Vendor Application

The Historical Association of Catawba County (HACC) and the North Carolina Pottery Center are hosting the 29th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival (CVPAF) on Friday, March 27th and Saturday, March 28th, 2026 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, North Carolina. The goal of the CVPAF is to bring together traditional potters and dealers to create a quality show that will celebrate our region’s pottery heritage, one of North Carolina’s most treasured cultural resources. The mission of the CVPAF is to foster an educational event where the public may learn about traditional North Carolina pottery, within the wider context of Southern pottery, and to provide an opportunity to purchase, collect, and study this unique cultural resource through contact with working potters and knowledgeable pottery dealers.

Exhibitor spaces of 10ft x 10ft are currently available. Discounted booth rates are available with receipt of application and check or money order (postmarked on or before October 24th, 2025): $345.00 per 10ft x 10ft booth and $595.00 per 10ft x 20ft booth. Prompt registration will ensure that your business will be listed in marketing and advertising efforts. The rate for late registration (postmarked between October 25th, 2025 and December 5th, 2025) is $390.00 per 10ft x 10ft booth and $626.00 per 10ft by 20ft booth. The final deadline is December 5th, 2025.

The registration fee includes booth rental for the entire show, decorative draping (8ft curtain backdrop and 3ft curtain side rails), two chairs, one 6ft table per each 10ft x 10ft booth, and food provided for TWO booth attendants on Friday night (Additional Friday night dinner tickets for two more booth attendants may be purchased at a later date). Exhibitors are encouraged to bring additional display units and tables. Electrical and/or telephone needs must be arranged through the Hickory Metro Convention Center at (828) 324-8600. Exhibitors will be notified of booth assignments by February 13th, 2026, along with additional information. Please register promptly to secure a booth. Exhibitors are permitted to begin booth set-up as early as 7am on Friday, March 27th, 2026. All booths must be ready for Fire Marshall Inspection by 4:00pm.

The Hickory Metro Convention Center is located at 1960 13th Ave Drive SE Hickory, NC 28602. (Exit 125 off I-40) Lodging and travel information is available through the Hickory Metro Convention Center and Visitors Bureau at (828) 324-8600.

Space is limited, so please respond promptly. The first deadline for registration is October 24th, 2025. After that, a late fee will apply and a booth cannot be guaranteed. 

Please note: Our refund policy states that if you request a refund on or before Dec 5th, 2025, you are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 admin fee. Any requests made between Dec. 5th, 2025 and March 6th, 2026 will only be eligible for a half refund. All refund requests made after March 6th, 2026 will NOT be eligible for refund. Any registration paid for by cash is NOT eligible for refund at any point. 

1. Management reserves the right to refuse any or all applications for space and to prohibit or remove any exhibit, display or part thereof, or proposed exhibit display or device, which in the opinion of show management is not suitable to or in keeping with the policy of show management.

2. Booths are assigned for the purposes of displaying merchandise and must be properly manned during the hours of the show.

3. Exhibit fee covers rental of exhibit space assigned for the period of the show.

4. All exhibitors must comply with the local fire protection code. This code will be strictly enforced.

5. Exhibitors will be held responsible for any and all property damage incurred by their employees. Violators will be held responsible and charged for repairs.

6. Selling activities and promotional efforts must be confined within the space assigned to each exhibitor.

7. Noisy or undignified displays are prohibited and will not be permitted, nor will noisily operated displays be allowed. Sound devices, megaphones, loud speakers, sideshow tactics, or undignified methods of attracting attention will not be permitted.

8. Exhibitors will be permitted to commence setting up their exhibits on the day indicated. After official opening, no cases or packing materials are to be left in the aisles or booths.

9. Any space either applied for or contracted for, of which the exhibitor does not complete his contractual obligation, shall be deemed as forfeited by the exhibitor, as shall any deposits or other monies paid. Show management is herein authorized to dispose of such space as is best for the success of the exhibit and shall retain as damages, any and all such monies that had been paid, as damages and expenses.

10. The exhibit facility, as well as any officer or staff member of the NCPC or CCHA mentioned, will not be responsible for any damage that might occur from fire, theft, loss of merchandise, water damage, personal injury to exhibitors, their personnel, their buyers or visitors, or for any other injury or damage alleged to have been caused or attributed to, by reason of any exhibitor’s participation in the show. It is agreed that the exhibit facility and sponsoring parties shall be blameless for all liability which might ensue from any cause mentioned above.

11. Food and drink concessions are not allowed as part of any booth.

12. Animals and pets are not permitted in the Metro Trade Center building with the exception of hearing and seeing-eye dogs.

13. Booth signage or decoration must be approved prior to being attached to any Metro Trade Center surface.

14. Events or circumstances not covered in these operating policies and procedures may be subject to special consideration and stipulations as deemed appropriate by the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival management or the management of the Hickory Metro Trade Center.

15. Please note: Our refund policy states that if you request a refund on or before Dec 5th, 2025, you are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 admin fee. Any requests made between Dec. 5th, 2025 and March 6th, 2026 will only be eligible for a half refund. All refund requests made after March 6th, 2026 will NOT be eligible for refund. Any registration paid for by cash is NOT eligible for refund at any point.