Calling all crafters, food artisans, and woodworkers!

2016 Day of Brochure

(Click to see inside)

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 3^rd 2016 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Please subscribe to the email list to get event updates. Click to subscribe

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 2016 was February 10th, 2016. 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 10th, 2016. 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 lbell@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?
Email us at clyons@howardcountymd.gov

2017 Holiday Mart Application  

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