Choir music

The biggest choir-singing event is Song and Dance festival, which is hosted every 5 years in Riga for well over a century. Next one will take place in summer of 2013.

There are several professional choirs (national choir "Latvija", choir of national radio) in Latvia and lots of amateur ones (with various performance levels). Although "Kamēr" is not a professional choir, you should definitely check them out if your interested in choir music.

End of august there is international spiritual music festival (garīgās mūzikas festivāls), organized by national choir "Latvija" (one of few professional choirs in Latvia). Can't get any info on 2011 event now.

Events hosted in rural regions could be much more of an experience, even though the performance level of the choirs will be lower than those of professional ones:

• May 21, 2011., Aloja - choir music festival dedicated to conductors. Various events during whole day, contact for details.
• May 28, 2011., Bauska - choir music festival of senior choirs (elderly people singing)
• June 4, 2011., Dundaga - Kurzeme regional choir festival
• June 11, 2011, Riga - concert dedicated to 810th anniversary of Riga
• June 18, 2011, Mazsalaca - music festival for choirs from rural areas and small towns
• July 2, 2011, Alūksne - choir music festival for choirs from Vidzeme and Latgale regions
• September 17, 2011, Meņģeļi, Ērgļi municipality - 11th meeting of Latvian choir

More info here, Latvian only, try translate.google.com or contact us.

Wild camping in Latvia

In Latvia, like in Scandinavian countries, you are allowed to camp
wild as long as you respect the nature and follow some simple regulations.
Whether you are cycling, hiking, boating, or traveling by car, you can put
up your tent and enjoy the outdoors, just don't forget to clean up after
yourself.

Everyone's rights:

• In Latvia, everyone has the right to stay and move freely across national, local or private forests unless there are movement restriction signs;
• It is allowed to put up your tent outside protected areas anywhere at any time;

The rules are few and simple:

• don't camp on agricultural land (woodland or bushes are ok and there are plenty of them),
  

• don't camp close to dwelling houses (or ask a permission from landowner; closeness is not defined, use common sense and you should be ok)
  

• don't camp in restricted/nature conservacy areas (don't jump over fences and check the map if youre not in a reserve)
  

In protected nature conservancy areas, nature parks and reserves, dunes
and water protection zones it is allowed to camp only in special campsites (or by
agreement with landowner). Some of them could be free of charge, if not,
be prepared to pay by cash. More information could be found out in
information/visitor centers:
http://www.latvia.travel/en/tourist-information-centres ;

Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds only, but stoves are ok to use.
State forest company has established a network of campgrounds, take a look. They are quite primitive - picnic table, fireplace, pit toilet. Don't count on running water though, stock up in advance or use water from next river/lake.