - Activity for children "Winter Cleaning of Minions" / Children's Town and Children's park "Fantāzija"At 11:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM - Christmas event for children "It's Raining Gifts" - collective visits. Performance, games, and exchange of gifts. Ticket price: EUR 7.00 / Cultural CentreAt 1:00 PM - Creative Advent workshop / Science Centre VIZIUM          

19 DecemberAt 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Workshop of wrapping odd-shaped gifts and creating stickers / Digital Centre  

20 DecemberAt 6:00 PM - Concert "Jingle Bells" / Centre for Creative LearningAt 7:45 PM - Match of Pafbet Latvian - Estonian Basketball League: BK "Ventspils" - BK Ogre / Olympic Centre "Ventspils"

21 DecemberAt 4:00 PM - Creative crafts workshop "House of Dwarfs" / Children's LibraryAt 7:00 PM - Christmas concert by Uldis Marhilevičs and Dita Lūriņa / Theatre House "Jūras vārti"At 7:00 PM - Yule log evening / Market square       

23 DecemberAt 3:00 PM - Activity for children "Read and Create" / Pārventa LibraryAt 7:00 PM - Match of Pafbet Latvian - Estonian Basketball League: BK "Ventspils" - AVIS UTILITAS RAPLA (Estonia) / Olympic Centre "Ventspils"

25 DecemberAt 12:00 noon - 3:00 PM - Christmas of the tour train "Mazbānītis" /Seaside Open-Air MuseumAt 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM - Activity for children "Christmas in the Forest" / Children's Town and Children's park "Fantāzija"

26 DecemberAt 12:00 noon - Additional Christmas concert. Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Sonora Vaice, Uģis Roze / Concert Hall "Latvija"At 4:00 PM - Christmas concert. Zigfrīds Muktupāvels, Sonora Vaice, Uģis Roze / Concert Hall "Latvija" 

At 6:00 PM - Lighting of the Christmas tree in Pope. Games, fun activities, and creative workshops together with dwarfs. Seeking for the hidden treasure. Concert / Pope Cultural Centre, Pope, Ventspils Municipality.

11 DecemberAt 4:00 PM - Lighting of the Christmas tree on the Market square. Market square, Ugāle, Ventspils Municipality.

16 DecemberAt 6:00 PM - Literary and musical performance "Christmas Mysteries". Piltene Library, Piltene, Ventspils Municipality.

17 DecemberAt 7:00 PM - Theatrical evening with performances by participants "It Happened Then, When ...". Užava Community Centre, Užava, Ventspils Municipality.

18 DecemberAt 4:00 PM - Christmas concert by the vocal ensemble of Ventspils Cultural Centre "Mundus". Ventava Community Centre, Vārve, Ventspils Municipality.

20 DecemberAt 3:00 PM - Circus performance. Piltene Cultural Centre, Piltene, Ventspils.

23 DecemberAt 5:00 PM - Christmas activity for families "Baking Gingerbread Cookies". Games, fun activities, songs, creative workshops together with dwarfs, horseback riding, street market, and baking of gingerbread cookies. At the carriage house of Zūras Museum, Zūras, Vārve Rural Territory, Ventspils Municipality.

24 DecemberAt 7:00 PM - Midnight Mass in Ugāle Church.Ugāle Church, Ugāle, Ventspils Municipality.

26 DecemberAt 12:00 noon - Theatre performance for children "How the Christmas Tree Taught the Animals a Song" by the Amateur Theatre "Ugāles drāma".Livonian homestead, Tārgale, Ventspils Municipality.

26 DecemberAt 4:00 PM - Concert "Believing, Hoping, and Loving" in Užava Community Centre. Užava Community Centre, Užava, Ventspils.

26 DecemberAt 5:00 PM - Concert by amateur theatres operating in Ugāle.Ugāle Community Centre, Ugāle, Ventspils Municipality. See you under the bright lights in Ventspils!