Cider events

About Latvian Cider Traditions and Festivals

The smaller Latvian cider makers can often be found at fairs, especially ones taking place during the various solstice festivities, in the Easter and Christmas markets, and in the summer in the festivals of the small Latvian towns. Producers that offer tap ciders also take part in the major summer festivals and concerts.

The Sabile Wine Festival

For many years now, the most significant festival in Latvia is the Sabile Wine Festival, which is based on the historical traditions of the Sabile Wine Hill. Every year, almost all of the Latvian producers gather here in the last week of July. With increasing numbers of cider makers, this festival has gradually become a fair for cider too, adding to the enjoyment of tourists in Kurzeme.

The Night Symphony for the Apple Orchard (organised in May by the Abavas Winery as part of the Museum Night)

The Ārlavciems apple orchard is at its most delightful and magical during the apple blossom. The flowering apple trees are a sight worth capturing in photos, so there is a photo contest organised before the event. On the day of the event, various master classes and creative workshops are held and the audience can enjoy an open-air concert as well as many other surprises, whilst surrounded by the beautiful fragrance of the flowering apple trees.

The Apple Blossom Celebration in Jumprava (organised in May by the Mr. Plūme Cidery)

Once a year, during the apple blossom period, the Plūme family open the doors of their cidery to everyone. The guests are invited to taste their ciders, enjoy the beautiful flowers in the apple orchard, and relax in nature. Musical performances are provided by Mr. Plūme himself, as he used to be a professional guitar player and still loves picking up his guitar from time to time. Entrance is free.

The Ārlavciems Apple Festival – the Apple Harvest Festival (organised in September by the Abavas Winery)

This is a festival for everyone who appreciates the countryside with its typical fresh air and peace, and enjoys working in the garden together with friends, relatives and family. During the event you can pick the special Ārlavciems apples, celebrate, enjoy open-air concerts, participate in various workshops and physical activities, relax in the apple orchard cinema, and take part in many other activities.

The Wild Apple Collective Harvest in Naukšēni (usually organised in October by the Naukšēni Winery)

From 2015, collective apple harvesting in Naukšēni was a yearly activity that was enjoyed with family relatives and friends who joined in to help with the apple picking, but since 2019 this family tradition has been extended to the general public, meaning that anyone who would like to experience the magic of harvesting wild apples, is welcome to lend a hand. Such a year is yet to come when all of the apples are harvested, as the orchard is exceptionally large (around 2000 trees) and the apples are very small... There is no need to worry about empty stomachs, as there is always soup, meat and Naukšēni drinks on the table after the harvest. For a fully relaxing experience, a special bus on the RigaValmiera-Naukšēni route is arranged for both directions.