Bauska is one of the capitals of vimba fishing, which is why on 20 April the right bank of the River Mūsa (Krasta iela, by the Bauska stadium) will host the seventh “Vimbu svētki” (Vimba Festival), which every year draws entrants of the Good Will Angling Competition, nature lovers and celebrators of spring from all over Latvia to the riverside.

This time the festival will be held under the slogan “It's good to be in nature!”, encouraging people not only to enjoy nature's generosity, but also to be mindful of using natural resources and nature's bounty as gently as possible. Through educational activities, masterclasses and accounts of experience from seasoned experts, visitors will discover how to be welcome guests on walking trails, by bodies of water and elsewhere in nature, and how each of us can become a better friend to nature through our everyday habits.

As every year, the earliest start to the festival day, from 07.00, will be made by the entrants of the Good Will Angling Competition, whose numbers on the banks of the Mūsa reached 90 fishing enthusiasts last year. Please note that registration for the competition will take place on the day of the festival, before the start. To register, participants must bring a valid angling, crayfishing and spearfishing card (except for persons under 16 and over 65, as well as persons with disabilities), a personal identification document (ID card or passport) and a licence. To promote the principles of responsible fishing, this year anglers are asked to return their catch to the river after it has been weighed by the competition judges, or to keep it within the permitted limits. At the close of the competition, participants will be given awards in five categories – prizes go to those who land the three largest vimba, as well as to the oldest and the youngest entrant. This year the prize fund for the competition and the festival activities is being provided by the shopping centre “Līga”, BBQ culture promoter “Oak'a'bbq”, fish product manufacturer “Kaija”, egg and egg product producer “Balticovo”, “Bauskas alus” and “Cido”. Participants are invited to read the rules of the 2025 Good Will Angling Competition here: https://ej.uz/vs-sacensibas-2025

While the fishing enthusiasts patiently wait for a winning catch on the end of their hook, other festival-goers will be able to enjoy concerts by well-known Latvian musicians, educational activities, creative pursuits, shopping at the local producers' market and more from 11:00. The legendary folk rock band “Iļģi” will greet all who gather with the sounds of folk music this Easter, while the atmospheric band “Idille” will fill the riverbank with harmonious melodies. Throughout the day visitors will be entertained by freelance artist and DJ Trakais Mārtiņš, who will play music on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. The baton of festival compère, meanwhile, will this time be taken up by actor and passionate angler Jānis Āmanis. Together with the designers of the creative platform “Bourzma”, visitors will have the chance to learn about the importance of reusable clothing and accessories for the sustainability of nature and to take part in a clothing workshop, printing festival design elements onto a garment they have brought along.