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January 28, 2025

We Look Forward to Welcoming You!

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How are you feeling as you prepare for this major event?

We’re very excited about the way everything is coming together. Our collaboration with the people of Grand Rapids has been fantastic. They’ve been incredibly welcoming and are thrilled about our festival. The celebration will take place on July 4th, during Independence Day weekend, and we’ve been assured that participants and visitors will not be inconvenienced in any way—restaurants and cultural venues will be open, and our guests will be able to explore and enjoy the city and its sights.


Grand Rapids is not too big and everything is very accessible. The elegant Amway Grand Hotel in the city center—the main venue and lodging for participants—is one of the oldest in the city. It’s located by the river, offering unforgettable sunset views. The hotel features beautiful spaces that will host various events, balls, and a marketplace.


I should also mention that the airport is conveniently nearby with direct flights to 35 U.S. cities.


What steps do festival participants and visitors need to take next?

For participants, the two main events will be the Festival Mass Choir Concert and the Folk Dance Spectacle. As of now 425 dancers have already registered. Choir signup will begin in February. Unfortunately, the DeVos Place Convention Center where the choir concert will be held has capacity limitations due to the size of the stage. While we don’t want to exclude any choirs, priority will be given to choirs from the U.S. and Canadian Latvian diaspora.


Hotel room reservations are planned to open in July of this year, at which time Amway Grand Hotel will be available for booking.


We plan to begin ticket sales for concerts and events in the fall of 2025. Our goal is to launch ticket sales for all events simultaneously, allowing attendees to evaluate their preferences and options.


Do you have an estimate for how many people will attend the festival?

We expect between 3,500 and 4,000 attendees. Interest in the festival has been high. For example, at our Town Hall meeting last fall, over 70 people participated, including some from as far away as Brazil. Also, at the Canadian Latvian Festival last summer, many people stopped by our information table to express interest in participating or attending the festival.


Can you tell us about the festival organizing committee which is entirely made up of volunteers?

We have a versatile and strong team. I’d also like to emphasize that the organizing committee includes people not only from Michigan but also from various other locations, including California, Cleveland, and Boston. Many volunteers have stepped forward to help, and this has been incredibly rewarding and energizing.


How is the festival being funded, and what support have you received so far?

We’ve received funding from the Latvian Ministry of Culture. We will also be supported by the American Latvian Association, the Latvian Song and Dance Festival Fund, and we plan to apply for support from the Latvian Foundation. We also have support from the Meijer Corporation, headquartered in Grand Rapids. Additionally,  financial support has been received from the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Grand Rapids Aglona Church and the Grand Rapids Evangelical Lutheran Church. Our work is greatly supported by the volunteers of the Grand Rapids Latvian Association. They have cordially welcomed us to meet at the Grand Rapids Latvian Center for gratis.


What are some of the events on the program that you're excited about?

We’re thrilled about a theater performance that will be directed by Andra Berkolds and will be created especially for our festival.


We also anticipate performances by several artists from Latvia, but we’ll provide more details once all agreements are finalized.


In conclusion I want to express how eagerly we all anticipate these celebrations and we promise to keep both participants and visitors regularly updated with news. 

Stay Informed

Thank you!

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© 2024 XVI Latvian Song and Dance Festival, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization

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