The tradition of folk dancing and choral music is very strong in Latvia. We can even say that almost every Latvian is, or has once been singing in a choir. Thus for almost a century an a half, every five years this tradition reaches its culmination when, following a selection of the best choirs and dance groups, the most outstanding singers and dancers gather in Riga. This is a festival also for Riga, as for the entire week the city lives in time with Latvian folk song and in a swirl of Latvian folk dance. The festivities bring together more than 30 000 participants – singers, dancers, wind orchestra musicians, folklore groups, amateur theatres, studios of applied and fine arts, and others.
The festival features a number of various concerts and last for a whole week. They start with a Song Celebration procession when the viewers welcome the participants, and end with a final concert at the Mežaparks open air stage with a concert of the 13 000 - strong joint choir.
The next Song and Dance Celebration will take place in 2013.
