Abstract

Fairs were the commercial and entertainment places which had no alternatives particularly for rural society until recent date. Both shopping possibilities have increased and the entertainment culture has changed, the interest towards fairs has increased. Nowadays, there are 79 fairs which are arranged in throughout of country. Çanakkale which is our study are, is one of the cities in Turkey with its founded 15 fairs per year, which was found most fairs. In this process which is developing dependent on the urban, socio-economic and cultural developments, it is seen that fairs have decreased in the country and the spreading areas of fairs have been limited to the small cities and the provinces. Our research has been pointing importance of the fairs in Çanakkale for rural areas in respect of their social, cultural and economic points. On the other hand, it has been understood that fairs have an importance on local, regional and even national scale as a means of living of thousands of families. However, it has been determined that fairs show an order of dispersion from the aspect of time and place and they support the existences of each other as the parts of a trade system