On 3 and 4 May, Sigulda's Svētku laukums will host the largest and most colourful spring gardening event, Latvijas Stādu parāde, for the twenty-first time.
Only growers from Latvia will take part in the event, promoting and showcasing the national plant-growing industry and honouring those who work in it. As usual, this year's Latvijas Stādu parāde will bring together more than 300 participants, among them growers from every region of the country, making it the largest national plant fair. Latvian craftspeople and local food producers will also be there with beautiful and delicious surprises, alongside representatives of garden goods and machinery manufacturers.
Andrejs Vītoliņš, Chair of the Board of the Growers' Association, says that despite the challenges growers face day to day – particularly changeable weather over the past two years, though so typical of Latvia, economic fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainty – the plant market continues to grow and develop: “The availability and range of plants on the market has only widened this year. Growers, especially newcomers to the market, are offering ever more unique and introduced varieties, which bring a fresh breeze to garden design and landscaping. Naturally, one should remain cautious and pragmatic when choosing more exotic plants, as they demand greater care, but there is no denying that climate change allows us to grow some very unusual things in our gardens.” He points out that the plant parade is precisely the place to get advice from growers on what such plants to grow and how best to do it, while for those whose gardens are still taking shape, the event is the right place to find a rich assortment.
This year the organisers will invite everyone to think not only about practical matters, but also to reflect on what it means to each of us to be out in nature, to sink our fingers into cool soil, to delight in a shoot that has just pushed through the ground, and to celebrate in a garden in full bloom. Among the many growers, visitors this year will also be greeted by the Ziedoņa muzejs, which will show educational animated films “Suns Funs un pasaule” to the younger generation, as well as offering the chance to take part in a competition about Imants Ziedonis's Zaļā pasaka. 3 May is Imants Ziedonis's birthday, and the season at the Ziedoņa muzejs also opens on that day.
As every year, for two days Sigulda's Svētku laukums will offer the chance to buy plants grown solely in Latvia. Craftspeople and small-scale home producers will also be inviting buyers to their stalls. Our caterers will be ready to feed anyone who is hungry. Interesting activities await everyone at the stands of non-governmental organisations.
This year too, in the middle of each day, we will hold a charity plant auction in support of those who cannot ask for help themselves – our four-legged friends living in shelters and with animal welfare associations.
We would remind you that entry and parking at the event are free, and our helpers will be on hand to carry plants to the plant cloakroom and from there to visitors' cars. To find the venue, we recommend using the Waze navigation app.
The 21st Latvijas Stādu parāde is organised by the foundation “Stādu un kūdras inovāciju fonds” in cooperation with the Growers' Association and Sigulda Municipality.