Your weekly guide to concerts, exhibitions and festivals in the Latvian capital! Published every Friday morning - follow on Facebook for regular updates.

Kuldīga's lovely architecture and vibrant cultural life make it a must-see when visiting Latvia. And this weekend is an especially delicious time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed gem.

On Saturday, the Grown in Kurzeme Festival will bring the flavours of western Latvia to the town's charming streets. Enjoy treats from the region's best restaurants on the brick bridge overlooking Europe's widest waterfall, pick up top quality local produce at a farmer's market, and savour seafood at the fish bar. There'll be lots of music, too. September 14, 12:00-19:00.

See Food and Drink for more tasty travel ideas. 

Maksims Skibickis (cello) and Ērika Jakobsone (piano) play Bach and Chopin in St. Peter's Church (Reformācijas laukums 1). September 16, 18:00, free entry.

Check out the schedule for the Latvian National Opera. Or to go behind the scenes, take a guided tour in English of the magnificent building on September 15 at 14:00.

Catch the opening concert of the XXI Kremerata Baltica Festival at  Dzintari Concert Hall (Turaidas iela 1). Kremerata Baltica is a chamber orchestra of talented young Baltic musicians, founded in 1997 by Riga-born violin virtuoso Gidon Kremer. September 13, 19:00, tickets from 15 euros.

Kārlis Auziņš plays a sax tribute to John Coltrane at M/Darbnīca (Aristīda Briāna iela 9). September 14, 20:00, tickets are 15 euros.

Folk Club Ala (Peldu iela 19) jumps with live music Thursday to Sunday evenings, as well as all in folk dancing every Wednesday at 20:00. This Saturday, boogie with Latvian rockabilly outfit Billy B and his Sonic Rockets. September 14, free entry.

Slam to punk, post punk and crust punk with Glass Wipe (Finland), Disrespekts and Ex Posei in Old Riga's loudest basement at Club Depo (Vaļņu iela 32). September 14, entry 7 euros.

Iberian passion hits Riga, with an exhibition of 19th and 20th century Spanish art at the Riga Bourse Museum (Doma laukums 6). “Visions of Spain from Fortuny to Picasso” brings together works from 15 Spanish museums and private collections to explore the southern land's search for a modern identity. From 14 September to 15 December.

Another reason to visit the Bourse is a new permanent exhibition devoted to Riga wine merchant, city counsellor and philanthropist Friedrich Wilhelm Brederlo (1779-1862). The paintings in the Brederlo Rooms on the fourth floor have been in Riga for almost two centuries and are one of the finest collections in the Baltics.

Check out cutting edge Latvian creativity at "The Design Process Up Close: Autumn" in the Museum of Decorative Art and Design (Skārņu iela 10).  The show features both up and coming talent as well as established brands like Kanttari,  Vaidava Ceramics and Studio Sarmīte. The photo is one of Studio Sarmīte's leather-like fabric "pine skins." From 18 September to December 1.

Art forms collide in Riga's Art Nouveau district, with a show for the centenary of Latvian painter Valdis Bušs inside a spectacular building by master architect Mikhail Eisenstein. At Art Platz, Alberta iela 4/9, until September 30. If you can't make it to the show, take a virtual 360 degree tour.

Explore Old Riga, be amazed by Art Nouveau architecture, or get the lowdown on the city's highlights!

Relive the mood of the turbulent transition to independence at the exhibition The First Five Years, featuring photographs taken by Jānis Deinats from 1989 to 1994 at the Latvian National Museum of Art  (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1). Until November 24.

Delve into Latvia's dramatic past on my Soviet Riga tour!

Enjoy sculptures by 12 notable artists from diverse Latvian museums at the exhibition "Sculpture in Porcelain" at Riga Porcelain Museum (Kalēju iela 9/11). And in the museum's street level display windows, the exhibition "Beginning" reveals porcelain and large-format drawings by Liene Mackus. Liene is a multifaceted artist who has created much loved public sculptures in Riga, such as the playground next to Doma Cathedral. Both shows until October 13.

Art meets environment in an enthralling exhibition of luminescent paintings in Ķemeri National Park. The works by 12 artists are all made from recyclable materials and reflect the biodiversity in the adjacent marshland. The gallery is accessible 24 hours, and after 20:00 the works are lit up by UV lamps. Near the ĶNP Forest House, free entry, until October 6.

The founder of modern Latvian painting Vilhelms Purvītis and the poet Aspazija had neighbouring summer cottages in Jurmala. The pair are reunited with an exhibition "Poet of Colours" featuring the landscape master's works made in Jurmala, held at the museum in Aspazija's former residence (Zigfrīda Meirovica prospekts 20). Until November 9.

Get into one of my delightful Jurmala walking tours, savour a daytrip to the resort or a journey to Kurzeme.

Grab your partners for an old school dance night at the Small Guild (Amatu iela 6). The music comes courtesy of the band Rezidenti and drinks and snacks will be available. Dress code - elegant. September 14, 19:00, tickets are 20 euros and available at the Guild.

There's more to Jūrmala than just Majori. This Saturday, travel a few stops west to the annual Melluži Fair, with crafts and food stalls, music and dancing all day long. September 14, from 11:00, at Mellužu estrāde arena (Mellužu prospekts 6).

Have a great time and help a good cause at the Sigulda Charity Festival on Svētku laukums square (Cēsu iela 14) in Sigulda, with whacky relay races, local food and handicrafts stalls and more family fun. The entry fee for the races is a donation to Cerību spārni (Wings of Hope) which supports people with disabilities. 

September 14, 11:00-16:00.

Join me in discovering Sigulda's spectacular scenery!

There's more to Jūrmala than just Majori. This Saturday, travel a few stops west to the annual Melluži Fair, with crafts and food stalls, music and dancing all day long. September 14, from 11:00, at Melluži estrāde (Mellužu prospekts 6).

The magical tale of a cat and his buddies making their way through a catastrophic flood, Straume/ Flow has been hailed as landmark in animated filmmaking. Directed by Latvian Gints Zilbalodis, it was nominated at Cannes and has won other prestigious awards. Without a word of human dialogue, it is a masterpiece of storytelling capturing both young and old hearts. Screening in Riga at Splendid Palace and Forum Cinemas - here's a glimpse:

On the final "home restaurant" weekend of the summer, devour delights made by amateur chefs in Tukums County.

In Antiņciems village near Ķemeri, explore innovative cuisine from the meadows of "Dare" farm. Dine on herb and weed soup, locally-made sausages cooked over the fire, and ice cream garnished with meadow flowers. "Dare" is one of Latvia's hidden gems.

Drop into "Kundziņi" farm by the sea in Bērzciems for treats by artisanal cheesemakers Sindija and Atis Kundziņš. Start with a selection of cheeses, gobble turkey goulash soup, then finish with pudding made from the farm's yoghurt.

And at "Kalndaķi" in Smārde Parish, master basket weavers Lolita and Pēteris Tutāns serve up treats provided by their ostriches. Dig into Caesar salad with ostrich egg dressing, vegetable stew with ostrich-egg omelette and game sausages, and cake made with, yes, ostrich-egg whites, cream and black currants from the garden.