The Fair will be held at Vilnius Town Hall square on the 23rd–24th of August, 2018, invites The Fine Crafts Association of Vilnius.
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 Middle Ages and the Renaissance, listen to the lectures about food, executioners and history of crafts, 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, circus, 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 pipe or kneading-trough for bread, or decorating rings of the Grand Dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to archaic craft of stained glass. For those who want to learn more – National Museum of Lithuania will invite visitors of St. Bartholomew’s Fair to special tours. Visitors will have a free entrance to a chosen tour after collecting stamps from craftsmen on a special card which will become their ticket.
Organizers of this Fair invite all citizens and guests of Vilnius city to commemorate this unique festival of city’s craftsmen in the context of celebrating 25 years since Vilnius was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 355 years anniversary when the Fair was mentioned for the first time in 1664 in the first Statute of Vilnius potter’s guild. 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.