MERRY MOUNTAIN TOWN FESTIVAL RULES, LIMITATIONS, and PROCEDURES
Festival Schedule:
Friday, November 29, 2025, 12 PM - 7 PM
Vendor Check-In: Friday, November 29th, 9 AM - 11 AM
All booths MUST be ready by 11:30 AM
Additional check-in and set-up information will be sent if you are accepted into the festival.
Jury
All complete applications and accompanying information will be presented to the Jury. Selection is based on quality and skill in workmanship; originality, creativity, unique and relevant ideas; attractiveness of display; and the number of crafters in each category.
Jury will review photographs, menus, and application information in making selections. Applicant photos are an important factor in review and acceptance. Photos must be current and the best representation of your work and process as outlined in the material requirements. Photos must include at least one image of the booth set up. Jury will be held during October/November 2025. Acceptance and Non-acceptance notifications will be sent beginning in November 2025 and will not be discussed. All decisions of the jurors are final.
PRODUCT and EXHIBIT
- ALL items must be created or grown by the exhibitor.
Only the exhibitor and booth partner(s) will be eligible to check into the Festival. - Items/ Categories NOT permitted: BUY/SELL --the resale of wholesale items, MLM -- multi-level marketing items, obscene items, or items portraying illegal drug use are prohibited and will result in immediate dismissal without refund.
- Exhibitors may only show and sell work from the category in with they have been accepted.
- Any items of work not listed in the application and/or not created by the exhibitor must be removed from the show.
- Management will prohibit the installation and operation of any exhibits not meeting their approval.
- Exhibitors must bring enough stock for the entire show. If an exhibitor believes they are in danger of running out of stock, they must report to the Festival organizers immediately.
- All transactions and activities must be confined to the exhibitor's assigned space.
- Taking orders only for merchandise is prohibited. Orders may be taken for special orders, and collecting names for mailing purposes is permitted. You may not use your credit card to gather information.
- All articles and displays must be in good taste with no reference to race, ethnic, gender, sexual, political or religious prejudice.
- All materials must be in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the United States and the State of Georgia.
BOOTH DISPLAY and SET-UP
- All spaces, unless specified, are on natural terrain--spaces will have pine straw, holes, etc. Come prepared with stakes, wood shims to level legs, tent weights, etc. Vendor will be liable for any damaged caused by poorly secured tent and incidents may affect future acceptance.
- A single outdoor space is 12' x 12'
- Exhibitors must furnish their own display table, skirting, chairs, extension cords, etc.
- All displays must be designed, constructed and operated in good taste.
- Signs, tents, canopies or any other part of display may not extend over or into walkways.
- You may bring an identification sign/banner for your booth, but Merry Mountain Town Festival reserves the right to approve or disapprove the display at any time.
- Booths must be set up and manned by 11:30 a.m. Exhibitors may not open their booth late or close early. Doing so affects the possibility of being considered for other Merry Mountain Town Festival events.
CRAFTER CHECK-IN and SET-UP SCHEDULE
- Exhibitor (or listed booth partner) must check-in, in person, with a PHOTO ID, and must attend the show in its entirety.
- Exhibitor (or listed booth partner) MUST check-in during official check-in times. Any exhibitor not check-in will forfeit their booth space and all fees.
- Exhibitors CANNOT sub-lease assigned booth space or employ sales agents or representatives in lieu of checking-in and attending the Festival personally.
- Exhibitors MUST sign a waiver of liability BEFORE they will be allowed to set up their display. Failure to do so will result in forfeiting their space without refund.
- Vehicles are not permitted on festival grounds during show hours and may not be parked in visitor parking after set-up. Access to the fairgrounds with a vehicle is only allowed with prior staff approval. All load-in and load-out instructions must be followed, and failure to comply will result in removal from the event and ineligibility for future festivals.
- Failure to check in before setup may require relocation and could affect future participation.
ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL RULES
- Electricity is a PAID amenity at the Festival and is extremely limited to those who require it to demonstrate their craft, food production, or other necessary functions. Additional information will be sent to accepted exhibitors.
- Grease and Oil are prohibited from being disposed of in the drains or port-o-potties. Vendors may also store their own and dispose off-site.
- Vendors are responsible for their own trash collection and booth cleanliness will be monitored by Staff at all times. Hot coals, cooking oils, grease, or any other flammable items are not permitted in the dumpsters.
- Merry Mountain Town Festival and/or Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce is not, and will not be, responsible in any way for loss or damage to participants' property. Exhibitors are responsible for their own personal and property liability.
- Failure to abide by parking rules may affect future acceptance into the Merry Mountain Town Festival and/or dismissal from the show without refund. The parking lot is not owned or managed by the Gilmer Chamber or Merry Mountain Town Festival.
- Coolers may be brought into the festival area prior to opening each day. No glass containers. No alcohol is permitted on the premises.
- PETS and service animals are allowed.
- Smoking, vaping, alcoholic beverages, firearms, and controlled substances are prohibited on the fairgrounds. Any violation will result in immediate removal from the premises.
- No political rallies, speeches, campaign hand bills, or political solicitations of any kind are allowed on the fairgrounds, both inside and outside of fenced areas.
- Disruptive, rude, or disrespectful behavior toward vendors, volunteers, staff, patrons, or merchants will not be tolerated. Management reserves the right to remove or ban any person(s) who are not in compliance with the festival rules and regulations.
- GEORGIA STATE/COUNTY SALES TAX at 7% must be charged on all sales. Exhibitors are solely responsible for collecting, reporting and paying all sales taxes collected to the Georgia Department of Revenue, Compliance Division. Forms will be included in the Check-in packet.
PAYMENT
- Due with application: Application Fee (non-refundable): $25.00
Booth Site
- Booth Space: $150.00 per space
***Food/Concessions Booth Cost Determined by need.
***Electricity can be selected with the application, but will be charged separately.
Booth Electricity Access (charged upon approval): $25.00 / space
Premium Booth Space fee (charged upon approval): $50.00/ space
All payments will be processed via the EVENTENY platform as you complete the application. Refunds for non-accepted applications, less the jury/application fee, will be refunded via the EVENTENY platform to the credit card initially used. Withdrawals at any time must be sent via the EVENTENY platform email to be official and in good standing. Withdrawals made before the application deadline of October 31, 2025, will receive a full Booth Site fee refund. No refunds will be issued after November 3, 2025. This is a rain-or-shine event. We appreciate your interest and look forward to receiving your Merry Mountain Town Festival application.
***Failure to follow directions will result in disqualification. The Merry Mountain Town Festival reserves the right to refuse any application.***
