Welcome to your weekly guide to concerts, exhibitions and festivals in the Latvian capital! it's published every Friday morning - follow on Facebook for regular updates.

Learn more about my tours in Riga and Latvia.

Runners in the Riga Marathon will see the city at a frantic pace this weekend. But for those of us who like a more leisurely speed, Museum Night is a chance to peer into fascinating, hidden corners, as dozens of culture institutions throw open their doors on Saturday.

Riga Castle offers tours at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 into the usually-closed storehouse of the National History Museum. Places are limited, book +371 67221357 or info@lnvm.gov.lv. The castle's public areas will be open from 19:00 to 24:00, complete with knights in armour and live medieval music.

Entry to Sigulda's New Castle will be free, with live music, waltzing lessons and letter writing on handmade paper.

At Jūrmala's Open-Air Fishing Museum, learn how to smoke fish at 20:00, then at 22:00 enjoy a concert by melodic folk band Autobuss debesīs.

More musical events in museums are listed below  Check out the Museum Night programme. Also, dozens of places of worship will be holding special events on May 17 in the Night of the Churches.

I'm your guide for walks around Old Riga, marvellous Art Nouveau architecture, and the highlights of the Latvian capital.Or for a blast from the past on a Soviet history tour.

Enjoy fine music by the pupils and staff of the Music Academy of Latvia.

• Pianists Sintija Šteinkopfa and Ansis Sauka play a concert titled  "From Heart to Heart" with Latvian and European composers' works. In the academy, Friday May 16, 18:00, tickets are 7 euros. 
• Local and Erasmus students present a vocal chamber music concert. In the academy, Wednesday May 21, 18:00, tickets cost 7 euros.
• Five budding baton wielders lead the academy's mixed choir for their choir conducting diploma exams. In the University of Latvia Great Hall,Wednesday May 21, 18:00, tickets cost 5 euros.

• Concerts will be held from 18:30 on various floors of Riga's Trades Union House by Music Academy of Latvia pupils, the ukulele ensemble Lasolla and the women's vocal ensemble Reiz bija, followed by a concert at 23:00 by indie pop band Dzirnavnieki.
• In the Riga Latvian Society House, jam with accomplished players of the kokle, the ancient Latvian wooden harp, and hear a giant 209 cm long dižkokle
• At the Museum "Jews in Latvia," the Jewish community choir Šofar performs at 17:00 while the Marc Crofts Kletzmer Ensemble (Switzerland) takes the stage at 21:00.

Enjoy a sunny stroll in Jurmala, a daytrip to Kemeri National Park, a drive to beautiful Kurzeme or a tour to spectacular Sigulda.

There's fun for young and old at the International Family Day carnival Roku rokā (Hand in Hand) at the Mežaparks Song Festival Arena.

Live music, dancing, drawing and musical instrument making classes (bring along a PET bottle), as well as a candy making workshop led by beekeeper Jānis Vainovskis. Sunday May 18, 12:00-16:00, free entry.

Stuff your gills at Fish and Seafood Day at Āgenskalns Market. Chow down on fish 'n' chips and fish solyanka. Buy fresh and smoked fish and spices for seafood from local providers. And from 12:00 to 14:00, beer sommelier UIdis Līcis will let you know what amber nectar to down with the catch of the day. Sunday May 18, 11:00-17:00, free entry.

Dig into blood-free burgers, Middle Eastern treats, ice cream, desserts and more at the AUGam Plant-Based Food Festival in Tallinas Quarter. Saturday May 17, 11:00-19:00, free entry.

Travel easy in Latvia and Riga with my disabled accessible tours.