Traffic information and festival area
28. January, 2020.
From February 7 to 9, the International Ice Sculpture Festival will be held in Jelgava for the 22nd time, the theme of which will be "SUPERHEROES". Venue – Pasta sala, Jānis Čakste boulevard and for the first time the new outdoor concert hall "Mītava" under the roof.
Increased traffic intensity and traffic jams are possible in the city during the event. We invite drivers to be careful and avoid driving over the Lielupe bridge during the festival - by parking their cars in the parking lots that will be available on both banks of the river. When going to Jelgava, festival guests are invited to familiarize themselves with the traffic organization in the city and follow changes in the navigation app Waze, where information about parking lots and traffic restrictions will be available.
Traffic restrictions
The main stage of the festival will be located on Jānis Čakste boulevard, and its installation will start on February 4. Therefore, from February 4 to February 10, traffic is closed on Jāņa Čakste Boulevard in the section from Raina Street to Údens Street. On the other hand, from February 5, traffic is also closed in the section from Uedas iela to Lielajai iela. Also, starting from February 5, Raina, Uidanes and Driksa streets will be closed in the section from Akademia to Jānis Čakste boulevard.
From February 7 to February 9, access to Jelgava Castle is allowed only for buses.
Parking lots
In the city of Jelgava, Driksa and Lielupi are crossed by only one bridge, so traffic jams are expected during the festival as the traffic intensity increases. Visitors to the ice sculpture festival are invited to park their cars on the bank of the river from which they plan to enter the city, and not to use the Lielupe bridge, while residents of Jelgava are invited to walk to the event or use the city's public transport. We also invite festival guests who will go to Jelgava from Riga to use the train.
Entering the city from the Riga side, cars will be able to park in the meadow in front of Jelgava Castle and on Tukura Street in the meadow near the Lielipes Left Bank Promenade, Zemgale Olympic Center and Jelgava Ice Hall parking lots.
On the other hand, when entering the city from Dobele or Šiauliai drivers are invited to use the parking lot on Sport Street 2C, where there are places for cars and buses, as well as other city parking lots specified in the traffic organization scheme.
Tour operators and travel agencies have invited buses park in the parking lot behind Jelgava Castle. This parking lot will be for buses only. Pilssalas Street, turning from Lielas Street, is crossed by the Lielupes Bridge, so please note that the bus must not be higher than 4 meters.
It will be organized on Pilssalas Street near the Tea House parking lot for the disabled, which can be used by presenting a disabled parking permit and placing it in the car interior near the windshield.
People passing through the city in a hurry are invited not to enter the center of Jelgava and to use the following roads: A8 Rīga – Jelgava – Lietuvas reža (Meitene), A9 Rīga – Liepāja.
Jelgava city municipality will cooperate with the navigation app during the festival Waze, where everyone has access to a map with marked parking lots and traffic restrictions in Jelgava during the Ice Sculpture Festival. Drivers will be able to receive traffic information online to help them plan their route.
Press HERE, to ride with WAZE.
The territory of the festival
The festival will take place in three places in the city: In the Pasta Island, Jānis Čakste boulevard and for the first time in the open-air concert hall "Mītava". This year, the festival gathers 30 world-renowned sculptors from 7 countries.
Pasta island
During the festival, the most impressive and largest ice objects - the 15 large team sculptures - will be on display on the Post Island. Each team of sculptors uses almost two tons of artificially frozen crystal-clear ice to create sculptures. Also, the "Ledus viini" ice bar will be located on the Post island, which is the biggest object of the festival in terms of the amount of ice used, as well as various photo objects and attractions for children.
Jānis Čakste boulevard
The central place of cultural events of the festival will be Jānis Čakste boulevard, where artists such as Astro'n'out, Ralph EIland, Singapore Satin, Franco Franco, A-Europa and many others will perform on the big stage during the three days of the festival. 30 small ice sculptures and various interactive festival objects will be located along the length of the boulevard.
Open-air concert hall "Mītava"
For the first time, the new open-air concert hall "Mītava" will also be used for the festival, where throughout the festival we will be able to watch various demonstrations of magic tricks, circus art, performances and participate in master classes together with Liepāja's traveling circus Beztemata. On the other hand, on February 8 and 9, performances and games for children together with the creative association "Pasaku nams", "Teātris un ES" and Jelgava theaters.
Entrances/exits to the festival area
To enter the festival grounds, there will be three entrances and exits (see map) located at:
- Pilssalas Street near the Tea House;
- on Jānis Čakste boulevard at the intersection with Lielo iela;
- Near the Jelgava Student Theater at Jānis Čakste bulvāri 7 (entrance from Driksa street);
Box office and ticket sales
Festival guests are invited not to leave the purchase of tickets to the last moment, but to buy them cheaper in advance until February 6 “Biļešu Paradīze” selling markets. In order to reduce queues at the box office at the festival venue, we invite you to buy tickets online, you can also present them electronically on your smart device at the entrance.
Cashiers:
- Pilssalas Street near the Tea House;
- on Jānis Čakste boulevard at the intersection with Lielo iela;
- Near the Jelgava Student Theater at Jānis Čakste bulvāri 7 (entrance from Driksa street);
- Jelgava House of Culture.
Visitors to the International Ice Sculpture Festival are invited not to bring pets, dogs will not be allowed in the event area. It is allowed to photograph and film sightseeing objects, but it is forbidden to fly unmanned aircraft or drones over the territory of the event without coordination with the municipality.
Information telephone numbers during the International Ice Sculpture Festival:
- Municipal operational information center 8787;
- Jelgava Regional Tourist Information Center 63005445, 63005447.
Rules for visitors to a public event
By arriving at the event, the visitor agrees to be filmed and photographed. Recorded material may be broadcast, reproduced and distributed without restriction.
