MAKERS ARCADE 2025 SPRING FAIR
VENDOR INFORMATION
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE FAIR?
Makers Arcade Spring Fair will be held at the beautiful San Diego Waterfront Park in downtown, 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego CA 92101.
Saturday, April 26, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Sunday, April 27, 10:00AM - 5:00PM
Load-in and set-up will take place on Friday, April 25. Vendors will be given a shift time in order to keep things moving smoothly
Tear down will begin on Sunday, April 26 at 5:00PM. Vendors will not be allowed to load-out until they are fully packed up.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Applications will be open from February 14 to February 28, 2025.
All interested makers must complete the application linked at the bottom of this page. There is a non-refundable $20 application fee. If accepted, this application fee does not go toward your booth fee. Acceptance emails will be sent out the week of March 3rd.
If you have missed the cut-off date you may still apply, but your application will be automatically added to our waitlist.
PLEASE NOTE that this application is for craft vendors, artisanal vendors & prepackaged foods only (like spices, honey, cookies, etc.). Catering food vendors (on-site food preparation like food trucks & hot food stands), sponsors, musicians, workshops, coffee, balloon artists, face painters, florists, etc. can submit an activation interest form here!
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN APPLICANTS?
Many things are taken into consideration during the application process including booth setup, skill level, style, branding, website design, ethical practices, and price point. We are looking for artists and makers who are heavily or entirely involved in the design and production process of their handmade goods. We also strive to represent a diverse selection of artists and makers from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Our events are a safe space for all.
Take a look at photos of past makers on our Instagram account for an idea of the type of vendor and quality of setup we generally choose for our events.
While the majority of our artists live in Southern California, you do not have to be a resident here to participate.
If you are unsure if you should apply, feel free to email us at events@makersarcade.com with any questions you have!
More information can be found on our general Vendor F.A.Q. page.
WHAT’S THE COST TO PARTICIPATE?
The booth rental fee varies on size:
Outside Booth – 10’x10′ – $405
Outside Shared Booth – 5’x10′ – $285 (Each Vendor)
All accepted makers must participate both days. However, if you would like to share a booth with another accepted maker you could share the cost and split days. Both makers must apply and be accepted individually. Please include your arrangement details on your application.
This year will be our first fair at Waterfront Park and we anticipate more foot-traffic than usual. Booths will be able to leave their setup up at the venue overnight and we will have security all night. However, it is recommended to take home any valuables or items you do not feel comfortable leaving out overnight. Vendors applying for a shared booth must each complete their own application.
All artists are also required to donate 10-15 items for swag and VIP bags. The value of the ten items TOTAL should be a minimum of $75 wholesale.
These donations are a great way to market your products and gain exposure so please include items you currently make and sell. If you only have larger, higher-priced items, you can either make something specifically for this purpose or donate fewer, larger items that can be used for our pre-show promo raffle. If donating to the giveaway is a significant hardship for you, please let us know so we can work with you. Any items that go unused from the event will be used for future Makers Arcade VIP bags or giveaways. No coupons will be accepted.
WHEN WILL I BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR MY BOOTH?
Accepted makers will be notified of their acceptance status and receive their invoice the week of March 3rd.
February 14 - Open applications
February 28 - Close applications
Week of March 3 - Accepted vendors notified and Invoiced
March 14 - Vendor Invoices and all paperwork due
April 30 - Final sales reported to Makers Arcade
Vendors who are not accepted or who apply after the deadline will be put on a waitlist. Waitlisted vendors will be notified as spots open up due to cancellations and will continue to be chosen until the week before the event if space becomes available.
If you are on our waitlist, we ask you to please refrain from reaching out to see if a spot has opened. If you don’t hear from us, then a spot has not opened up, unfortunately. We definitely don't want to leave you hanging but we never know if someone is going to drop until they do. If you don’t make it into this event, we will do our best to get you into a future one.
Thank you in advance!
Marketing + Promotion
Our vendor fees cover the cost of our venue, event features, permits, and marketing, so just like you, we rely on attendance to make a profit! Our marketing budget includes a professional Public Relations campaign, an extensive social media ad campaign, flyers and posters, banners, and a google ad campaign. In addition to our efforts, we ask our vendors to take part in promoting the event as well! The more we come together to spread the word, the more successful we all will be. Our team will provide you with graphics, videos, flyers, posters, and promotional tips, and we will also do our best to feature as many vendors as possible on our Instagram account!
CANCELLATION POLICY + TERMS & CONDITIONS
Any cancellations before March 28 will result in a 50% refund. Unfortunately, we are unable to issue refunds after that time.
Please make sure to read our full Vendor Terms & Conditions before you apply, which includes information on obtaining your San Diego sellers and/or food handlers permit if you have not already done that. You will need to obtain all proper permits to sell at our events.
PLEASE NOTE: As a venue requirement, all vendors are required to report their total sales at the end of the event.
By applying for this event, you are agreeing to our full vendor terms & conditions.
Click here to read our full vendor terms & conditions.
Links for more information: