2026 Makers Marketplace
Vendor Application Guidelines

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North Carolina Folk Festival
September 18, 19, 20, 2026
Greensboro, NC

 

Important Dates

  • Application Deadline: 11:59 pm on Saturday, Jan 31, 2026

  • Notification of acceptance (by email): Saturday, Feb 28, 2026

  • Deadline for additional material(s): Tuesday, March 31, 2026

  • Deadline for contract and payment of fees: Saturday, Apr 18, 2026

  • Deadline for vendor cancellation with partial refund: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

 

Application Process

  • Vendors must submit a completed application and non-refundable application fee.

  • Vendors must apply each year.  Acceptance in past years does not guarantee acceptance in future years.

  • Vendors are REQUIRED to choose from Makers Marketplace categories (see eligible items below)

  • Vendors are REQUIRED to submit Three (3) color images of applicant work intended for sale (accepted vendor images used for promotional purposes)  and One (1) booth image

  • A non-refundable application fee, $40, must be submitted with your application.

  • Failure to meet application deadlines may result in rejection of application

  • Completion of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

 Applicants will receive email confirmation of their successful submission. If you receive no confirmation, email marketplace@ncfolkfestival.com as soon as possible.

 

Selection Process

  • The number of Marketplace vendors selected will depend on the final site design layout.

  • A committee reviews all applications. Applicants are evaluated with the following criteria:

    • Technical quality of work

    • Uniqueness of design

    • Relevance to the NC Makers Marketplace

    • Booth setup & presentation of items as shown in submitted photo(s)

 

Makers Marketplace Categories Eligible items include, but are not limited to:

  • Pottery/ceramics

  • Custom Furniture

  • Textile Art

  • Printmaking

  • Handmade Clothing

  • Quilts

  • Jewelry

  • Woodwork

  • Herbal/Personal Care

  • Mixed Media Art*

  • Photography

  • Original paintings*

  • Sculpture

  • Stained & Blown Glass

  • Packaged “made-in-NC” food products* (see below)

*For vendors interested in selling paintings or mixed media, the artist may sell prints of an original work alongside the original work displayed at the North Carolina Folk Festival Artwork and made-in-NC items must be original.

Ineligible items include, but are not limited to:

  • Crafts made from store-bought kits or assembled manufactured items

  • Commercial reproductions

  • Alcohol or Tobacco products

  • Vendors offering activities or services such as face painting, photo booths will not be considered and should apply for GENERAL MERCHANTS or EXHIBITOR

  • Made in NC Food products should be in containers for later consumption. Food vendors should apply under NCFF Food Vendor applications.

The North Carolina Folk Festival reserves the right to deny any application without explanation.

 

Jury information

  • Average number of applications submitted each year:120

  • Number of artists selected from the jury to participate in the event is based on Festival Footprint layout but ranges from 35-50  (Wait list is kept for changes)

  • Images are viewed by jurors from separate locations, logging into NCFF system and using the above criteria.  Jurors score applications using a scale of 1 - 5, the #3 is not used. There is no middle choice. There are usually 5 jurors scoring applications. The NCFFMM Coordinator organizes the jurors as a single jury panel that scores applications for all medium categories

  • The jury changes members every 2-3 years and includes professional artists, gallery curators and other festival marketplace coordinators.  The jury process is closed.  The Jury Committee is asked to supply written feedback on all of the artwork they give a low score. An artist who is not invited to be in the Makers Marketplace can request to know the comments and  feedback regarding their work

 

Booth Pricing & Payment

The basic vendor booth fee is $385.00.

The booth fee includes:

  • 10’x10’ space in the Makers Marketplace tents

  • Two (2) chairs (upon request)

  • 1x 20 Amp (2000 Watt 120 Volt) single outlet electrical service (no other services are provided)

  • Parking Pass for one (1) vehicle off festival footprint

  • Security for Friday and Saturday night (fixtures and materials are left overnight at the vendors’ risk - vendors should obtain their own insurance for coverage of personal property)

  • *Larger spaces may be available for additional fees.  And Space for mobile vendors is limited.

The Festival reserves space upon receipt of payment by vendor. Full payment of all vendor fees must be submitted by the deadline for contract and payment of fees (see Important Dates). Do not send booth fees until you have received notification your application was accepted into the NC Makers Marketplace.

 

Refunds

There are no refunds made after the deadline for vendor cancellation (see Important Dates). No refunds will be issued for inclement weather.

 

Vending at the North Carolina Folk Festival NC Makers Marketplace

The North Carolina Folk Festival draws a large number of attendees to downtown Greensboro. Vendors selected to participate in the North Carolina Folk Festival will receive an acceptance email. The acceptance email (and or subsequent communications) will include information that must be collected by the North Carolina Folk Festival, including:

  • Booth operation needs & specifications

  • Promotional information (must be supplied to be promoted in marketing materials)

  • Liability Waiver or Proof of Insurance

  • A copy of the vendor's valid Certificate of Registration with the NC Department of Revenue (See Taxes & Insurance below)

 

NC Makers Marketplace - Hours of Operation

  • Friday: 5:30pm to 10:00pm

  • Saturday: 11:30am to 10:00pm

  • Sunday: 11:30am to 7:00pm  *On Sunday you will be told when you can safely load out by marketplace coordinator

Hours are subject to change. Booths must be staffed by the artists all hours of operation. The festival goes on rain or shine unless extraordinary weather presents a safety issue. All vendors are expected to be open during the hours listed above unless they are notified by Festival personnel.

