Gdańsk has become the European capital of summer attractions again! At noon, July 26, the long market turned into a colorful opening scene of one of the oldest, largest and most beautiful fairs in Europe. Traditional transfer of the key to the city's gates and a colorful procession through the streets of the city initiated three weeks of trade, flavors and cultural events. Festival Of Wonders will last until August 17 - let's meet in the heart of Gdańsk.
During the opening ceremony, we moved the past to the present, creating a spectacle that the fair has not yet seen. On the stage, history has come to life and dance - acrobats, dancers and musical scenes intertwine the old history with the modern spirit of Gdańsk. A specially composed song sounded at the pre -Artus Court, which - like a time machine - told the story of St Dominic's Fair in a new installment. It was a story about how one of Europe's most important cultural events changed for centuries.
After the artistic part, it was time for the official part.
- Dear Gdańsk residents, expensive Gdańsk residents, beloved guests - welcome you in our beautiful, wonderful city! St Dominic's Fair is a holiday that has been gathering people curious about the world, open to trade, culture and mutual learning from each other for 765 years. It is a time to share joy, relations and beautiful energy that flows from Europe and the whole world to Gdańsk - said Monika Chabior , deputy president of Gdańsk. - Visit stands, talk to the artists, support social organizations - be part of this unique event. Let this time be inspiring, colorful and simply wonderful - now and long after the market! - added the deputy president of Gdańsk.
The culmination of the official inauguration was the symbolic transfer of the key to the gates of Gdańsk - the deputy mayor of the city handed it to Andrzej Bojanowski , president of the International Gdańsk Fair, the organizer of the event. A moment later, a fair bugle call sounded over the long market - this year is unique, because it was made of exactly 765 notes.
With the transfer of the key, the symbolic transformation of the city began - the exhibitors took over the main and old town. A colorful procession started along Długa Street - Hermes, the patron of trade, followed, leading a procession full of fancy characters, sounds and colors that kidnapped the crowd on a joyful journey through time and tradition.
- Our medieval brothers showed extraordinary courage and openness when they came up with a bold idea to ask the Pope for permission to organize a fair at the monastery in Gdańsk, on the occasion of the celebration of Saint Dominic. This gesture - so brave and so deeply rooted for the sake of a community - gave rise to a tradition that continues to this day. I wish you that this fair time would be an opportunity to experience what our brothers believed in: that everyone has something that he can share - and that every meeting with another person can enrich us. Let it be a beautiful time for Gdańsk and all of us, "said Father Michał Osek OP, prior of the order of St. Dominika in Gdańsk.
The parade of colorful characters reached the Equality stop, where the next part of the fair was symbolically opened - the one located on the Hevelius square. The Kozyrska X Sieczak with the band will perform on stage. Like last year, each of the stops celebrated their start in a unique way. The Flavian stop came to life with the opening of the first fair houses, from which the smells of spices and local delicacies spread. The Adventure stop was started by the parade of charming mascots, colorful heroes of known and liked - among them were animals from the Gdańsk zoo, beloved Ambeberry and other friends of the fair. The retro stop withdrew us in time thanks to the fashion show from the 70s. Denie, tassels and glitter reigned in the heart of collectors' streets. The whole was culminated in the opening of Ołowianka in a new version at the Port Gdańsk Pod Żagla stop, where Phao Sanato played on the stage.
- We meet - and this number is changed today by all cases - for the seven hundred sixty -fifth time at the Saint Dominic Fair. Please let me warmly welcome you on behalf of Marshal Mieczysław Struk and my own. We are very happy that we can be part of this special holiday - said Agnieszka Baranowska, . - I would like to draw your attention to places that are very close to our hearts - such as Pomorska Street on Szeroka Street, where our local entrepreneurs look. I cordially invite you to Świętopełka Wielki Square, to the city and regions zone - you will find a real mosaic of cultures, colors, flavors and sounds from around the world. I wish you beautiful experiences, an unforgettable atmosphere and thank you for being with us today. All the best! She added.
