Back to the Past with Marko’s Fair

If you ever wanted to take a journey into the past and participate in a typical medieval event together with other characters such as knights, ladies-in-waiting, jesters and other costume clad entertainers, you will have the opportunity between 23 and 26 August in the main city square in Zagreb which will become the venue of the fascinating Marko’s Fair for the 12th consecutive time.

Between 23 and 26 August, the 12th consecutive edition of Marko’s Fair will again bring the Middle Ages to life with artisans and craftsmen, knights, soldiers, renaissance dancers, costume clad entertainers, torturers…

As in previous years, this year’s fair will gather a large number of exhibitors, mainly craftsmen practicing old and virtually forgotten trades who will not only offer ready-made products to the visitors but also show them the entire production process. This is precisely the main attraction of the fair, which has not been designed as a static picture of the Middle Ages but rather as dynamic, on the spot re-enactments of history. The sounds of blacksmiths’ hammers will again resound across the main city square. The diligent craftsmen’s hands will demonstrate the skills of minting coins, the crafts of making candles, paper and butter. The tastes and aromas of traditional fair food will titillate the senses, while the square will resonate with the pleasant tones of renaissance music.

Namely, for the second consecutive year, Marko’s Fair will be the venue of the 2nd Festival of Renaissance Music which will feature a number of vocal and instrumental ensembles. During the festival and fair there will be various workshops providing hands-on experience for all those interested in learning how to make an object or master the steps of a renaissance dance.

In order to make the atmosphere as similar to the atmosphere of the dark Middle Ages “positive” characters, such as jesters, knights, ladies-in-waiting and craftsmen, will be joined by the musketeers from Koprivnica who will rule the fair by keeping their eyes open and maintaining order among the crowds, and they will subject any transgressor to punishment on a real torture device. The Koprivnica Musketeers have become regular visitors of the fair owing to the fact that the Zagreb Tourist Board’s partner in supporting the organization of the fair is the Tourist Board of Koprivnica, a city known for its big Renaissance Festival.

The main organizers are the Kings of the Street, Zagreb’s well known street entertainers who are responsible for the organization of many other street events in Zagreb in addition to the fair. The most important of them is certainly Cest is d'Best.  However, in terms of attraction and size, Marko’s Fair is quickly catching up. This is not surprising as it offers a glimpse of the way life used to be in the Middle Ages through dynamic presentations and by offering a chance for the presenters and spectators to interact. The ultimate goal is to vividly conjure up all those things which are deeply embedded in our history but are no longer present on our streets.  

Owing to the number and variety of exhibitors, actors and costumed characters, the fair will certainly be enjoyed by visitors of all generations: those who still remember the old crafts, as well as the youngest ones who have seen historical products only in pictures, or at Marko’s Fair, obviously.