Latvia’s capital Riga celebrates Tbilisoba festival

Latvia has followed Ukraine’s lead by hosting its own Tbilisoba celebration in its capital city Riga.

The three-day event satellite event celebrating Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi launched in Riga on Monday with a program that included an exhibition and sale of traditional Georgian craftsmanship items.

The occasion was supported by the Georgia’s Foreign Ministry and the country’s local Embassy.

Some of Georgia’s finest art and crafts were presented to the Latvian public by local creators and artists. Items exhibited at the Makslas Banka Galereja exhibition space featured works of enamel, presented by two masters of the Georgian enamel technique who travelled to Riga for the occasion.

Today the satellite Tbilisobafestival will conclude with a master class on Georgian cuisine and cooking, then later in the evening a special concert featuring the Georgian folk singing ensemble Shvidkatsa will be held at the Great Guild Hall Theatre.

Latvian officials, foreign diplomatic corps, business representatives and Georgian diaspora were expected to attend the festival over the three-day program.

The celebration followed a similar celebration in Ukraine’s capital Kiev last week that was attended by more than 35,000 visitors.

Meanwhile in Georgia the annual Tbilisoba festival will take place in capital Tbilisi this weekend, on October 17 and 18.