RIGA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The 10th edition of the annual Staro Riga Lights Festival illuminated the Latvian capital city on Friday as Latvia was preparing to mark the 99th anniversary of its statehood this weekend, organizers of the event informed.
This year, the Staro Riga festival is taking place from November 17 to 20, offering residents and guests of the city various art installations that will be lighting up streets, buildings, parks and backyards of the city.
The motto of this year's festival is "To the Stars", marking a path of light to Latvia's centenary.
Commenting on the symbolism of light, the festival's curator Diana Civle said that "light opens up new opportunities, various paths and horizons, the whole world... We want to reach for the stars".
The 2017 Staro Riga Lights Festival features 35 light artworks and installations, dedicated to the centenary not only of Latvia, but also Finland.
The festival's international program includes light installations created by artists from various countries of the world. Various enterprises, institutions and private entrepreneurs, meanwhile, are taking part in the festival's Riga Carnival program.
"Since the festival is one of the events of Latvia's centenary program, a number of artworks will be highlighting national values and patriotic sentiments," said Indra Vilde, a representative of the Riga Council education, culture and sports department.
"From the evening of November 18, a special show of lights will be illuminating the Freedom Monument in downtown Riga, while a project developed jointly by the Latvian parliament and students of the Art Academy of Latvia, will allow everyone to become the Freedom Monument statue for a moment and hold the three stars symbolizing Latvia's freedom," said Vilde.