Vendors should bring someone to help watch their booth when crowds increase. Vendors will be under large white tents provided by the NCFF.

 

Vendor Placement

The Festival assigns booth locations to each vendor. Placement is subject to change. Vendors are arranged according to their juried categories to create variety through the Marketplace. Please be specific in detailing your items for sale. Do not include different than juried items without speaking with the Marketplace coordinator. Any accommodation request should be included on the vendor application.

 

Set Up

Vendors set up their booths on Friday, September 18, 2026 between 8am and 2pm.

Load-in times are coordinated. More information is sent to vendors closer to the North Carolina Folk Festival; exact times are subject to change.

Vehicle unloading space is provided near the assigned vendor placement. Vendors are permitted thirty (30) minutes for unloading (before 2pm). Booths must be set up and operational in advance for inspection at 3pm and ready for NC

Makers Marketplace Hours of Operation. If booths don’t meet the NCFF requirements vendors will be given notice of missing requirements and when/if they may return.

 

Booth Operations Regulations

  • Vendors must restrict all activities to their assigned booth space - no space-sharing or subletting is permitted

  • Vendor booths must be operational during NC Makers Marketplace Hours of Operation

  • Vendors may not advertise with signage, etc. outside of their booth space

  • Raffles are not allowed

  •  Camping is not allowed

  • Generators are not allowed

  • Playing music from your booth is prohibited

  • Vendors may sell only the type of work the Festival has invited them to sell

  • No political paraphernalia should be displayed or sold

The Festival encourages vendors to perform ongoing demonstrations within their booths. Be mindful of loud noises, strong odors, etc.

**For vendors with Made-In-NC packaged food products:

Only packaged food products intended for take-home or gift use will be approved

  • Regulations for vendors offering samples:

    • Samples must be no more than ¼ of a normal service size

    • Only samples that can be served at room temperature will be allowed

    • Cooking or heating of samples must be approved with the Festival in advance

  • Vendors must adhere to local and state guidelines pertaining to food sampling

  • Vendors can not offer samples outside their booth space.

 

Vehicles On Site

Vehicles are allowed on-site only during the following times:

  • Friday: until 2pm & after 10:30pm

  • Saturday: until 11am & after 10:30pm

  • Sunday: until 11am & after 7pm

  • *Times are subject to change.

For the safety of festival attendees, vehicles are not allowed within the site during festival hours, or while people occupy the site. Vendors will receive one (1) parking pass for designated parking.

Electricity

1x 20 Amp (2000 Watt 120 Volt) single ground fault outlet electrical service is included at no charge.

  • Vendors must place electrical plugs where the Festival directs them.

  • Vendors should bring one labeled 12-gauge cord per 20 amp circuit and outlet strips as needed.

  • Vendors should bring lights for evening illumination.

Tear Down

Vendors may dismantle booths after the Makers Marketplace Hours of Operation. Vehicles are not allowed on site until 7pm on Sunday. Be aware that pedestrians will still be present on Festival grounds during tear-down. The time to enter the footprint is for safety reasons. Early tear-down vendors will not be invited to return. All booths must be broken down by 9pm on the Sunday of the North Carolina Folk Festival. Any vendors failing to completely clean up their booth areas must pay a clean-up fee.

 

 Other Considerations  

Marketing

All vendors are listed as an official component of the North Carolina Folk Festival. This may include, but is not limited to: the North Carolina Folk Festival website, mobile app, program guide if available, social media, video and email newsletters. Marketplace Vendors are also encouraged to promote the festival on all their marketing channels– social, email and other to bring fans to your booth. 

Taxes & Insurance

Vendors are responsible for all local, state and federal taxes. Each vendor must exhibit a valid Certificate of Registration prominently. For more information on Tax Requirements view this list of NC DOR Resources:

 

The Festival disclaims any authority of control over the operation of vendors. Vendors assume all rights and responsibilities for the conduct of their operations including, but not limited to: obtaining liability and general coverage insurance for vendor-related activities adhering to all local and state ordinances and regulations. The Festival does not have separate vendor coverage under any insurance it may maintain.  

Vendors who fail to comply with or repeatedly violate these guidelines may be expelled and/or not invited to apply in future years. The Festival reserves the right to amend these guidelines as needed, at any time.  

In the event of a dispute, the decision of the North Carolina Folk Festival Operating Team will be accepted as final.  

Contact Kathryn at  marketplace@ncfolkfestival.com  or (336) 462-8867 (please leave a message and identify yourself for a return call.)

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