Fair activity in Ukraine has centuries-old history. In the 1840s there were 12 thousand fairs here, 178 large and medium ones were among them. Sorochiskaya Yarmarka was neither the largest one nor the most famous. Probably Velikie Sorochintsy village of Mirgorod district could become little known as many other villages of Poltava region. However, Ukrainian and Russian writer and our countrymen Nickolay Vasilievich Gogol glorified it for many centuries. The future writer was born in the house, which belonged to Trohimovsky who was the well-known doctor of Mirgorod district at the beginning of XIX century. The exhibits of Velikie Sorochintsy literary-memorial museum of N.V.  Gogol (founded in 1929) and the monument in front of museum recall about it.

During Gogol's times, the settlement has the status of town. Many years ago it was called Krasnopol but since 20s of XVII century it was known as Sorochintsy. In 1646, this town and many other ones were captured by Ukrainian magnate Vishnevetsky. It was Vishnevetsky who owned the most part of Poltava region territory to 1646 when the Liberation War leaded by Bogdan Hmelnitsky started. Sorochintsy became the sotnia town of Mirgorod regiment after establishing new regimental administrative, territorial and military system formed by B. Hmelnitsky on the territory liberated from Polish magnates and gentry. The estates of Cossack foremen were built here. Pavel Apostol the head of sotnia in Homutsy village had his own estates in Sorochihtsy and Homutsy. Later he was the colonel and hetman in Mirgorod. His son Daniil Apostol had the right received from Ivan Mazepa to own Sorochintsy and Homutsy villages. During Peter the Great times when the Russia was practically ruled by Alexander Menshikov Ukraine had a chance for Cossacks' self-government and election of new hetman. It was Daniil Apostol who became that sort of hetman. The beautiful Spaso- Preobrajenskaya church in Baroque taste was built by hetman's request in Sorochintsy during 1732–1734. The central part of temple is decorated by multicurved cupola constructed on the twelve-sided roll. Inside the church there is a fine seven- tiered carved iconostasis which consists of three ones and have more than hundred icons. There is a hetman emblem on the wall. On March 22 nd 1809 , the note was made in the church book. It reads that on March 20 th (April 1 st according new style) N.V.  Gogol was born and on March 22 nd he was christened in this church.

The writer demonstrated a great love to Ukraine , deep knowledge of Ukrainian folk arts and peculiarities of people life in his first work from the novels cycle «Evenings in khutor near Dikanka» (1831–1832) which brought the fame to N.V.  Gogol. In one of his novels »Sorochinskaya Yarmarka« Nickolay Vasilievich Gogol reconstituted the poetry of people life, described different members of Ukrainian people, and supplied his work with masterful humor.

The following is the abstract from N.V.  Gogol novel where he describes how the people reach the fair: «One August torrid day shined with the richness in 18…, 18… . Oh, it was about thirty years ago, when the road was in full swing by a large number of people been in a hurry to the fair from all nearest and remote khutors. In the morning, there was interminable flow of chumaks (tradesmen) with salt and fishes. The stacks of pots wrapped into hay moved very slowly and had a tedious time because of confinement and darkness. Sometimes alone bright painted tureen or pan expressed various thoughts boastfully looking out of wicker fence loaded on the cart and attracted the affectionate glances of luxury lovers. Many travelers watched with envy to the tall potter the owner of these precious things. He walked slowly near his goods wrapping with a great care his clay «dandies and coquettes» into hay hateful for them.»

Aside lone cart overloaded with bags, hemps, linen and various household goods dragged on the tiered bullocks. Behind it, the owner dressed in clean linen shirt and dirty linen wide trousers went pensively.

Fairs existed to 20 th of XX century, and then they were closed. All trade in villages became cooperative one and it was controlled by the state.

In 1966 fairs began to revive. This ancient tradition was resumed by Sorochiskaya Yarmarka. Many different representatives of various trade and manufacturing organizations from Poltava region, from many other Ukrainian regions and from abroad visited it. Many people went to Sorochintsy to buy various scare goods. Fair area was unequipped; there were not any conditions for participants and guests but these circumstances didn't stop the people.

During reorganization and disintegration of Soviet Union , during the first years of independence when Ukraine had very serious trade problems and inflation Sorochiskaya Yarmarka was under the threat of disappearance. It was carried out without enthusiasm; the participants and organizers were dissatisfied. But the fair as a living organism bore and waited the better times when the not indifferent persons will repair it and want change this terrible situation. It was happened…