Important information
HISTORIC ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S FAIR IS INVITING YOU FOR THE 9TH TIME TO KNOW CRAFT TRADITIONS OF MIDDLE AGES AND THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD
Traditional St. Bartholomew’s Fair certificated as Lithuanian national heritage is revived for the 9th 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 21st–22nd of August, 2020. The Fair has been known for the citizens of Vilnius since 17th century after being mentioned for the first time in 1664 in the first Statute of Vilnius potter’s guild.
St. Bartholomew’s Fair lasts for 2 days. It opens with a solemn parade with the flags of the Vilnius craftsmen guilds (The Gates of Dawn, Vokiečių str., Dominikonų str., Šv. Jono str., Pilies str., Didžioji str., Town Hall Square). 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, dance and listen to the music of the Late Medieval Ages and the Renaissance, listen to the lectures about goldsmiths, their history and craft, and purchase items reconstructed by professional craftsmen according to the originals of 15th–17th century.
This year Fair‘s program is not only full of music, dance and warfare performances, but also everyone will get a chance to know each craft better and closer – more than 70 craftsmen-reconstructors will demonstrate crafts and teach visitors various ancient secrets: from making a wooden sculpture or kneading-trough for bread, or decorating rings of the Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to archaic craft of glass bead making.
Organizers of the Fair invite all citizens and guests of Vilnius city to commemorate this unique festival of city’s craftsmen in the context of celebrating 525 years anniversary of establishing the Goldsmith Guild on 23rd August 1495, when the Grand Duke of Lithuania Alexander Jagiellon approved the statute of the first guild of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the privilege to Vilnius goldsmiths’ guild was granted by the Duke.
Historic St. Bartholomew’s Fair is certificated as Lithuanian national heritage and maintains traditions of crafts and city’s culture. This revived festival is valuable as the part of Intangible Cultural Heritage for strengthening the cultural contents and significance of Vilnius Historic Center – UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We kindly remind that all visitors should obey the rules set to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please keep the safe distance, wash and disinfect your hands with disinfectant products. Also, if you feel any kind of infection symptoms in your respiratory tract, we do not recommend to visit the event.
Also read:
Organizations of World Heritage Cities will develop an emergency relief programme in Vilnius
In cooperation with the City of Vilnius and the Public Institution Vilniaus senamiesčio atnaujinimo agentūra (Vilnius Old Town Renovation Agency), the Central and East-Central European Secretariats of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) are organising a meeting in Vilnius on Monday,... ❯❯❯
2023-03-22
Holiday Destination Vilnius: Top 700th Anniversary Highlights for Spring and Summer
March 15, 2023. The warm season enveloping Lithuania offers new adventures for its residents and guests, and Vilnius, the capital city, has numerous options for a well-rounded city break. Not only does the city entice with full-on outside adventures in many of its parks and the surrounding... ❯❯❯
2023-03-15
Leaders of European cities in Vilnius on support for Ukraine: long-term support for people and cities matters
Support for Ukraine’s cities and people from other European cities is important today, but it is also necessary to provide long-term support for the restoration of the country and for the care for Ukrainian refugees, the mayors and representatives of Vilnius, Lviv, Tallinn, Warsaw, and Riga said... ❯❯❯
2023-01-30
Let Festivities Begin—Vilnius Celebrates 700th Anniversary and Embarks On Year-Long Cultural Program
Let Festivities Begin—Vilnius Celebrates 700th Anniversary and Embarks On Year-Long Cultural Program Vilnius 700 birthday. Photo by Go Vilnius On January 25th, the Lithuanian capital Vilnius finally started celebrating its 700th anniversary and got the jam-packed cultural program going... ❯❯❯
2023-01-25
President Zelensky Awarded Vilnius as “Rescuer City” Just Before Its Official 700th Birthday
President Zelensky has granted an honorary title, “Rescuer City,” to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, for its continued multidirectional support to the people and cities of Ukraine. The title was bestowed just one day before the city’s 700th anniversary at an international conference,... ❯❯❯
2023-01-24
Crowd-Beloved Vilnius Light Festival Returns With Futuristic Illumination Art
Vilnius will start its 700th-anniversary festivities on January 25th with the highly-anticipated fifth Vilnius Light Festival. Futuristic light solutions by internationally recognized creators will illuminate hidden courtyards, parks, and streets from January 25th to 28th. January 20, 2023. The... ❯❯❯
2023-01-20