Arts & Crafts Vendor Application

The 41st Annual Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Saturday, September 27th, 2025, from 10AM-6PM & Sunday, September 28th, 2025, from 10AM-5PM at Etowah River Park, 600 Brown Industrial Park, Canton, GA 30114 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a vendor at Riverfest!

Please read the following information carefully to ensure a smooth application and participation process. This is a juried arts and handmade crafts festival. Artists may only show work in categories approved by the jury, and only products approved by the Riverfest Committee will be allowed. While late applications may be accepted with payment of a late fee, early submission of applications is strongly encouraged. Our show often sells out.

General Information:
Riverfest is a family-friendly event that celebrates art, creativity, and community. We welcome vendors who specialize in handcrafted items, artisan crafts, and gourmet foods. This event draws thousands of attendees and provides a great opportunity to showcase your work.

Accepted Categories:

• Arts: Original, handmade artwork, including paintings, photography, sculptures, and mixed media.
• Crafts: Unique, handcrafted items such as jewelry, woodworking, textiles, ceramics, and more.
• Gourmet Foods: Artisanal food products, including packaged goods like jams, baked goods, spices, and specialty beverages (non-alcoholic).

Category Descriptions:

• Arts: Vendors must showcase work that is entirely their own creation. Reproductions of original art must be clearly labeled as such.
• Crafts: Items should demonstrate originality, creativity, and high-quality craftsmanship. Commercially manufactured or mass-produced items will not be accepted.
• Gourmet Foods: Vendors should provide a detailed list of ingredients for packaged food items and comply with health and safety regulations. 

Event Protocol:

Vendors are expected to maintain professional and courteous behavior during the event.
Booth spaces must remain open and operational for the duration of Riverfest. Vendors must comply with the setup, breakdown, and parking guidelines outlined in Rules & Regulations

Parking and Setup:

Vendors will be provided detailed setup instructions, including assigned setup times, prior to the event. Parking passes and maps will be provided prior to the event date.

Breakdown:

Vendors are required to keep their booths open until the event officially ends. Early breakdown is not permitted. Once the event concludes, vendors must pack their items and then request a "Golden Ticket" from a Greenshirt to retrieve their vehicles for loading. All vendors must clear their booth spaces by the specified breakdown deadline.

We’re thrilled to have you join us for Riverfest and can’t wait to showcase the talents and creativity of our amazing vendors! If you have questions during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Under Georgia law, there is no liability for an injury or death of an individual entering these premises if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of contracting COVID-19. You are assuming this risk by entering these premises. Please adhere to CDC recommendations on mask usage.

This is a juried arts and handmade crafts festival. Artists may only show work in categories approved by the jury, and only products approved by the Riverfest Committee will be allowed.

There can be only one exhibitor per booth space; sharing booth space is not allowed. Exhibitors cannot sublet or apportion space to anyone else.

Setup is allowed at the allocated time only on the Friday before the show unless approved in advance by the committee. The committee will assign each vendor a specific time on Friday between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM based on location.

Booth space will be preassigned by the committee. While the Riverfest Committee will make every effort to accommodate specific requests, we cannot guarantee booth locations. No changes in booth space will be made during the weekend of the show.

Booths must be set up within their designated space. Exhibitors must provide their own tents, chairs, tables, change, etc. The ground is often very hard, so please plan accordingly. Any vendor renting a tent must prearrange with the committee a specific time for tent set up.

No special sale(s) signage of any kind will be accepted by exhibitors (i.e. Buy One Get One Free, 50% off).

Exhibitors must exhibit for the duration of the festival. Early breakdown will not be permitted. The booth must always be opened and manned during festival hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday. League members can sit in your booth for a short period (no more than 15 minutes) upon request. Booth break-down begins at 5:00 PM on Sunday. Exhibitors are responsible for booth setup and breakdown.

There is no rain date – come prepared, rain or shine.

Booth must be set up and ready for business by 9:30 AM on both days. All vehicles, trailers, and debris are to be cleared from the festival area by 9:00 AM. After unloading and setup, vendor vehicles and trailers must be moved to the designated vendor parking area(s). No vehicles or trailers will be allowed to enter the park after 9:00 AM. If you are late, your vehicle or trailer will be parked in a parking lot outside of Etowah River Park, and you will be able to retrieve your vehicle after we receive the “all clear” at the end of the day.

Vehicles and trailers are not permitted to enter the festival grounds and area during festival hours of operation—no exceptions. Exhibitors must unload and move vehicles immediately to designated parking areas. If the exhibitor carries additional stock, we suggest bringing a dolly or hand cart to bring it to the booth as necessary.

Vehicles may only be driven in the designated area as directed.

No vehicles are allowed back into the park until the “all clear” has been given. No “all clear” will be given until every patron has left the park. Please ensure all sales are completed by 6:00 PM on Saturday and 5:00 PM. on Sunday. For vehicles to re-enter the vendor area on Sunday, your booth must be broken down as much as possible, and you must see a Green Shirt who will inspect your breakdown before granting you a “golden ticket”. No re-entry on Sunday will be permitted without a Golden Ticket.

Exhibitors are responsible for Georgia State Sales Tax collection and reporting (6%) and any other sales fees or other charges that may apply to any activity relating to this festival. Food vendors are responsible for complying with all State of Georgia health and safety regulations.

Electricity is a paid amenity and will only be provided if requested on the application and paid for in advance. Vendors must provide their own 100’ heavy-duty extension cord. Generators are not allowed in the park for any reason.

It is our intention to move forward with Riverfest 2025. In the event the Riverfest is canceled by the League, vendors will receive the option of a full refund or donate their fees to the Service League of Cherokee County as a donation to benefit their mission to serve children in need in Cherokee County.

Cancellations by exhibitors prior to August 15, 2025, must be made in writing via MESSAGING USING EVENTENY. Please note the $30 jury and processing fee is non-refundable. Cancellations on or after August 15, 2025, will not receive a refund or future show credit of fees submitted. No refunds or future show credit will be given for no-shows.

The $30 application fee must be paid with the application submission for it to be considered. Booth and all other fees, including add-ons such as electricity, additional badges, or an increase in booth space, must be paid within 2 weeks of acceptance.

Riverfest reserves the right to limit any category to provide a diversity of arts and crafts throughout the Festival and to give exhibitors a reasonable chance for successful sales. The committee will try to vary the type of craft by location.

Riverfest Committee reserves the right to ask any exhibitor to remove any work deemed unacceptable by the Riverfest Committee. Riverfest Committee reserves the right to remove from our mailing list exhibitors who display or have displayed in the past, unprofessional behavior.

Riverfest Committee reserves the right to remove any exhibitor from Riverfest who does not adhere to all Rules & Regulations set forth by the Service League of Cherokee County and the Riverfest Committee.

The Service League of Cherokee County, the City of Canton, and any persons, property owners, suppliers, volunteers, and entities associated with Riverfest are not liable for any damages, injury, or loss to any person or goods from any cause whatsoever. All exhibitors, their heirs, administrators, and executors do hereby waive and release all of those mentioned earlier from any claims or damages of whatever arising out of the exhibitors’ participation in Riverfest. Exhibitors should obtain, at their own expense, insurance against loss, damage, or injury they may require. Non-compliance with the rules and regulations set forth may affect obtaining booth space in future Riverfest shows.

The Service League of Cherokee County thanks you for your interest in Riverfest. All funds raised at Riverfest are directed back into Cherokee County to help provide food, clothing, medical and dental care, eyeglasses, scholarships, and much more to help children in need.