Watch: Latvia's birthday fireworks

The traditional firework display on the banks of the River Daugava saw thousands of people turn out, while the rest of Riga was illuminated for the Staro Riga festival of light, which continues until November 20.

Earlier in the day the same streets were just as packed to watch a military parade pass by, with Latvia's armed forces able to show off some of the modernised equipment they are in the process of acquiring as a result of increased defense spending.