765 years ST DOMINIC'S FAIR
This year's fair is 745 stands at which 662 exhibitors sell, of which 275 from Pomerania, including 168 from Gdańsk. 18 cuisines of the world, handicrafts, various art, collector's things, antiques or fashion - all this is found in fair stalls. The Fair is also an artistic and cultural part with over 200 items
in the daily program.
Fair stops - thematic zones for everyone
The novelty of the last editions - also in the jubilee year - are special thematic stops that open the fair on the first day. Each of them offers unique attractions and a program for each day:
Stop of Flavors on Świętopełka Square
From 10:00, a real oasis opens in the heart of the Fairytrach bustle. Surrounded by the richness of flavors from around the world and the aroma of local specialties, he invites you to stop for a moment - without rush, without a plan, for pleasure! Every now and then the Smaks stop revives even more - thanks to unique events that attract with taste, culture and inspiration. These include Zone of cities and regions - a colorful presentation of the most beautiful places from Poland and the world, as well as a quiet clearing of flavors - a great culinary feast of the fair! Live cooking shows, tastings and competition of the best chefs for the Market Grand Prix.
Port Gdańsk pod Żaglami stop on Ołowianka
At Gdańsk Ołowianka you can find a perfect place for meetings with friends, where good music plays, you watch good films in outdoor cinema, admire the shows of light illumination and much, much more. The stop has undergone a metamorphosis this year. He refers to Gdańsk with a port, container climate. This is a place where tradition is combined with modernity in an eyewitness. A place that was not yet at St Dominic's Fair . Here, there will be Chopin Jazz concerts on the island, outdoor cinema, you can find the Ambersky observation wheel or experience a VR paraglider flight. Also here is a new green zone - and not only because of vegetation. On four containers there was a photovoltaic from Energa turnover.
Równość stop on Heweliusza Square
It is a place where in the formula of summer rest you can talk about important things, such as tolerance, openness, freedom and eradicate generational and cultural differences. People play here, integrate and teach. It is diverse - the operetta is intertwined with karaoke, and workshops for children with classes for seniors.
Przystanek Adventure with Ambersky at the Rybny market
Fun for whole families! Dance shows, scientific experiments and games with mascots await here. In the Ambersky zone you can find mazes, sensory cubes, String Art workshops, Gdańsk carousel, rafting VR simulator and two premieres. This year we have a new attraction here: "Gold fever - treasure hunter". This is a proposal for real treasure hunters who, like in gold fever, will rinse the sand, in water streams, "valuable stones". Treasures can be identified and check where they occur in nature and in what area in Poland, and most importantly, take with you in memory and may start a fascinating adventure with new passion. The youngest will also be able to use a special boat -shaped inflatable.
Retro stop at Długie Ogrody
What if you move to the 1970s and 80s of the last century and empathize with the retro atmosphere? In the stop space there are: Instaspot in the style of the 70s, exhibition of historic cars, auctions of antiques or advice and renovation about antiques. Musical Concert Zone, including a concert at vinyl
Dominican stop
The stop is another novelty St Dominic's Fair . Here, in the shadow of the Gothic walls of the Basilica of St. Mikołaj, the heart of the centuries -old tradition of the fair beats. The Dominican stop is a space of reflection, peace and values that survived centuries - hospitality, equality, community.
The program includes Concerts of sacred music, calligraphy and meditation workshops, meetings with the Dominicans, stories about the history of the Order and his role in Gdańsk, as well as a performance on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, during which the basilica of St. Mikołaj survived as the only church in Gdańsk. It is in him that the spiritual heritage is combined with modern sensitivity, and everyone can find a moment for themselves - regardless of age, faith and beliefs.
