08/08/2026
Rikši Live at the Zāļumballe Garden Party | XVI Vispārējie latviešu dziesmu & deju svētki ASV/XVI Latvian Song & Dance Festival | Grand Rapids, Michigan 2026
Music video-style medley from the Thursday evening Zāļumballe (Garden Party) at Rosa Parks Circle following the Festival opening parade.
Iphone footage clips cobbled together (a little shaky in places) to preserve the feeling of being there; walking through the crowd, catching different angles, and sharing the energy of the evening.
The July 2nd Garden Party was designed as the Festival’s public opening celebration, bringing together Latvian participants and the Latvian-American diaspora community through music and dance.
The featured performers are Postfolkloras grupa RIKŠI, a post-folk group from Latgale, Latvia. [Since forming in 2010, Rikši have become known for blending traditional Latvian and especially Latgalian folk songs with contemporary arrangements, creating performances that encourage audiences to sing, dance, and participate.]
Excerpts from the opening remarks were placed as bookends to the music, recognizing the Latvian diaspora and its lasting contributions to both the United States and Latvia.
“Dievs, svētī Latviju!”
“God Bless Latvia!”
Featured band: Rikši (Postfolkloras grupa “Rikši”)
Their YouTube: https://youtube.com/
🇱🇻 Grand Rapids, Michigan
📍 Rosa Parks Circle
🎶 XVI Latvian Song & Dance Festival (Dziesmu un Deju Svētki)
July 2026
