Once a year, in the first week of September, something remarkable happens to Jičín. The population of this quietly charming Baroque town swells by tens of thousands of visitors, the medieval square fills with costumed characters from fairy tales and folk legends, the linden avenue echoes with music and theatrical performance, and the whole town becomes an immersive celebration of storytelling, imagination, and Central European folk tradition. This is Jičín — Město pohádky: Jičín, City of Fairy Tales.
Origins of the Festival
The festival began in 1991, in the years of post-Communist cultural renewal, when local enthusiasts and artists sought to celebrate the rich tradition of Czech and Slovak fairy tales and to give Jičín a distinctive cultural identity. The concept drew on both the romantic landscape of Bohemian Paradise — which had long inspired writers, painters, and storytellers — and the town's own Baroque theatrical heritage.
What started as a modest local event has grown into one of the most attended outdoor cultural festivals in the Czech Republic, typically drawing over 100,000 visitors across four to five days. It has gained international participation, with folk ensembles, puppet theatres, and storytelling groups regularly attending from Slovakia, Poland, Germany, Hungary, and further afield.
What Happens at the Festival
The festival is structured around a central theme — a different fairy tale, legend, or narrative each year — which gives a creative thread connecting the various performances and installations across the town. Past themes have drawn from Czech folk tales, the legends of Bohemian Paradise, and broader European fairy-tale traditions.
Street Theatre and Performances
The heart of the festival is the extraordinary concentration of street performance that fills Valdštejnské náměstí and the surrounding streets. Acrobats, fire performers, puppet masters, theatrical troupes, and costumed characters from classic fairy tales create a continuous, joyful spectacle. Many performers are professional ensembles with international reputations; others are enthusiastic amateur groups adding to the festive chaos.
The Parade
The grand parade through the historic centre — typically on the Saturday of the festival weekend — is its visual centrepiece. Thousands of participants in elaborate costumes representing characters from fairy tales and folk legends march through the town to the sound of music and cheering crowds. The parade is free to watch and draws enormous crowds along the route; arriving early for a good viewpoint is essential.
Children's Programme
An extensive children's programme runs throughout the festival, with dedicated storytelling sessions, craft workshops, interactive fairy-tale trails through the town, and performances scaled for younger audiences. Jičín genuinely excels at making the festival accessible and magical for children — it is one of the reasons Czech families travel from across the country to attend.
Evening Events
As dusk falls, the festival takes on a different mood. Evening concerts, light installations along the linden avenue, theatrical performances in the square, and the glow of lanterns transform the town into something genuinely enchanting. The evening programme typically includes headlining folk, world music, or classical performances on the main stage.
The Connection to Czech Fairy-Tale Tradition
Czech and Slovak fairy tales — pohádky — occupy a central place in Central European culture. The stories collected and written by 19th-century authors like Božena Němcová and Karel Jaromír Erben are as well-known to Czech children as the Brothers Grimm are in Germany. These tales — of clever millers' sons, enchanted princesses, water sprites (vodníci), and wise old women — animate the Jičín festival and connect it to a living cultural tradition.
"In Jičín in September, the fairy tales are not read — they are walked through, lived in, and celebrated by everyone who comes."
Practical Information for Festival Visitors
The festival is held annually in early September (typically the first full week). Exact dates change year to year. Check the official festival website — pohadka.jicin.cz — for the current year's programme and dates.
- Admission: Most street performances and the parade are free. Some indoor or special evening shows require tickets, available in advance online or at the festival box office.
- Accommodation: Book well in advance — the entire region fills up during festival week. Consider staying in nearby towns (Mladá Boleslav, Turnov, Hradec Králové) if Jičín accommodation is full.
- Transport: Extra bus services typically operate during the festival from Prague and regional cities. Check current timetables. Walking is the best way to navigate the town during the festival as the centre is pedestrianised.
- Crowds: The festival is very busy, particularly on Saturday. Young children may find the largest crowds overwhelming; mornings and early afternoons tend to be less hectic than evenings.
- Weather: Early September in Bohemia can be warm and sunny, but also cool or rainy. Bring layers and a waterproof jacket regardless of the forecast.
Beyond the Festival: Jičín's Year-Round Cultural Life
While the Fairy Tale Town festival is Jičín's most spectacular cultural event, the town has an active cultural calendar throughout the year. The Municipal Theatre (Divadlo Jičín) stages drama, opera, and children's performances. The Jičín Museum runs changing exhibitions on local history and culture. Regular outdoor cinema screenings, concerts in the square, and the town's Christmas market (one of the most charming in the region) give visitors reasons to come in every season.