Tickets for the 2008 Song and Dance Festival in Latvia will range from LVL 1 to LVL 25, organizers have announced. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the ticket prices Feb. 26.

Admission to festival concerts will range from LVL 3 to LVL 25 based on the program, venue size and demand for tickets, festival organizers said. Tickets for dress rehearsals will cost just LVL 1.

The festival is scheduled July 5-12 in various venues around Rīga. The grand final concert, scheduled July 12 at the open-air stage in Mežaparks, will see tickets prices of LVL 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 25.

Minister of Culture Helēna Demakova noted that in an effort to keep ticket prices low, the government granted LVL 3.7 million to the festival. Festival organizers also have received about LVL 1 million in support from three companies: Latvijas Krājbanka, Aldaris and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons.

Several events will be free of charge.

Tickets go on sale March 10 and will be availbable through Biļešu paradīze box offices or online at www.bilesuparadize.lv.

For further information about the song and dance festival, visit www.dziesmusvetki2008.lv.