AS Latvijas Finieris at the XIII School Youth Song and Dance Festival

03.07.2025

The Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival is the largest children’s and youth song and dance tradition in Latvia. This summer, from 5 to 13 July, Riga will come alive at more than 30 events, bringing together 38 114 participants: singers, dancers, brass, kokle and accordion players, etc. This festival is a vital part of our rich tradition of song and dance festivals, which not only lie at the heart of Latvia’s cultural and historical identity but also strengthen social cohesion, national pride and a deep sense of belonging.
“Our strength lies in our people – dedicated professionals who serve Latvia each day, and who come together in song and dance during evenings and holidays to celebrate joy and togetherness. By working together on our land and uniting in song and dance, we have preserved and strengthened the very core of our nation to this day.
It is US – Latvians!
We at Latvijas Finieris are proud to be part of this enduring tradition – giving Baltic-grown birch the opportunity to become stage floors and innovative engineering solutions for set design.
Let the tradition continue!
For a strong, prosperous and independent Latvia!”

Uldis Biķis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS Latvijas Finieris.

AS Latvijas Finieris also supports this year’s festival by engaging in other activities.

For the first time in the history of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, both participants and visitors will have the opportunity to take part in STEAM workshops at the Mežaparks Open-Air Stage. Visitors will have the chance to explore the essence of the Song and Dance Festival in depth by engaging with various technologies, participating in creative workshops, experiencing live demonstrations, and enjoying interactive activities.

Latvijas Finieris, in collaboration with robotics and automation experts from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, invites you to join what might be the world’s friendliest Robot Battles – an exciting opportunity to explore how robotics and automation impact our daily lives, and to discover how engineering, mechatronics, programming, and material science are shaping the professions of tomorrow. The youngest ones will have the opportunity to learn about the variety of uses of wood, especially birch, in a special educational area.

Uldis Biķis, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS Latvijas Finieris, emphasises:

Our involvement in continuing the tradition of the Song and Dance Festival is closely linked to the company’s values of entrepreneurship and development. This festival is not just about singing and dancing – it’s about the people and the skills that shape them from generation to generation. We are proud to demonstrate how birch plywood from the Baltic region serves both tradition and innovation. It is just as important to inspire young people to explore technology, engineering and science – skills that will carry our traditions forward into the future.”

In Vērmane Garden, a miniature of the Mežaparks Grand Open-Air Stage or the Silver Grove will be on display throughout the entire week of the festival. Visitors are welcome to take their photo on this symbolic stage and feel the unity of the celebration by singing “Stāvēju, dziedāju!”.

The miniature stage serves as a symbolic bridge to our national pride – the Mežaparks Grand Open-Air Stage, or the Silver Grove – a remarkable creation by talented architects Juris Poga and Austris Mailītis. It stands as a place where the harmony between people and nature, so deeply rooted in Latvian folk songs, is vividly brought to life. The uniqueness of Silver Grove is the clarity and resonance of the sound, which allows every note, every word, to ring out with power and depth – as if this place was made for it.

This is made possible by 3D sound shields made from Baltic birch plywood. In total, the grand stage is decorated with 510 spherically curved shields made of Riga Preprime and Riga Ply birch plywood produced by Latvijas Finieris.