The hard part of craft fairs is rarely the selling. It is finding the shows that still have a spot for you, before the form closes, and telling the good ones from the ones that will cost you a Saturday and a booth fee. Here is how to find craft fairs that are looking for vendors right now, and how to sort them.
Numbers in this guide come from the live listings on VendorsMap and were last updated October 21, 2026.
Right now, by the numbers
- 3,614 upcoming US craft fairs are taking vendor applications on VendorsMap.
- 118 of them close applications in the next 30 days. The full list, week by week, is on application deadlines.
- The median craft fair booth fee is $90, and the middle half pay $50 to $200. See booth fees by state.
- The most craft fairs open to vendors are in Texas (247), Florida (224), California (212), New York (185), Ohio (140), Massachusetts (112).
1. Start with a map of open applications
A search engine shows you last year's show as happily as this year's. A map built for vendors shows what is open now. On the VendorsMap map, filter to craft fairs and the dates you can work, and every pin is an event you can still apply to. Your state page lists the soonest shows with their fee and deadline, so you can scan a whole state in a minute.
Some listings take applications right on VendorsMap. For the rest, the listing links to the organizer's own form, and you apply externally.
2. Add the local sources a map can miss
Plenty of good craft fairs are run by volunteers who post the call for vendors in one place and nowhere else. Check these every few weeks:
- Town, library and chamber of commerce calendars. Holiday bazaars and summer festivals live here.
- Churches, schools and PTOs. Their fall and holiday fairs are some of the friendliest, cheapest shows for a new vendor.
- Local maker and vendor Facebook groups. Search your county or metro name with "vendors" or "craft fair".
- Other vendors. Ask the people beside you which shows were worth it. It is the most honest review you will get.
3. Read "looking for vendors" carefully
A show is really looking for you when three things are true: applications are open, the deadline has not passed, and your category is not already full. Check the listing for a deadline date and any category limits ("no more jewelry", "food vendors full"). If there is no deadline, many organizers take vendors until the booths are gone, so apply early anyway.
4. Time it to the season
Spring and summer shows close early, often two to four months ahead. Fall and holiday shows close late and fast. We looked at hundreds of published deadlines in when craft fair applications actually close, and the October median was about a week of notice. In the fall, apply the week you find a show.
5. Pick the shows worth your weekend
- Do the booth math. Booth fee, plus travel, plus your time, against what you realistically sell. A $90 booth needs a few good sales just to break even.
- Ask about attendance and history. A fifth-annual show with a following beats a first-year event with a big promise.
- Look for a good fit. Handmade-only and juried shows draw buyers who came for handmade.
- Read the reviews. Vendors review markets on VendorsMap as a place to sell. Read them before you pay.
6. Keep a short list and a calendar
Save the shows you like, put each deadline in your calendar the day you find it, and keep your application materials (photos, a short bio, your insurance certificate) in one folder. When a good show opens, you can apply in ten minutes instead of losing an evening. Our guide to applying to a craft fair and getting accepted covers what to put in it.
Questions vendors ask
Where can I find craft fairs looking for vendors?
Start with a map of events that are taking applications now, such as VendorsMap, which lists 3,614 upcoming US craft fairs open to vendors as of October 21, 2026. Then add the local sources a map can miss: town and chamber of commerce calendars, church and school bulletins, local maker Facebook groups, and the vendors you meet at shows.
When do craft fairs start taking vendor applications?
Spring and summer shows usually open applications in winter and close two to four months ahead. Fall and holiday shows open from late summer and often close within a few weeks of the event, so in September and October it pays to apply the same week you find a show.
How much does it cost to be a vendor at a craft fair?
The median craft fair booth fee on VendorsMap is $90, and half of craft fairs that state a fee charge between $50 to $200. Budget for a tent, tables, display and travel on top of the booth itself.
Is it free to search for craft fairs on VendorsMap?
Yes. Browsing the map, the state pages, booth fees and application deadlines costs nothing. A free account lets you save events and apply where the organizer takes applications on VendorsMap.
Ready to look? Open the map, or start with the deadlines closing soonest.