RIGA, July 5 (LETA) - The 13th Latvian School Youth Song and Dance Festival will officially start today with the stage dance performance Viedvasara at Xiaomi Arena in Riga, LETA was informed by the organizers of the festival.

More than 30 events will take place in more than 15 venues until July 13. Live broadcasts and recordings of the festival will also be available in Riga's Dome Square until July 13. A total of 14 events will be shown.

The festival will be attended by 38,114 participants, 33,946 of whom are children. Folk dancing is the most widely represented with 17,041 dancers, while 11,399 participants will sing in choirs. The festival will also feature modern dancers, brass and symphony musicians, folklore groups, theater and visual artists, small music groups, kokle players and accordionists. Participants from the diaspora will also take part in the festivities.

The School Youth Song and Dance Festival is the biggest Latvian children's and youth culture and art festival, held every five years.