Since the beginning of the 19th century, more than 12,000 fairs have existed on the territory of Ukraine. Sorochinskaya Fair was not very popular until N. V. Gogol. Since the beginning of the Soviet period, fairs have ceased to exist. And in 1966, the Sorochinskaya Fair was one of the first to reopen.
The fair is an extraordinary sight. Representatives of numerous folk crafts show their skills and immediately sell various ethnic goods. They also conduct master classes on teaching crafts for everyone. Folk groups from the cities of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia perform. The literary and memorial museum of Gogol and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior built in 1732 are opening for visits. You can even meet Gogol himself, take a picture with him and get his autograph. And, of course, trade is flourishing here. All Ukrainian producers try to present their products at this major trade event.
Given the wide popularity of the fair, many travel companies organize special tours. Most often these are bus excursions that leave from Kiev every morning. Comfortable autoliners are accompanied by a guide who tells about the Poltava region, its sights and how and with whom to bargain. Many companies also offer complex offers for tourists, including excursions around Poltava, around the museum and the field of the Battle of Poltava, around the pottery town of Opishnya, and a visit to the legendary Dikanka.
In 2012, the Sorochinskaya fair will be held from 15 to 19 August in the village of Bolshiye Sorochintsy, Mirgorodsky district, Poltava region. These are the traditional places and dates for this fair. Every year it is held in this village, and it is scheduled for the penultimate weekend in August and lasts for 5 days. The entrance to the fair grounds is free.
For those who wish to visit the fair by car, the coordinates for the GPS navigator are 50 degrees. 01 minutes 31.09 sec north latitude and 33 deg. 56 minutes 51.55 sec east longitude. Leave Kiev along the E40 or M-03 highway in the direction of Lubny. Immediately after Lubna, turn right onto the P-42 highway (aka T-17-10). After 66 km after turning to this road, look for a sign to the village of Velyki Sorochintsy. It is located on the right bank of the Psel River, between the villages of Savintsy and Marenichi.
