St. Fair Dominika is a famous event that has been taking place in Gdańsk in the Main Town for several centuries. From this article you will learn where and when the fair takes place, its opening hours and history. You will also learn about the attractions that await you during this unique event.
St. Fair Dominica – a place in the past
The history of the fair dates back to 1260, when Pope Alexander IV allowed the Dominicans of Gdańsk (from whom the name of the event comes) to grant indulgences on the day of their founder’s feast day. Established by a papal bull, the fair served to encourage the faithful to participate in the indulgence mass on August 4, i.e. on the then Saint’s Day. Dominic, which allowed for as many as 100 days of release from purgatory. Then, at noon, the bells rang in the city, announcing the beginning of the Fair at Dominikański Square.
The folk festival used to be primarily for fun and devotional prayers, but later it turned into a cultural and commercial event and became an important element of city life. At the beginning it took place in St. Peter’s Square. Dominika, but the place quickly became too small for such a rapidly growing event. That’s why the fair in Gdańsk moved after some time to the area of ul. Długa and Wały Jagiellońskie. Soon, new, additional market squares began to be built, such as the Fish Market, the Coal Market, the Sienny Market and the Wood Market. Their names came from the type of goods traded in a given place. The still famous Długi Targ was also built, but its name comes from the shape of the square.
The Dominican Fair quickly gained popularity not only among the inhabitants of Gdańsk, but also among other European cities. Each year, approximately 400 ships from many countries arrived at the event, richly equipped with various goods and cargo. During the event you could buy, among others: Czech glass, English cloth, carpets and furs from the East, Gypsy pots, amber, as well as Gdańsk vodka, Kashubian ceramics and Toruń gingerbread. There were also numerous shows at the fair. Theater groups, acrobats, jugglers and circus performers performed. Exotic animals and various oddities were shown, including apparently mermaids.
The fair in Gdańsk was held regularly for centuries. Every year in August, the city became an important center of trade and entertainment. This tradition was interrupted by World War II. After its completion, the organization of the event was discontinued for many years and was resumed only in 1972, on the initiative of Wojciech Święcicki – a journalist of the popular newspaper “Wieczór Wybrzeża”. It was this year that the rooster became the symbol of the fair.
St. Fair Dominica – a place today
Since then, for about 750 years, the great Dominican Fair has been held in August. At this time, Gdańsk is experiencing a real siege of tourists interested in taking part in this interesting event with a centuries-old tradition. Today, the ceremonial opening of the event is announced to the world by a bugle call, to which another note is added every year. In 2021, it already has 760 notes. The event begins with the Mayor of the City symbolically handing over the key to the gates of Gdańsk to the merchants.
In 2004, a decision was made to extend the event from 2 to 3 weeks. Each year, over 1,000 artists, collectors, craftsmen and traders take part in the event. Approximately 70,000 people visit the event every day, and even twice as many on weekends. The formula of the Fair refers to the medieval tradition of having fun and trading.
Gdańsk Fair – dates
As for the Gdańsk Fair, the dates are not fixed. In 2021, the event runs from July 24 to August 15. Opening hours vary depending on the day. Sometimes the attractions start in the morning, on other days only in the afternoon. If you want to find out when and what types of attractions await visitors on a given day, you can check the detailed plan posted on the official website of the event.
A wealth of stands and attractions
The Gdańsk Dominikański Fair is a real paradise for people looking for good fun and great quality products. In the Main Town, at Szeroka, Mariacka, Długa, św. Ducha and others, you will find plenty of multi-sector, catering, jewelry and craft stands. Visitors can also enjoy art and souvenir stands, as well as a hobby and collectors’ market.
There are many stands with tasty food: baked sausages, skewers, potatoes and cold beer. The fair also has a smokehouse with fried, fresh fish. You can visit the stalls of philatelists, numismatists and people who deal in handicrafts, e.g. Kashubian embroidery. There are haberdashery and cloth stalls, as well as antiques. An amusement park has also been operating for years. It gained fame before the war when a two-meter crocodile escaped from the circus menagerie and jumped into the Motława River. Fortunately, it was caught.
These are not the only attractions waiting for you at the Dominican Fair in Gdańsk. After a day of sightseeing and shopping, go to the atmospheric Goldwasser restaurant, where in a pleasant atmosphere you will eat a delicious lunch or dinner and taste unique drinks with real gold.
