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 2020, crafters and artisans 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 displayed or sold.

Fees

There is a $20 jurying fee for applicants and the applications are due February 15, 2020. 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, which will be paid on the day of the event.

Applying

If you would like to have your work juried by the jurying committee, pay your application fee here . Once you receive a receipt number, complete the application by following this link https://www.formpl.us/form/584716004. See the 2020 Crafter Application section for additional information.

The deadline to apply is February 15, 2020.
 

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. To apply through ActiveNet,

1. Go to https://tinyurl.com/HoCoActive and log in to your account or create an account with a password if you do not already have one.
2. Register for course code RP4170, 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://www.formpl.us/form/584716004).
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.

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 to download a printable version of the 2020 Crafter Application. 

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

2020 Holiday Mart Application   (Printable)

2020 Holiday Mart Fire and Safety Regulations

For crafter and sponsor questions, call Christine DiGoia at 410-313-4843 or cdigioia@howardcountymd.gov.

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

When is it?
The event takes place on the first Saturday in December. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, December 5th, 10am-5pm.

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.

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.

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 was February 14th. 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, crafters pay $135/booth if registered before the application deadline. We will continues to accept applications until space is full. However, after February 14th, the crafter's booth fee will increase to $155. 

All fees are non-refundable. Limited electrical spaces are available at an additional cost.

When is the application deadline?
The deadline was February 14, 2020. 

We will continue to accept applications until space is full. However, February 14th, the crafter's booth fee will increase to $155.

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 cdigioia@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