Sand sculptors from various countries around the world have arrived in Jelgava to begin work on their sculptures for the 20th International Sand Sculpture Festival. Pasta Island is bustling with activity—15 artists from Turkey, the U.S., Ukraine, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, the Netherlands, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are transforming sand into impressive works of art step by step. The sculptors will continue working on their sculptures until Thursday, May 21.

This year, the festival is celebrating its anniversary and invites visitors to embark on an exciting journey millions of years into the past—to the Jurassic Period. In their works, the sculptors bring to life both the world of dinosaurs and stories about the evolution of life, the forces of nature, and the balance between them. Alongside dynamic and action-packed scenes, the sculptures also reveal peaceful moments, concern for offspring, and themes close to the human heart—choices, imagination, and relationships.

Visitors will also be able to view the demo sculpture “Dinosaur gathering,” created by Agnese Rudzīte-Kirilova from Latvia and Roger Ferralla from Spain. It depicts a scene from the Jurassic period—dinosaurs of various species gathered together in a shared moment of daily life, while a tyrannosaurus rex watches the scene from above and pterodactyls circle in the sky.

The sculpture “Volcanus” at the festival’s entrance gate was created by Sanita Rāviņa from Latvia. The Latin word “Volcanus” refers to the god of fire and volcanoes in Roman mythology—the patron of blacksmiths and craftsmen, who forged armor and weapons for gods and heroes. It was Volcanus who gave his name to volcanoes, as in ancient times it was believed that volcanic eruptions were linked to his anger and actions.

The International Sand Sculpture Festival on Pasta Island will take place on May 23, offering a wide-ranging cultural and entertainment program throughout the day. During the day, visitors will be entertained by family activities, puppet shows, foam parties, creative workshops, large-scale games, and improvisational theater performances, while in the evening, the season-opening concert will take place at the “Mītava” open-air concert hall. Taking the stage will be the band “Kautkaili,” Samanta Tīna, the band “Pienvedēja Piedzīvojumi,” and Fiņķis, creating an energetic and diverse evening program.

Tickets can be purchased at “Biļešu paradīze” ticket offices and online. A one-day festival ticket allows you to leave the territory and return as you please, giving you the opportunity to enjoy both sand art and the diverse offerings of Museum Night in a single day, concluding the evening with a concert program at the “Mītava” open-air concert hall.

Starting May 21, Pasta Island will be closed to visitors while the festival is being set up and taking place, but the children’s playground will remain open. Additional parking spaces will be available for the convenience of festival visitors—please use the Waze app to find their locations.

The event is organized by the City of Jelgava and the “Kultūra” institution, with support from AS Ramirent Baltic.