- The history of Gdańsk and all of Pomerania is the story of craftsmen and merchants - working people who for centuries co -created this city, side by side with the Dominican Fathers. This year's 765 edition of St Dominic's Fair , takes place in the special year-the 80th anniversary of our Pomeranian Chamber of Craft. On this occasion, we announced the year 2025 with the Pomeranian craftsmanship. It is a huge honor for us that we can open this extraordinary ceremony today, together with the authorities of Gdańsk and Pomerania. In a few days - 9 and 10 August - we invite you to Heweliusz Square, where craftsmen will present their workshops, their stories, their passions. It will be a space of stories, fun together and pride from Pomeranian craftsmanship. This year, together with the International Gdańsk Fair, we also took the initiative to enter St Dominic's Fair on the national list of intangible cultural heritage - to protect and develop this extraordinary heritage even better. I wish all organizers, buyers, craftsmen, restaurateurs and guests a successful fair, many successes and beautiful memories. " - says the president of the Pomeranian Chamber of Craft Small and Medium -sized Enterprises, Zbigniew Stencel.
Fair thematic streets
Walking around the fair, you will discover unique streets:
Wonders purchased at St Dominic's Fair will be able to send to loved ones or to your home with a 40% discount! Thanks to cooperation with Orlen, the Fair's guests have such a possibility. How does it work?
Attention! You will pack a miracle from the fair at the Orlen Parcel stand, and you will send them from a special, factorial parcel automaton on the Świętopełk square.
Fair holidays
Bread festival - a tradition that connects generations
The bread festival will take place on July 27 in the Hevelius Square. Jubilee, the 30th edition will last from 10:00 to 17:00. Tastings of bakery and confectionery products, competitions with prizes, artistic performances (including shanties with the band Three Panties), attractions for children led by the QFER Theater and a consultation zone with dietitians will wait for visitors. It is also an opportunity to meet bakers and learn the secrets of healthy bread.
Zone of Cities and Regions
The multicultural space of meetings, inspiration and experience in which cities, regions and countries from all over Europe present the best - heritage, unique attractions and local products. This is a unique place on the map of St Dominic's Fair , where every step is a journey through various cultures and traditions. Promotional stands of cities, regions and countries - inspiring to discover new travel directions. You can find local products from Poland and the world - handicrafts, delicacies, natural products. There will be tastings, shows and performances as well as authentic meetings with culture and tradition - directly from its ambassadors. It is a space where people and stories meet, and diversity becomes a value that you can survive and take with you. In the zone, on July 26-29, there will be: Łódź Voivodeship, Pomeranian Voivodeship, Pomeranian Regional Tourist Organization with its members, Cyprus, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Tourist Organization and Wrocław.
Festival of Pomeranian Social Economy
For the third time on the Hevelius square, during St Dominic's Fair , there will be a meeting as part of the largest event of the social economy sector in Pomerania. The goal of the Pomeranian Social Economy Festival is to promote broadly understood social economy, which, as easily, means conducting business activities combining economic and social goals (helps prevent exclusion). The event will be a great opportunity not only to learn about various organizations from the sector and become familiar with their activities, but also direct support. We invite you to them on August 1.
St Dominic's Fair is many holidays and jubilees that the organizers will inform about on a regular basis. All cultural information is available at https://jarmarmkswdominika.pl/program/
AmberSky - daily entertainment for young and old
Amberky is the titular partner of the Adventure Przystanek stop at the Fish Market. It provides a zone of permanent attractions for whole families: mazes, games, sensory cubic, carousel, VR simulator, relaxation zone, creative workshops, a dream wall and a adventurer passport. Ambersky and spinning coaster spinning barrels are waiting for Ołowianka.
Fair opening hours
The fair is open every day from 10:00 to 20:00. On Fridays and Saturdays, gastronomic stands invite you to 21:00.
Detailed program, news and map of attractions on: jarmmarkswdominika.pl .
See you on the biggest summer festival of Gdańsk!
Preparation of St Dominic's Fair would not be possible without a partner of the Fair, which is Energa from the Orlen group.
