Mežaparks Grand Bandstand is a cultural and historical structure in the green area of the city of Riga, the forest park known as Mežaparks, comprised of an Open-Air Stage, a concert hall, an exhibition hall, a pavilion, and a number of conference and seminar rooms.

The Grand Bandstand is a landmark of great cultural and historical importance – over the time, it has become a permanent venue for The Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, a tradition dating back to over 150 years ago. Even though the Open-Air Stage has already undergone a number of reconstructions and extensions, it still retains its initial historical visual appearance and serves as a perfect venue for mass cultural and entertainment events.

All guests and residents of Riga are welcome to visit this outstanding cultural site – The Mežaparks Grand Bandstand, main venue of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, visit its concert hall and see the expositions in the Exhibition Hall, as well as the Pavilion on any given day.

Construction of the original Grand Stage of Mežaparks began in 1954, primarily as a venue for the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration. The main author of the project at the time was architect Vladimir Shnitnikov. The main objective for the builders was to create a stage that would be capable to accommodate a 100 dancing pairs, 7 thousand singers and an audience of up to 37 thousand.

Following the completion of its construction in 1955, the Grand Stage welcomed its first mass event – the XII Latvian Song and Dance Celebration, which lasted from July 18 to July 22, 1955. Performances of the celebration featured 10 767 adult singers of the grand choir, 1665 young artists from the children’s choir, along with folk-dance shows that involved 1808 dancers. Other performers included 1500 amateur talents from professional schools, 152 musicians from eight different brass bands, 1 530 choristers and bandsmen of the garrison of Riga. Leading conductors: T. Kalniņš, J. Mediņš, H. Mednis, J. Ozoliņš, L. Vīgners. After a major reconstruction, the territory of the Mežaparks Grand Bandstand has increased from about 92 000 square metres to over 146 400. The area of the spectator field is 22 thousand square metres, and the spectator area is fitted with 30 557 portable spectator seats; apart from that, the standing area can accommodate an audience of 50 000. Choir stands are now large enough to accommodate up to 16 000 singers.

BUILDING OF THE MEZAPARKS GRAND BANDSTAND

Since the completion of its major reconstruction in summer 2021, the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand is managed by Culture Association of Northern Riga, also comprised of the VEF Culture Palace and  Culture Palace “Ziemeļblāzma”, that shapes the course of cultural life in the Northern part of the city of Riga. All five floors of the Mezaparks Grand Bandstand building features spacious premises.

Source: https://estrade.riga.lv