The main event of the speed festival will be the Celebrations of the 50th anniversary of rally “Kurzeme” that will begin on Thursday, August 27 at 18:00 in Aizpute municipality, Kalvene parish with the test speed stage.
The official opening ceremony will be held on Friday, August 28 at 16:00 next to the concert hall “Great Amber” (“Lielais dzintars”). Immediately after that up to 23:00 this will be the place for the championship for scooters “Scooter Stunt” (qualifications and competitions) as well as the practice rides of the streetbike stunt riding championship of Northern Europe “Streetbike Freestyle Kurland Stunt”. Meanwhile, contestants of rally and rally-sprint will compete in Durbe and Priekule municipalities.
On Saturday, August 29 the hottest events of the speed festival - rally “Kurzeme” will take place, because on the roads of Durbe and Aizkraukle municipalities as well as in special speed stage “Liepaja port” the winner of the anniversary rally will be decided. At the same time from 12:30 in “Radio Skonto” Vecpils autocross track in Durbes municipality and from 19:00 in the city special speed stage spectators of the festival will see the battle of rally legends - famous, legendary rally drivers who took place in rally “Kurzeme” at different times will compete in one track with identical cars.
Sports activities in the centre of Liepaja will starts at 9:00 when in the Liepaja Trade Channel the final stage of the Latvian championship in water motorsports and simultaneously the “UPB Energy” cup game in water motorsports will take place. At the same time next to the concert hall „Great Amber” spectators of the festival will have the opportunity to have fun watching the streetbike stunt riding championship of Northern Europe “Streetbike Freestyle Kurland Stunt”, final competition of children rally “Kurzeme”, “E-GoCart” competitions for spectators. Award ceremony will be held next to the hall at 19:45.
Families are especially invited to follow competitions on “Radio Skonto” Vecpils autocross track and Liepaja city special speed stage area where children will be able to participate in creative workshops. Cafes will offer a variety of dishes and refreshments as well.
On Saturday wide entertainment program will be offered. At 21:00 next to the concert hall “Great Amber” simforock concert “The Legend about Amber” will take place (an additional fee for spectators). At the same time on Liepaja’s beach at the Monument to the sailors and fishermen perished in the sea will start a free concert – “The Ancient Fire of Night” by Kaspars Zemitis (Kaspars Zemītis) and string quarted. Fans of the group “Pienvedēja piedzīvojumi” are invited to “Fontaine Gypsy Camp” at 23:00 (for speed festival – rally “Kurzeme” spectator card holders’ ticket with 50 % discount). In the club "Ego" 7 Liela iela (Lielā iela) starts the party with Toms Grevins (Toms Grēviņš).
Speed festival – rally „Kurzeme” will be concluded on Sunday, 30 August at 9:00 with roaring of streetcars and KSTK cup contest for streetcars next to the hall “Great Amber”. At 13:00 Latvian rally super-sprint championship will take place.
In Holy Trinity Cathedral at 17:00 the concert “Music for church” delights music lovers, but at Liepaja Olympic Centre at 18:00 - guest performance by singer Marija Naumova
The exhibition (free of charge) dedicated to the 50th anniversary of rally “Kurzeme” is on view up to the end of August. From August 28 to August 29 Rose Square in Liepaja will be the place for Speed Festival Crafts Fair. The exhibition of children’s creative work competition “Roaring rally!” will be seen in Liepaja Latvian Society House.
For information:
Rally “Kurzeme” is the oldest and tradition-richest rally in the Baltic States. This year rally “Kurzeme” celebrates its 50th anniversary. The significant anniversary celebrations began already in April when 50 cherry trees were planted next to the legendary speed stage Vecpils. The exhibition “From the garage to the victory” in the garage of the Liepaja museum, address: 16/18 Kurmajas avenue (Kūrmājas prospektā), takes the visitors through the development and rally history. The exhibition is on view until August 31. The festivities will culminate with the Speed Festival in Liepaja - rally „Kurzeme” from August 27 to August 30.
Speed festival - rally "Kurzeme 2015" is organized in co-operation with "LDz Cargo", Liepaja city, “Lauma Fabrics”, “VEGA 1”, “Canon Business Center’’, “LDC Datortehnika” “Cēsu Alus”, “IF Apdrošināšana”, official auto – “Nissan” from “Skandi Motors”.
Tickets can be purchased in five Kurzeme region’s Tourism information centres: in Liepaja, Kuldiga, Saldus, Talsi and Tukums, in more than 40 “top!” shops in Kurzeme and Jelgava, in auto centres “Skandi Motors” in Liepaja and Riga, as well as in the cash registers of “Biļešu serviss” and in on-line sales point “Bilesuserviss.lv”.
Dzintars Hmielevskis (Dzintars Hmieļevskis), Press Representative of Rally “Kurzeme”. Photo: Rando Aav
