Welcome to a 15-year birthday celebration of the biggest International Ice Sculpture Festival in the Baltics at Uzvaras park, in Jelgava!

The Festival has its roots in 1998, when two artists created a sculpture exhibition in the centre of Jelgava city.

Year after year, it has grown into an internationally recognized platform of ice art in Europe.

The artistic conceptions and professional solutions of sculptors offer even 6 meters high sculptures, disregarding the laws of gravity.

This year the Festival has reached the highest mark – 30 artists from 10 different countries around the world will participate in the Festival and 60 metric tons of ice will be used in the process of sculpture creation.

Despite the changing weather conditions the International Ice Sculpture Festival in Jelgava has taken place for 15 years in a row.

Additional information:

www.visit.jelgava.lv

www.jelgava.lv

www.kultura.jelgava.lv

Jelgava, 14.01.2013

THE PLANET „ICE”

The International Ice Sculpture Festival will celebrate the 15th birthday by bringing to life the planet “Ice” in Jelgava. Just like in a galactic birthday party – various surprises, six fireworks displays, shows, a record number of ice sculptures and even an ice bath. For the fastest visitors of the event – free entrance.

From February 8th to 10th Jelgava City Council and the municipal agency “Kultūra” with support from “SEB Bank” and CBS ”Igate” invite to the greatest ice sculpture festival during its 15-year history. By resisting the gravitational forces – Uzvaras park in Jelgava will turn into an ice planet, experiencing cosmic multimedial performances, supplemented with original fire, light and video installations.

After evaluating sketch applications, 30 world-renowned artists from 10 countries – Russia, Bulgaria, Ukraine, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Great Britain and USA – have been confirmed as the participants of the Festival. The competition promises to be especially fierce, as most of the artists are first-prize winners of different festivals. This year the scale of ice sculptures will also increase, as each participant will be given a lot more ice, a total of 60 metric tons. Currently, the ice material is already frozen and waiting for the sculptors to arrive.

The youngest visitors of the Planet will enjoy theatrical performances and several ice slides, as well as four ice photo sculptures. The more grown up visitors, in their turn, are welcomed to go on a space exploration with music groups Musiqq, Lady’s Sweet and Karakums, or warm up through dance rhythms Sensation “ICE” featuring DJ [Ex] da Bass and have some refreshments at KOSKENKORVA Ice Bar.

However, a real birthday is unimaginable without gifts, therefore the 15th International Ice Sculpture Festival grants free admission – every day the first 15 minutes in the Uzvaras park are for free.

Recreation and entertainment possibilities in Jelgava – during the Ice Sculpture Festival

Take a bus tour – “Explore Jelgava!”

Jelgava Regional Tourism Centre invites to take the tour “Explore Jelgava!” on a bus manufactured in Jelgava by AMOPLANT with a local guide (in Latvian). During the tour you will find out many interesting facts about more than 25 tourist attractions and sights found in Jelgava city, as well as have a chance of seeing one of them on the spot.

You can sign up for the tour and buy the tickets in Jelgava Regional Tourism Centre (Jelgava Holy Trinity Church Tower, 1st floor ).

Address: Akadēmijas Street 1, Tel. 63005447, E-mail: tic@tornis.jelgava.lv

Bus tour schedule: on February 8th and 10th at 2.00 p.m. from Jelgava Holy Trinity Church Tower (Akadēmijas Street 1) with boarding the tour bus at Uzvaras park at 2.10 p.m.

Ticket prices: Ls 3.00 for adults, Ls 2.00 for pensioners, Ls 1.50 for pupils.

Tour duration: approximately 2 hours.

Have a look: www.visit.jelgava.lv

Experience the Jelgava Holy Trinity Church Tower and the city panorama

What Jelgava looks like in winter from the top? Have a look at all the four cardinal points from the Jelgava Holy Trinity Church Tower observation deck at 37-metre altitude! Also visit the modern exhibitions which introduce with the national costume patterns characteristic for Zemgale region, the history of Jelgava, and invites to go on a virtual tour of the former Holy Trinity Church and see the paintings of Māra Vaičūna.

