Attendance at the Matěj Pilgrimage in Prague is probably lower on the first day due to the worse weather
Updates: 05.03.2022 17:58
Released: 05.03.2022, 17:16
Prague – About 15,000 people visited the Matěj Fair, which began today at the Prague Exhibition Grounds. Eva Kočková told ČTK on behalf of the operator that attendance is lower than on opening days in the past, which is due to worse weather. The pilgrimage takes place this year after a one-year break, last year there was no coronavirus pandemic at all and the year before it lasted only 14 days. This year, the pilgrimage began ten days later, the traditional start date is February 24 at St. Matthew. Visitors will be able to visit the attractions at the Exhibition Center until April 18.
“Everything is without problems, we are glad that after two years of pilgrimage we enter under normal conditions,” said Kočková. She added that this is an outdoor event and that the weather is crucial for people’s interest, which has not been very successful today. According to her, more people headed for the attractions in the afternoon. For example, in 2019, the first day was sunny and thousands of people arrived for entertainment right after opening.
This year, the 427th year of the fair is taking place, there are 56 at the Exhibition Grounds. Visitors can try out a hundred attractions, but compared to the past, there are slightly fewer of them due to the smaller space provided by the completion of the Industrial Palace. Compared to last year, attractions and refreshments are more expensive, according to information from operators in the order of crowns to ten crowns. The most expensive attractions cost one person 130 crowns.
Of the attractions, Kočková recommended a 50-meter giant bike, which has newly closed heated cabins. “If you like adrenaline, I recommend Airborne, it’s a bigger European adrenaline attraction,” she added. A novelty is the new 60-meter booster Apollo 13 and the largest European chain carousel and other well-known attractions have returned to the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage is open on weekdays from 13:00 to 21:00 and on weekends from 10:00 to 22:00. Admission to the complex costs 30 crowns at the weekend and is free during the week. Ukrainians, a country invaded by Russia, have free admission upon presentation of a passport. A traditional children’s day is prepared for handicapped children or children from children’s homes, which will take place on March 21 – between 10:00 and 15:00, children will be able to use the attractions for free. The organizers will also offer the same opportunity to Ukrainian refugees.
The history of the Matěj Pilgrimage is recorded in the National Library in records from 1595, thanks to the February date of St. Matthew’s Day it is the first spring pilgrimage in Europe. The original pilgrimages were in the vicinity of the Dejvice Church of St. Matěje, in places that are called Na Babě or U Matěje today. Then the festivities moved lower to Victory Square. In the second half of the 20th century, due to the construction of the CTU buildings, the pilgrimage was first moved to Letná and other places in Prague. Soon after moving to the Exhibition Grounds, Václav Kočka Sr., who still runs it today, began to organize the pilgrimage.