How to find craft fairs to sell at

Craft fairs are not all the same. A juried art or craft fair accepts vendors based on a review of their work, usually from photographs, and tends to attract buyers who expect original, higher-priced pieces. A craft show or bazaar may be open to anyone who applies in time, or screened more lightly. A holiday bazaar concentrates on gifts and seasonal goods. A maker market may focus on handmade goods in a community setting, sometimes weekly or monthly. School, church and community fairs raise money and often sell tables at modest prices. Festivals combine food, music and vendors.

Each type suits different work and different prices. A fine art print may do well at a juried show, while small gift items may do better at a bazaar. Think about what you make, who buys it and where those buyers go.

Start with the places you already know: fairs you have visited, local community calendars, library and chamber notice boards, and the social groups of other makers in your area. Ask makers at the tables of fairs you enjoy what other fairs they do and which they would skip. Many will tell you.

Then use directories. This site lists fairs and markets by state with links to the organizer's source, and the organizer pages show who runs events near you. Open the source link to read the organizer's own vendor page. Check more than one source for an event you care about, because dates, fees and deadlines change, and an organizer's page is the authority.

Use the state pages

Browse the state pages for events in your region. Look at the listing's description and venue to judge the type of event, and open the source for application details. Listings show admission and hours when the source states them.

The organizer's vendor page tells you most of what you need. Look for the application deadline and the date decisions are announced, the booth size and what is included, fees and what they cover, eligibility rules about handmade work, what you may and may not sell, whether the fair is juried and how, setup and teardown times, insurance or permit requirements, and cancellation terms.

If the page is vague, write to the organizer and ask. A good organizer answers questions clearly. If you cannot find a vendor page or an answer, treat it as a warning. Our guide to reading a jury fee and a booth fee explains what to look for in the costs.

A large crowd is not the same as the right crowd. A craft fair with many visitors who come for the rides or the food may not buy handmade work, while a smaller fair with buyers who come specifically for crafts may do well. Ask the organizer what the usual audience is and how they promote the event. Ask whether returning vendors have been happy and whether the fair has a mix of vendors that fits your category.

Talk to vendors if you can visit the fair beforehand. Ask what they sell and how the day went. Look at the mix of booths. If there are already many vendors selling what you make, consider how you will stand out, or look for a fair where your work is scarcer.

Try a few low-cost fairs before you commit to a big one. A community or school fair can be a useful trial, since fees tend to be smaller and the mood is relaxed. Use it to test your display, your prices, your payment setup and your stamina for a long day. Keep notes about what sold, what people asked about and what you wish you had brought.

When you apply to bigger or juried fairs, you will have better photographs, a clearer idea of your best work and a stronger application. Our guide on what a juried craft application asks for covers that.

Applications close at different times, and some of the best fairs have deadlines far in advance. Put every deadline in a calendar with a reminder, along with the date decisions are announced and the date payment is due. Track what you applied for, what you paid and what the outcome was.

After each fair, write down what you learned. Which items sold? What price points worked? What would you change in your display? Over time, these notes become your best guide. Our guide on applying for holiday bazaars shows a timeline for one season. Use the this-weekend page for something close to hand.