On 7th and 8th May in Valka and Valga the 14th Great Charity Border-Market will be held in Rīga and Raja street cross. Similarly to previous times, trading will take place on both sides of the Latvian-Estonian border.
On 7th May hobby cooks, outworkers and local entrepreneurs will show their skills at the 3rd International Meat and Sausage Festival. An international jury will evaluate the quality of meat products, sausages and smoked products. For the second year, during the border-market a meat-grilling feast will take place, in other words, a Valka/Valga barbeque competition, where both individual participants and teams will compete in meat marinating and grilling. Participants will have the opportunity to marinate their meat on site, as well as to impress the jury and border-market visitors with home-marinated meat. The contestants will be evaluated, the best – rewarded.
The competition regulations can be found at the Valka Municipality Council web page www.valka.lv in section “NOLIKUMI” (“REGULATIONS”). To apply for the participation, write to sniedze[punkts]ragze[uz]valka[punkts]lv, or call +371 26488684 (Sniedze Ragže).
On 8th May the taste adventures will continue, and concerts devoted to Mother’s Day will create a special mood. Also, there will be free workshops for children.
Every border-market visitor and participant will have the opportunity to participate in a charity lottery, traders’ buffoon, to experience wide cultural program, the opening round of “Latvia’s strongest cities 2016”, street ball, entertainment for children “Umurkumurs”, evening party and other activities.
Tourist Information Office Manager Madars Lāns recommends all traders to apply for a place on the market beforehand: “This year an electronic registration with a particular trading place reservation and prepayment was created. Before registration, please read the market regulations and, in case of confusion, contact the Tourist Information Office”. Get acquainted with the border-market regulations at the Valka Municipality Council web page www.valka.lv in section “Kultūra/NOLIKUMI” (“Culture/REGULATIONS”).
Traditionally, the idea and goal of border-market is charity, and the funds collected at the market from the place leases and the lottery will be donated to a specific purpose. This year, the collected funds will be used to manufacture and install a Valka/Valga sculpture on the Latvia-Estonian border between Rīga and Raiņa Street.
The funds collected at the previous border-market will be directed to install a unique swing in the reconstructed Valga–Valka Twin-Town centre area. Currently, an international architectural competition “Concept for Central Area and Pedestrian Street in Valga–Valka Twin-Town Centre” is taking place. The results of the competition will be published until 10th of July 2016. The reconstruction of the Centre is planned to be finished until the end of 2017.
Traditionally, a charity lottery is held at the border-market, and the prize pool consists things donated by the local companies, institutions and individuals. You can submit your prizes for the lottery by calling or writing the lottery organizers Valka Rotari Club (+371 26120361), Tourist Information Office (Telephone: +371 64725522, +371 26446602,tib[uz]valka[punkts]lv) and Valka Youth Council (+371 26676933), or simply delivering them to Riga Street 22 in Valka.
The information was prepared by Zane Brūvere, Valka Municipality Council’s Public Relations manager
