Saint John's Fair (Polish: Jarmark Świętojański) is a cultural and commercial event taking place in Poznań, traditionally in the second half of June, on the Old Market Square and adjacent streets.
The tradition of fairs dates back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (although they were held earlier), when there was the greatest flourishing fair trade in Poznań. At that time, the Market Square attracted merchants from various, often very distant, European countries. The largest fair took place around 24 June, on St. John's Day, and the subject of trade was then mainly grain and wool. After the collapse of the trade in these articles, the fairs fell into decline, especially at the beginning of the 18th century. It was reopened in 1780 by the Good Order Commission. The 19th century caused that the fairs also gained a social function and became the time of meetings of the Wielkopolska landowners (they were called St John's Day contracts). Numerous balls were held at that time, theatres and dancers arrived.
