Your weekly guide to concerts, exhibitions and festivals in the Latvian capital! Published every Friday morning - follow on Facebook for regular updates.

Offbeat art sweeps Riga this Saturday night at the 19th annual White Night contemporary culture festival.

The event brings performances, installations, films and much more not just to the city centre, but also to virgin cultural spaces like markets, swimming pools and even trams.

September 7, from 17:00. Entry to some events requires getting a free invitation obtainable in advance.

Check out the full festival programme, and see the listings below for some of the highlights -they're marked with ✨

✨Music and tech merge in the world's first opera created using AI tools. "Andromeda" was one of three Baroque operas performed at the court of King Wladyslaw IV Vasa of Poland-Lithuania in the 17th century. The long-lost score has been recreated by AI to accompany the original libretto. Performed by the Baroque opera theatre Collegium Musicum Riga. September 7, 20:00, Riga Stradiņa University Hall, Dzirciema iela 16, free invitation required. 

✨Dive into the interdisciplinary experience Near the Water, with youth choir Latvian Voices and light, video and sign language artists performing the cycle Songs about Latvian Rivers composed by Inese Zandere and Raimonds Pauls.  RTU Ķīpsala Swimming Pool, Ķīpsalas iela 5, three 30-minute performances at 22:22, 23:23 and 24:24. Get free invitations from the pool information desk during pool working hours. A trickle of Latvian  Rivers:

Enjoy beautiful harmonies with your shopping this Saturday, as actors from Riga's Russian Drama Theatre perform songs from beloved Chekov plays at the Kalnciems Quarter Market (Kalnciema iela 35.) September 7, from 10:00, free entry.

The Caucuses come to Doma Cathedral (Doma laukums 1), as the Georgian State Choir conducted by Archil Ushveridze perform works by Georgian composers. Part of the 27th Festival of Spiritual Music. September 7, 19:00. 

Savour three evenings of chamber music by Sinfonietta Riga at the Zuzeum contemporary art centre (Lāčplēša iela 101). September 6 - Mozart's Clarinet Quintet and Widmann's Circus Dances. September 7 - Atmospheres of Riga. Latvian Music Premieres
September 8 – Inspired by Schubert. All at 19:00. Tickets are 15-25 euros.

The State Academic Choir Latvija, the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia and soloists pay tribute to the 200th birthday of composer Anton Bruckner in the final concert of the 27th Festival of Spiritual Music. September 12, 20.00, Doma Cathedral. Tickets from 10 euros.

✨Set your creative drive in motion with "Art on Wheels." by the Latvian art centre Noass and its Norwegian counterpart Fargefabrikken. This contemporary art show for children and teens is travelling around Latvia's regions in two minivans, and it will park in the heart of Old Riga for the White Night. September 7, 14:00-20:00, Rātslaukums. Free entry.

✨A dozen Latvian, Ukrainian, South American and Canadian sculptors ponder the subject "Things That Wouldn't Have Been" on the AB dambis breakwater across the river from Old Town The show reflects on the challenges artists face during pandemics, wars and other crises. From 19:00-23:00 there are guided tours on the hour in Latvian, English and Ukrainian. Free entry.

Art forms collide in Riga's Art Nouveau district, with a show for the centenary of Latvian painter Valdis Bušs set amidst an exhibition devoted to master architect Mikhail Eisenstein. At Art Platz, Alberta iela 4/9.✨On White Night, Art Platz is open 18:00-24:00.

Relive the mood of the turbulent transition to independence at the exhibition The First Five Years, featuring photographs taken by Jānis Deinats from 1989 to 1994 at the Latvian National Museum of Art  (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1). Until November 24.

Explore an exhibition of photos depicting the 1989 Baltic Way human chain in front of the Freedom Monument at 13;00 on August 23. Until September 10, free entry.

Delve into Latvia's dramatic past on my Soviet Riga tour!

Enjoy sculptures by 12 notable artists from diverse Latvian museums at the exhibition "Sculpture in Porcelain" at Riga Porcelain Museum (Kalēju iela 9/11). And in the museum's street level display windows, the exhibition "Beginning" reveals porcelain and large-format drawings by Liene Mackus. Liene is a multifaceted artist who has created much loved public sculptures in Riga, such as the playground next to Doma Cathedral. Both shows until October 13.

On Doma laukums, the artists' cooperative Lightfoot have created an interactive installation inspired by medieval forms called "Together with the Dom." It's swings and benches are already a popular spot to chill.

And on Līvu laukums, rocket-shaped "Pavilion" by SIA Sampling is a distillation of Riga's many architectural styles.

Explore Old Riga, be amazed by Art Nouveau architecture, or get the lowdown on the city's highlights!

Art meets environment in an enthralling exhibition of luminescent paintings in Ķemeri National Park. The works by 12 artists are all made from recyclable materials and reflect the biodiversity in the adjacent marshland. The gallery is accessible 24 hours, and after 20:00 the works are lit up by UV lamps. Near the ĶNP Forest House, free entry, until October 6.

The founder of modern Latvian painting Vilhelms Purvītis and the poet Aspazija had neighbouring summer cottages in Jurmala. The pair are reunited with an exhibition "Poet of Colours" featuring the landscape master's works made in Jurmala, held at the museum in Aspazija's former residence (Zigfrīda Meirovica prospekts 20). Until November 9.

Check out the cool sculptures on Dzintari Beach (near Dzintari Concert Hall) by local and international artists. The theme of this year's Art Beach display is "The Sun." Free entry, until September 8.

Get into one of my delightful Jurmala walking tours, savour a daytrip to the resort or a journey to Kurzeme. Or join me in discovering Sigulda's spectacular scenery!

✨Many of the White Night venues are located along the route of tram no. 1, connecting ten Riga neighbourhoods. And the streetcar itself will become a Rave Tram, with female DJs pumping out the sounds. The first service will depart from the "Autoosta" stop at 18:30 heading in the direction of Jugla, then travel between Jugla and Imanta until midnight, pausing at selected stops.  At 21:00, it will stop for an hour at the stop "45. vidusskola" for an hour of stationary partying.

Get those legs pumping on the annual Dubulti-Kolka ultra walk. The 136 km footslog along the beautiful Gulf of Riga coast must be completed within 55 hours. Start on September 6 at 10:00 from Baznīcas iela 2a, Jūrmala, finish at Cape Kolka on September 8 at 17:00. More info and registration. 

The magical tale of a cat and his buddies making their way through a catastrophic flood, Straume/ Flow has been hailed as landmark in animated filmmaking. Directed by Latvian Gints Zilbalodis, it was nominated at Cannes and has won other prestigious awards. Without a word of human dialogue, it is a masterpiece of storytelling capturing both young and old hearts. Screening in Riga at Splendid Palace and Forum Cinemas - here's a glimpse:

Every summer, Latvia's regions hold "home restaurant" weekends, where local amateur chefs showcase their talents. On September 7-8, treat yourself in Ogre County, southeast of Riga.

Enjoy street food at "Grantslejas" in Tome, chowing down on King boletus cream soup, chicken skewers marinated in lemon, garlic and parmesan cheese, and cheesecake with salty caramel and berries.

In Ķeipene Parish, meet the farmer's favourite sheep Zuze, horses, cows and other pals, then dig into solyanka cooked over the fire, meat-filled pancakes, and a slew of sweets like macaroons, chocolate cake or panna cotta.

And in Tīnuži Parish, the local barefoot walking trail puts on a real party, with a 30-person drum show, fire jugglers, plus nibbles like hinkali dumplings, meat kebabs and secret French-inspied desserts.