Kaziuko Fair

The Kaziuko fair, held around St Casimir's day in early March, is the great traditional market of Vilnius, when the old town streets fill with hundreds of stalls of folk crafts, ironwork, woodwork, food and the colourful dried-flower palm bundles known as verbos. It is a centuries-old spring ritual and the liveliest day in the city's calendar.

History

St Casimir, son of King Casimir IV, was canonised in 1602, and merchants set up a fair around his feast day; in 1827 they were granted the right to hold it in Cathedral Square, and in recent years it has spread to Kaunas, Alytus and Klaipėda (Wikipedia, Kaziuko mugė).

What to look for

• Verbos - the intricate bundles of dried flowers and grasses unique to the region.
• Folk crafts - woodwork, ironwork, weaving, ceramics and amber from across Lithuania.
• Fair food - gingerbread, smoked meats, cheese and hot drinks.
• The street atmosphere - the whole old town given over to the market.

When to go

The weekend around 4 March, when the fair takes over the city; it is a fixed early-spring event, so plan around the date. Dress warmly, since early March can be cold or snowy.

Good to know

It happens only once a year over a few days, so it needs planning your trip around the dates - the rest of the year there is no fair to see. It is crowded and busy, which is the point. Come for the atmosphere and crafts rather than bargains, since prices reflect the demand.

Nearby

The whole Vilnius old town hosts it; the cathedral and Gediminas hill are at its heart.

Key facts