HOW CAN I APPLY?

VENDOR INFORMATION WHEN AND WHERE IS THE FAIR? Makers Arcade Holiday Fair will be held inside the Port Pavilion at the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego, 1000 N Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92101.This two-day event will be held Saturday, December 13 & Sunday, December 14. We are so excited to be a part of the Parade of Lights again this year! Starting Sunday evening, we anticipate an additional 1,000 people to join us at the pier to see the lights, shop around, and celebrate with some holiday cheer!Saturday, December 12, 10:00AM - 5:00PMSunday, December 13, 10:00AM - 5:00PM (main event) and 5:00-8:00PM (after hours parade of lights viewing)Load-in and set-up will take place on December 11 and vendors will be given a shift time in order to keep things moving smoothlyTear down will begin on Sunday, December 13 at 7:45PM. Vendors will not be allowed to load-out until all Parade of Light Pedestrians have cleared out at 8:00PM. HOW CAN I APPLY? Applications open on July 3, 2026, and will remain open until all categories are full. We do have a priority application deadline for vendors who’d like to get notified and locked in to the event early (see vendor application timeline below)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. Once all categories are full, we will open our waitlist application. We encourage interested vendors to complete the waitlist application so that if a spot in your category becomes available, your place in line will be held, and we will be able to notify you.PLEASE NOTE: This application is for vendors selling physical products only, including craft and artisanal goods as well as pre-packaged food items(such as spices, honey, cookies, and packaged treats).This application is not for food trucks, hot food or catering vendors, musicians, workshops, sponsors, balloon artists, face painters, florists, coffee vendors, or other service-based or experience-driven businesses. These participants should instead 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 presentation, craftmanship and skill level, aesthetic and style, branding, website and online presence, ethical practices, and price point.We prioritize artist and makers who are heavily or entirely involved in the design and production process of their handmade goods. Preference is given to original work that that reflects strong craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and attention to detail. We aim to curate a balanced and diverse vendor lineup, considering product category, materials, and overall market mix, while avoiding oversaturation of any single type of product. This helps ensure a strong experience for both shoppers and vendors. We are committed to representing artist and makers from a wide range of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. Our events are a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all.Professionalism matters. Vendors are expected to present their work with care, including a cohesive booth setup, clear pricing, and brand-aligned signage. We encourage applicants to take a look at photos of past makers on our Instagram account to get a sense of the quality, presentation, and overall vibe we look for at our events.While many of our artists are based in Southern California, you do not have to be a local resident to apply.If you are unsure if you should apply, feel free to email us at [email protected] 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:Regular Indoor Booth- 5’x9′ – $405Half Indoor Booth- 5’x5′ – $275 Outside Booth – 10’x10′ – $405Outside Half Booth – 5’x10′ – $275All accepted makers must participate both days. If you select a Half-booth you will be sharing a full booth space with one other vendor. Both vendors will need to submit an application and be accepted independently. You will have the option to select your booth partner in your application, or Makers Arcade will match you up with another vendor. If you have lower-priced items, a half booth is recommended.This year we will be heavily activating the outdoor front pier with more vendors, a better layout, coffee, live music, art, and more. Both indoor & outdoor booths will be able to leave their setup up on the Pier overnight and we will have security all night. All items you don't want to be left at your outdoor booth overnight can be placed a few feet away inside the pier building overnight.We also require that vendors donate 10-15 Promotional Gifts at a combined wholesale value of $75 for our giveaways. These items are used for various promotions to help market the event or reward VIP guests and are super valuable to this effort.If you prefer to opt out, you can pay a fee of $50, which will go towards purchasing promotional items on your behalf. Please note that the opt-out fee will be automatically included in all vendor invoices and must be paid to hold your spot. This fee will be refunded to you if and when we receive your grab bag items by the due date (see vendor application timeline below). If you have a significant hardship in meeting this requirement, please let us know in your application WHEN WILL I BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR MY BOOTH? Applications Open: July 3, 2026Priority Application Deadline: July 20, 2026Priority Application Notices Sent: July 25, 2026Rolling Acceptances Begin: After July 25, 2026Payment Due Date: Two weeks after the invoice is sent, or by the due date listed on your invoicePromotional Gifts Due: October 23, 2026Applying by the priority deadline is encouraged to ensure a guaranteed notification timeline and a confirmed spot in the event if accepted. Applicants who submit by the pr