Latvia-curiosity/ Blondes on the march again in Latvia

May 28, 2011, 9:59 GMT

Riga - The Baltic state of Latvia prepared to host its third annual 'Blonde Parade' Saturday with several hundred fair-haired folk - primarily females, but also a few men - set to step out in the capital city, Riga.

The event has quickly become a favourite with an international media hungry for any excuse to print pictures of leggy blondes.

Organiser Marika Gederte of the Latvian Blondes Association told the German Press Agency dpa that the parade, which was originally intended to lift spirits during Latvia's economic crisis, had now established itself as an annual event that would attract thousands of tourists both to take part and to watch.

'We already have more than 500 participants registered including a 15-person team from New Zealand, seven ladies from Finland and Italy and 32 ladies from Lithuania,' Gederte said.

Municipal authorities have rerouted traffic away from one of Riga's major thoroughfares to accommodate the event, which has the stated aim of raising money for children's charities.