Jelgava Regional Tourism Centre, located on the first floor, will provide the necessary information on tourism and

recreation possibilities in Jelgava, Jelgava

Municipality and Ozolnieki Municipality.

Address: Akadēmijas Street 1, Tel. 6300544.

Opening hours: on February 8th and 9th from 10.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m.; on February 10th from 11.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m.

Fees: as stated in the price-list.

Have a look: www.tornis.jelgava.lv; www.visit.jelgava.lv

Enjoy Jelgava Palace and the Tomb of the Duke of Courland!

You are most welcome to visit Jelgava Palace which has been held in high esteem by the locals and the visitors already for 275 years. We invite you to take a look back at history in the palace history museum, to visit the historical exposition of Rundāle Palace “the Tomb of the Dukes of Courland” and take delight in the beauty of nature in photography exhibition “The Four Seasons in Photo-stories” by Raivo Freimanis.

Address: Lielā Street 2, Tel. 63005617.

Opening hours: on February 9th and 10th from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Admission fees: Jelgava Palace museum – donations; the Tomb of the Duke of Courland – Ls 2.00 for adults, Ls 1.50 for students and pensioners, Ls 1.00 for pupils.

Have a look: www.llu.lv

Visit Ģ. Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum!

You are invited to visit Ģ. Eliass Jelgava History and Art Museum located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Jelgava – Academia Petrina! Here you will learn how the folk of the ancient Mitava lived and worked in different time periods. Whereas the exhibition “Jelgava- the Pearl of Zemgale!” will demonstrate the greatness of Jelgava in the early 20th century. All the art lovers are welcomed to enjoy the painting collection of Latvian old master Ģederts Eliass.

Address: Akadēmijas Street 10, Tel. 63023383.

Opening hours: from February 8th to February 10th from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Admission fees: as stated in the price-list.

Have a look: www.jvmm.lv

Enjoy skating in Jelgava!

City skating-rink.

In the heart of the city, in the park right behind the House of Culture there is a skating-rink, which is free of charge for those who bring their own skates. If you do not have your own skates, you are welcome to rent them on the spot. Skating session lasts for one hour.

Address: Kr. Barona 6, Tel. 20367677.

Skating schedule: on February 8th at 1.00 p.m.; 4 .00 p.m.; 7.00 p.m.; on February 9th and 10th at 10.00 a.m.; 1.00 p.m.; 4.00 p.m.; 7.p.m.

Admission fees: skating – free of charge, skate rental – Ls 1.00 for one pair per one session.

 Jelgava Ice Hall

Enjoy skating in Jelgava Ice Hall while listening to nice background music!

Address: Rīga Street 11, Tel. 63007220.

Skating schedule: on February 8th at 9.45 p.m.; on February 9th at 1.45 p.m. and 9.30 p.m.; on the February 10th at 12.30 p.m. and 8.15 p.m.

Admission fees: as stated in the price-list.

Discover the mini-zoo farm “Zemgales poniji” and its small inhabitants!

In the square behind the House of Culture everyone is welcome to have a look at “Dwarf paradise”, animal sculptures carved in wood, and caress a real pony from mini-zoo “Zemgales poniji”. Children (weighting up to 35 kg) will be allowed to ride a pony.

There might be changes in case of great frost or other adverse weather conditions.

Address: Kr. Barona Street 6.

Opening hours: on February 9th and 10th from 12.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Fees: ride on a pony Ls 0.50 one circle.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides!

In the meadow right in front of Jelgava Palace everyone is welcomed to enjoy a wonderful ride in a horse-drawn sleigh! It is a must for the feeling is impossible to describe in words!

In case of great frost or other adverse weather conditions there might be changes.

Address: the meadow in front of Jelgava Palace

Opening hours: on the February 9th and 10th from 12.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Fees: as stated in the price-list.

Organizers