HISTORIC ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S FAIR IS BACK!

Traditional St. Bartholomew’s Fair certificated as Lithuanian national heritage is revived for the 10th time with a great event reconstructing crafts, arts and guild traditions of the Late Medieval Ages and the Renaissance. The Fair will be held at Vilnius Town Hall square on the 26th–27th of August, 2022. Though the Fair has been known for the citizens of Vilnius since 17th century after being mentioned for the first time in 1664 on the first Statute of potter’s guild, originally it is dated back to the 24th of August, 1495. On the eve of this date Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellonian approved the statute of the first guild of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the privilege to Vilnius goldsmiths’ guild was granted by the Duke.

St. Bartholomew’s Fair lasts for 2 days. During this event citizens and guests of Vilnius get the exceptional chance to get acquainted with crafts, see the warfare and noblemen’s fights of 17th century, see demonstration of production processes, be in craftsmen’ shoes by throwing, spinning, weaving, forging coins, admire costumes and watch puppet theater, dance and listen to the music of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and buy items reconstructed by professional craftsmen according to the originals of 15th–17th century.

The main organizer: The Fine Crafts Association of Vilnius

The main sponsors: Municipality of Vilnius City, The Agriculture Ministry of the Republic of Lithuania.

Partners: PE European Humanities University, PE Vilnius Town Hall, restaurant Bernelių užeiga.

Contacts for more information: The Fine Crafts Association of Vilnius, director Daiva Steponavičienė, tel. no. +37068213228, email vdaa.info@gmail.com