The Freeport of Riga Authority invites you to The Port Festival, August 16 – 17, in the framework of the Riga City Festival

On August 16 at 12.00 at Bastejkalns (Bastion Hill) an exciting and popular competition among water cycles - “Regatta of the Canal 2014. The Freeport of Riga Cup” will be opened. Final rides of the Regatta will start at 17.00.

Regatta of the Canal is a traditional tournament, that was discontinued for some time, and renewed due to grand celebration of the 810th Anniversary of the Port of Riga. The water bike competition will start at the Bastejkalns and finish at the Latvian National Opera. As usual the teams of well-known Latvian companies, mass media and organizations will compete for the titles of " Ātrākais Kanālbraucējs (The Fastest Canal Racer)", "The Most Elegant Crew (Elegantākā Ekipāža)”, " Skumjais Ūdensmalējs (The Sad Water Miller)", as well as for the Media Cup and other attractive awards. Opening of the Regatta will take place at 12.00 at Bastejkalns, and the water bike race and team performances will start immediately. This year the teams of the well-known artists, journalists, businessmen and public officers will take part in the water bike competition. From 12.00 till 16.00 radio SWH will provide a live broadcast of the event.

There is also a new contest this year - at 15.00 a canoeing competition with participation of the teams of the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University will be held. The teams of the educational institutions will compete for the victory and the “The Freeport of Riga Canoe Challenge Cup.” The organizers of the event have scheduled interesting activities for those who just come to watch the race. Exclusive opportunity to try their capacity at 500 meters distance, using FixRide bike rolls, on the top of the Bastejkalns will be provided for the most active ones, but those, who feel tired, can relax in massage chairs under a large oak tree at the foot of Bastejkalns. Creative activities for children will be organized by “Mammām un tētiem”. Those, who are not able to attend the Port Festival, can enjoy a live broadcast by Radio SWH.

On August 16 at 14.00 the program of “Ielu Mūzikas diena (The Street Music Day)”, that is taking place for the fourth time, will be opened. There will be music performances at different locations in the center of Riga.

On August 16 from 14:00 till 21:00 Riga will become a centre of live, genuine and accessible music. Organizers of the festival welcome all music lovers and provide professional artists and amateurs with an opportunity to sing and play at various locations, in the streets and parks of Riga. All those who register at the web-page www.ielumuzika.lv for the participation in the event by August 12, subsequently will be awarded with the Riga City Council agreed musical performance location and time. This year the participants are invited to perform at Bastejkalns ( Bastion Hill), Zviedru varti (TheSwedish Gate), at Torņa, Kaļķu, Vaļņu, Tirgoņu and Audēju streets, as well as in Berga Bazars, Spīķeru kvartāls (Spikeru Quarter) un Kaņepes kultūras centrs (Kanepes Culture Center). For the fourth year the Street Music Day patron is a well-known Latvian musician Intars Busulis, that expressed his feelings about the music day as follows: "It was a cool adventure and a new experience. I definitely recommend everyone, who loves music and loves to play music, to participate in the event this year."

On August 16-17, 2014, an annual 24-hour outdoor basketball game “ Krastu Macs (The Game of Two River Banks)”, will take place in front of the Latvian National Opera.

On August 16 from 13.00 till 15.00 in the framework of the “Krastu macs (The Game of Two River Banks)” there will be the Slam Dunk and the Three- Point Shootout contests. On August 16 at 15.00 the official opening of the “Krastu macs” will take place. After that a 24-hour tournament will be launched, ending at 15.00 on August 17. The final result will be a total score from the start to the final whistle, and the winning bank of the River Daugava will be awarded.

In 2014 the event format remains the same - 24 hours, 48 teams, divided into the teams, representing the right and the left bank, competing for the title of the fittest bank of the of the River Daugava. The overall score before the fifth basketball contest season is 2: 2. Participation is free of charge, and every participant will get a gift - an in-game T-shirt.

Special “Krasta Macs” 2014 events: Three- Point Shootout contest with the best Latvian basketball snipers’ participation, the Slam Dunk contest involving the best Latvian and foreign Dunkers, the best Latvian DJ performance throughout the duration of the event, a magnificent Latvian National Opera illumination show at midnight, cheerleaders’ performances, power shot contest with a special prize and a variety of other attractions for guests and fans.

Every year approximately 600 players participate in "Krastu macs", both professional players and amateurs of different age groups. According to organizers’ estimates the last event was visited by 100 000 fans.

In the framework of the Riga City Festival 2014, the Freeport of Riga Authority invites residents and guests of Riga as well as participants of the festive events to get acquainted with the Port of Riga.

Do you know what cargo is handled at the Freeport of Riga? Who is handling cargo? Have you ever been in a container? Do you know what is the responsibility of the Harbour Master? Do you know that there is Milestibas Island (Love island) in the middle of the port of Riga territory? You can get answers to these questions as well as learn much more about the port at the Freeport of Riga Pavilion. The pavilion visitors will be offered the unique opportunity to get acquainted with the Freeport, its operation and plans, the cargo it handles, and, yes, touch the real grain and metal!

The Freeport of Riga is open for the visitors at the 11.Novembra Krastmala in front of the Triangula Bastions.

“The Port Festival” has become a beautiful tradition that unites residents and visitors of the City of Riga. The city of Riga and the Freeport of Riga are inseparable - that is why the Port Festival provides a significant input into the Riga City Festival program, enhancing creative ideas and positive thinking, and making everybody feel part and parcel of magnificent celebration.

The team of the Port Festival invites all residents of Riga and Riga guests to visit the festival events to get a positive impulse, seeing our city from a different perspective- colorful, joyful and creative one.