At the 23rd international floral carpet festival “Saules ziedi” in Ventspils, competing teams constructed vertical floral displays rather than traditional horizontal layouts on the ground. Teams built compositions within custom metal frames measuring 2.50 meters high and 1.80 meters wide, creating a total working area of 4.5 square meters.
Vertical Floral Design Regulations and Timeline
Florists executed their designs within a strict 23-hour timeframe, working from 10:00 AM on July 31 until 9:00 AM on August 1. Participants utilized fresh flowers, plants, and other materials to build unique compositions that aligned with the festival’s central motto, “Saules ziedi” (Flowers of the Sun).
Festival Winners and Official Jury Standings
An international jury evaluated the finished works based on conceptual ideas, alignment with the festival theme, artistic solutions, technical execution, material selection, and overall visual impact, according to festival documentation. The judging panel awarded the following top placements:
- 1st Place: “On the waves of the sun” / Saules viļņos by the Czech ladies team from Mělník, Czech Republic.
- 2nd Place: “Simbioze” / Simbioze by the Glamour geles team from Vilnius, Lithuania.
- 3rd Place: “Sunset couture” / Saulrieta elegance by the Narva tiim team from Narva, Estonia.
- Audience Choice Award: “Saules stari rasas lāsē” by the Trans un bites team from Zaļenieki, Latvia.
International Jury Panel and Participant Demographics
The scoring panel featured a mix of municipal officials, municipal enterprise leadership, and professional floral artists, according to the official participant records. The jury included Didzis Ošenieks, Chairman of the Board of SIA “Ventspils labiekārtošanas kombināts”; Aija Žagariņa, founder and head of the Aija Žagariņa Florist School A-Ž; Daiga Dzedone, Chief Architect of Ventspils; Riona Ēce, festival originator and master florist; Ivan Berghella, guest floral specialist from Italy; Sigutis Kaminskas, guest floral specialist from Lithuania; Sanita Cipruse, florist from Latvia; and Daina Paipala, recipient of the Ventspils City Grand Prix 2026.
This year’s edition drew floral artists and enthusiasts from six countries, comprising 11 teams from Latvia—including two local teams from Ventspils—seven teams from Lithuania, and one team each from Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. The roster also featured a multinational collaborative team uniting floral representatives from Latvia, Lithuania, and Belarus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the main theme of the 23rd international floral carpet festival?
A: The festival operated under the motto “Saules ziedi” (Flowers of the Sun).
Q: Who won first place at the event?
A: The Czech ladies team from Mělník, Czech Republic, won first place with their composition “On the waves of the sun” / Saules viļņos.
Q: How large were the vertical display frames?
A: Each metal frame measured 2.50 meters in height and 1.80 meters in width, providing a total working area of 4.5 square meters.
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