The authors analyze the history of city celebrations and leisure time in Barnaul in late 19th - early 20th centuries. The changes in holiday culture of Barnaul citizens described in the article are based on wide historic material. These changes occurred during the period of modernization under the influence of all-Russia tendencies, taking into account the local peculiarities. The authors consider holidays as one of society progress indicators. They objectively demonstrated not only social way of life and directions of its development, but also reflected the peculiarities of social development.