“Nama labad” – Melbourne Latvian House fundraising event on 18th March
Nama Labad at Melbourne Latvian House is fast approaching. After several years of having to cancel Melbourne House Nama Labad events due to the Covid pandemic, Latvian House volunteers and supporters are starting to prepare for the event, which will take place on Saturday 18 March at 3 Dickens Street, Melbourne.
The event will be different to what it has been in the past. The Latvian House team of volunteers was delighted with the amazing response to the event last 18 November. We saw a lot of new faces at the Latvian House. Several people came to the House for the first time: for example, those who had ancestors with Latvian roots. There were also people who had not been to the House for several decades. Through social media, the general public heard about the event and were eager to attend. They were particularly interested in buying our freshly baked pīrāgi, which were quickly sold out in the Riga café. In preparation for the 18th March event, the Riga Café bakers will have several working bees to stock up on pīrāgi.
This year’s Nama labad event will feature a Baltic market and Latvian musical and folk dance performances. Of course, there will also be an opportunity to enjoy Latvian-style food. Singers from the Melbourne Latvian choirs Daina and Veseris will be taking part, as well as our folk dance group Ritenītis and children from Latvian School Daugava. There will also be youth musical performances. Some of the youth are well known in the Melbourne community, while others will be performing for the first time. The performances will last about 15 minutes every hour. The agenda will be advertised on the Melbourne Latvian House website www.latvianhousemelbourne.com.au from 13 March.
Entrance to the House will be by gold coin donation. Please note that the 2023 event has a special purpose – it is being held as part of a special fundraising campaign for the project to redevelop the caretakers’ apartment at the House. For every dollar donated, the Melbourne Latvian House will receive a matching donation from an anonymous benefactor.
We are very much looking forward to meeting all our locally residing Latvians and benefactors of the House at our event on 18th March!
