With a series of program about creative artists from Cēsis, which can be watched both on online and on television, Cēsis begins work on its biggest event of the year – “Cēsis 814” – which on July 18, 2020 will become the first virtual city festival in Latvia.

The theme of the  city festival this year will be “Celebrate together!”. As Andra Magone, director of the municipal agency “Cēsis Culture and Tourism Center” explains, it was chosen to emphasize that even during pandemic restrictions and virtual celebrations, a sense of community and celebration is possible, which would be accessible and binding for everyone.

“Of course, we had other plans for this year,” says director of the municipal agency “Cēsis Culture and Tourism Center”, adding that “we understand very well the cities that chose to cancel their celebrations, but” Cēsis 814 “is a tradition that we wanted to keep most of everything, so we were looking for new solutions, including digital ones, how to plan and carry out the celebrations, even if the restrictions on gatherings are maintained.”

To introduce residents of Cēsis, interested in the format of the virtual festival, there is a series of 11 programs “Cēsis 814 – Celebrating together!”, which can be watched on Cēsis social network accounts and TV. In this show, there will be interviewed creative and interesting personalities of Cēsis, many of whom will also be seen on the main stage of the festival “Cēsis 814” at the culmination of July 18.

Throughout the July 18, the “Cēsis 814” festival stage will be provided with live internet and television broadcasting, as well as the possibility to watch concert in the presence on two screens on Roses square ans Castle square in accordance with the current security requirements. This way, the celebration feeling will be preserved for Cēsis residents and anyone interested anywhere in the world.

The program of city festival deliberately is made diverse. At this festival, city wants to show everyone how diverse and talented people come from Cēsis, so the festival stage will be a platform for musicians, cooks, comedians, illusionists, etc. to maintain the dynamism of “Cēsis 814” throughout the day. In addition, the benefit of the live broadcast of the festival is that in this way the record of “Cēsis 814” will remain available to anyone interested.

Cēsis was founded in 1206, it is the third oldest city in Latvia and the birthplace of the Latvian flag.