Summer of the Dainu Hill

The first concert will take place on June 6 at 18:00 (6:00 PM) in Turaida, featuring the post-folklore group “Rikši”, whose music captivates every listener. As the group’s musicians say, “The folk song is much closer and more accessible than we think.”

On July 7, 1985, the Dainu Hill was inaugurated in Turaida – an open-air sculpture exhibition dedicated to Latvian folk songs and the wisdom of Latvian traditional worldview expressed in them. The harmony felt between nature and the handiwork of humans has offered spiritual refreshment to thousands of people.

The idea originated from Anna Jurkāne and was realized in cooperation with sculptor Indulis Ranka. Massive stone blocks were transformed into sculptures that express the poetry of folk songs, revealing universal values – love, honor, coexistence with the environment and fellow humans, care for loved ones, the nation, and nature.

However, the story of Dainu Hill goes even deeper – it embraces the spiritual heritage and traditional knowledge embedded in the vast treasure of Latvian folk songs and folklore.

During the Latvian Awakening (Atmoda) period, Dainu Hill became widely known, with thousands gathering there on weekends to express their longing for an independent state and self-determination through folk songs and communal unity.

Over the years, Dainu Hill has become a beloved gathering place for singing by folklore groups. Since 1988, concerts of the international folklore festival BALTICA have echoed through Turaida. Events from the youth folklore movement “Pulkā eimu, pulkā teku” have also been held there.

To mark the anniversary year of Dainu Hill, the Turaida Museum Reserve invites you to several events:

• June 6, 18:00 – Summer Concert Stage at Turaida Castle:
  Post-folklore group “Rikši”

• June 19, 15:00 – Opening of the exhibition
  “About Earth, Songs, and Sculptures” at Sigulda Railway Station Square

• June 21, 13:00 – Opening of the exhibition
  “40 Years of Dainu Hill” at the Turaida Museum Reserve and Midsummer Solstice celebration with folklore group “Mālis”

• June 28 – Baltica 2025 International Folklore Festival Day at the Turaida Museum Reserve:

  • 15:00 – Folklore groups' communal singing at Dainu Hill

  • 18:00 – Grand concert “Strong Words in the Heart” at the Song Garden

• July 7, 04:00 (AM) – Sunrise celebration on the birthday of Dainu Hill with Katrīna Mačuka (kokle) and Rick Feds (finger drumming)

• July 7, 19:00 – Folk song evening at Dainu Hill with Sigulda’s folklore group “Senleja”

• July 25, 18:00 – Summer Concert Stage at Turaida Castle:
  Katrīna Dimanta and the group “Zeltrači”

• August 15, 18:00 – Summer Concert Stage at Turaida Castle:
  Ethno-jazz group “MǬ” from Ventspils Music Highschool