What is it?
It's an exhibition and sale of handmade goods from independent artists.

When is it?
The event happens the first Saturday of December, this year it will be Saturday December 1st  2018 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Where is it?
The annual Holiday Mart is held indoors at the Gary J. Arthur Community Center, located at 2400 State Rte. 97 Cooksville MD 21723. 25 miles west of Baltimore, 25 Miles North of Washington DC, 25 miles East of Frederick, and 20 miles South of Westminster.

Directions from:

Baltimore, MD

Washington, DC

Frederick, MD

Westminster, MD

Where do I buy tickets?
Cash admission is at the door. An ATM is available if needed.

What kinds of items will I find?
Think of it as a real-life Etsy, but curated to feature only the best products. 

Handmade accessories, handcrafted jewelry, wooden and plush toys, craft supplies, vintage home decor, screen-printing, unique homegoods, pottery, furniture, original art, locally produce food and beverages, and so much more! Holiday Mart applicants undergo a competitive jury process and only the top candidates make the cut.

Am I eligible?
We require that all artwork sold at the fair be original, designed by, and made by the artist. The artist must be in attendance to sell their wares; artists that fail to appear in person may be ineligible for future participation. Please read the terms and conditions on the vendor application carefully to ensure you meet all criteria. 

How do I apply?
Vendor applications are accepted online or through the mail. The deadline to apply for Holiday Mart 2017 was February 10th, 2017. Join the email list to be notified when future applications are available.

Application & Booth Fees:
The application fee is $20. If accepted through the jury process, Holiday Mart crafters pay a $135 per space booth fee. All fees are non-refundable. Limited electrical spaces are available at an additional cost.

When is the application deadline?
The deadline is February 9th, 2018. Space may still be available, you may want to submit an application

I'm having problems submitting my application. What should I do?
Make sure the file size for each image is under 200K and that your vendor statement does not exceed 100 words. If you've done that, completed all required fields, and still having trouble, email clyons@howardcountymd.gov for assistance.

What is the jurying process? The jury judges applicants based on their artwork and look for high quality, handmade, unique items. The competition for booths is steep, so don't flub your application! In past years, we've received over 300 applications for 150 available booth spaces. While we'd love for everyone to participate, we are limited by space and want to ensure a high quality, unique event. 

If I'm not accepted, is there a wait list for vendors?
Yes. We pick a small number of applicants for our wait list. Applicants selected for the wait list will be notified via email of any booth space that may open up. 

Can I share a booth with another vendor?
Sure, but we ask that you provide contact info and submit images of anyone's work who would be selling at the fair so they can go through the jury process and receive all fair-related communications and materials.  

As a vendor, where can I get Howard County MD sales tax info? 
Your information is submitted by the Holiday Mart Coordinator to the tax office and you will be assigned a temporary tax ID number.

What if there's inclement weather?
The event will take place rain or shine. Please plan accordingly. 

Why is there an admission fee? The fee covers some of the costs of putting on the fair. The admission fee helps us continue to provide a great experience for both attendees and vendors. 

Can I bring my dog? Sorry, no pets allowed.  (Certified service animals are permitted) 

Will there be food available? Yes, Salazar’s Catering will have a full selection of snacks to full meals available for purchase.

Is there Parking? Parking is available free of charge in the main Community Center parking lot, Bushy Park Elementary School parking lot, and Western Reginal Park parking lots. A free shuttle makes continues passes through all parking lots for an added convenience. 

Is the facility accessible?
Yes the Community Center was designed with no steps, wide doors and in addition to the normal accessible parking spaces additional ones are reserved for the days event in the main parking lot.  

Anything else you want to know?
Call the Gary J. Arthur Community Center 410-313-4840

Howard County Recreation & Parks is continually looking for new Crafters and Artisans with unique and unusual work.

Eligibility
To be eligible to sell at Holiday Mart 2018, a Crafter & Artisan must be juried by the jurying committee. All work must be the original thought, design and creation of the seller. No kits, items made from kits, imports or arts and crafts supplies may be shown or sold.

Fees
There is a $20 jurying fee for applicants and the applications are due February 9,  2019. If selected, the fee for a 6ft x 10ft space is $135.  A limited number of spaces offering electricity are available for an additional charge of $20, witch will be paid one site day of.

Applying
If you would like to have your work juried by the jurying committee, pay your application fee here and once you receive a receipt # complete the application by following this link https://tinyurl.com/HM2018. See the 2018 Crafter Application section for helpful information.
Please contact Christine Lyons at clyons@howardcountymd.gov if you have any questions about this application or the show. Thank you for your interest in our event.

The deadline to apply was February 9.
Not seeking crafters at this time (11/15/18) email clyons@howardcountymd.gov if you would like to inquire about the waiting list 

New this year, you may apply online through our Activenet system. We have been working on a way to make applying online more accessible, as well as compatible with our county’s registration system. We encourage you to try it out this year so we can get your feedback and hopefully allow for easier communication.

Directions:

1. Go to https://tinyurl.com/HoCoActive and create an account with a password.
2. Register for course code  RP#4170.601 and pay your $20 application fee.
3. Once you pay your $20, you will be emailed a receipt and within that receipt will be a link to the application form (also available here https://tinyurl.com/HM2018).
4. Answer all questions on the form and check the box that says “I am not a robot” then hit SUBMIT (If you do not check the robot box, your form will not go through)
5. Feel free to check in with me to ensure that everything worked out and you should hear back about the jury’s decision by the end of April at the latest.

We appreciate your patience as we try this new process. If you do not want to apply online, you can still apply through the mail. Print and fill out the application form and mail it back with a check to the address provided. Click here for PDF copy to mail in

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christine Lyons at clyons@howardcountymd.gov

2018 Holiday Mart Application   

2018 Holiday Mart Fire and Safety Regulations

For Crafter and Sponsor questions, call Christine Lyons at 410-313-4843 or clyons@howardcountymd.gov.