News and Updates

On the evening of September 26, the wonderful hostesses of the Grand Rapids Latvian Association welcomed guests into their home and served nearly one hundred visitors with warm soup, pīrāgi, homemade rye bread, and dessert.

Last weekend, the Republic of Latvia Special Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, Zanda Grauze, visited Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids. She was accompanied on the trip by our Organizing Committee members Daina Līzenberga and Diāna Pone.

A successful inaugural “Second Best” sale on May 30th and 31st was very well received, especially by young shoppers!

An Interview with Song and Dance Festival Folk Dance Program Leaders Karina Hazners-Foltzer and Martins Daukss

Our voices dance across the seas!

Donation to food pantry from Grand Rapids Latvians...

The Song and Dance Festival program is starting to take shape. From the opening ceremony on Wednesday, July 1st to the evening of Sunday, July 5th, everyone will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the festive spirit at concerts and events. The program is jam-packed with activities, but directors Diāna Kārkliņa and Andra Zommere promise that if you’re up for it, you might manage to catch every single one of them.

As we begin a New Year and start a new set of preparations for the song festival, we offer you an interview with the president of the Song Festival organizing committee, Anda Vizulis.

The Song Festival and Grand Rapids Latvian Association had a wonderful opportunity extended to us by the City of Grand Rapids...

Song Festival volunteers shared their bartending talents at the Grand Rapids International Wine, Beer & Food Festival at DeVos Place.

We congratulate our Festival's Music Program Leader, Paul Berkolds, with being awarded Latvia’s highest honor – the Order of the Three Stars!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Town Hall on October 22! We were blown away by the participation–thank you to all 72 people who tuned in to learn what the XVI Latvian Song and Dance Festival Organizing Committee has been up to.