Ried has been a market town since the Middle Ages. The right to hold markets and fairs had to be granted by the lord of the manor.

Over 600 years ago Ried was granted two market days by Henry, Duke of Bavaria – to be held at the beginning and end of summer. And so for centuries the St. Peter and Paul market took place on 29th June.

On the first Sunday after 1st September, the feast day of St. Giles, a market was held that is the origin of today's Ried festival and the Ried trade fair.

Around 500 years ago, a third market was authorised. The St. Nicholas market takes place, as it always has, around 6th December.The annual cycle concludes with a fourth market day - in the middle of Lent.

Ried became a trading centre. The many market days of this key market town set the benchmark for the prices of agricultural products. From 1416 the well-attended market town became a centre for the wholesale trade, trading with Vienna and Nuremberg.

Until 1872, the Schranne, or farmers’ market, stood on the lower Hauptplatz. Grain, cloth and salt were stored in this hall.

The St. Nicholas market and Lent market are still held today, and there is also a weekly market. On Tuesday mornings you can buy flowers and regional food specialities on the lower Hauptplatz.