Best Craft Fairs in Louisiana 2026: Top Shows for Vendors & Shoppers
Louisiana is a state that knows how to celebrate. Between the food festivals, music scenes, and deep cultural traditions, there's always something happening. For craft vendors, that means a packed calendar of opportunities to sell handmade goods to enthusiastic crowds who genuinely appreciate local artistry. Whether you're setting up in the French Quarter or under live oaks on a plantation, Louisiana craft fairs have a character all their own.
We pulled together the best craft fairs across Louisiana for 2026, covering everything from recurring monthly markets in New Orleans to big annual festivals in smaller towns. Each listing uses real data from our database, so you can plan your season with confidence. Browse all Louisiana craft fairs on TheCraftMap to see the full list.
New Orleans Art Markets & Shows
No surprise here: New Orleans dominates Louisiana's craft fair scene. The city supports a vibrant arts economy with multiple recurring markets, pop-up events, and gallery shows. For vendors selling candles, jewelry, pottery, soaps, or any handmade goods, NOLA offers some of the best foot traffic in the South.
Consistently recognized as New Orleans' best arts market by Gambit Weekly's reader polls, this is the region's largest juried monthly fine arts and crafts market. Held the last Saturday of each month.
The Arts Market is the gold standard for New Orleans vendors. It runs monthly and draws serious shoppers who come specifically looking for handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. The $100 booth fee is very reasonable for the exposure you get, and the juried format keeps quality high. If you're a candle maker or soap artisan, this is a great fit since shoppers here tend to gravitate toward handcrafted consumables.
A multi-day showcase for unique handmade crafts and local artisans in the heart of New Orleans.
A quirky, creative art market featuring unique handmade finds. Perfect for vendors with an artistic or eclectic style.
🛒 Recommended Vendor Gear
Everything you need to set up a professional craft fair booth:
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Vendor Tips for New Orleans Events
Selling in New Orleans is a different experience than most Southern markets. Here's what to keep in mind:
- Lean into local culture. Louisiana shoppers love products that connect to their identity. If you make candles with scents like chicory coffee, magnolia, or praline, lead with those.
- Cash is still king. Many NOLA shoppers carry cash, especially at outdoor markets. Have plenty of small bills for change.
- Weather prep is essential. Humidity is brutal on paper products, soaps, and anything with labels. Bring dehumidifying packs and keep stock protected.
- Parking and loading can be tricky. Downtown venues often have limited vendor parking. Arrive early and ask organizers about load-in logistics ahead of time.
Spring Craft Fairs & Festivals
Spring is prime season in Louisiana. The weather cools down just enough to make outdoor events comfortable, and the festival calendar is packed. These are some of the best spring shows for craft vendors.
Running since 2006, Trade Days in Ponchatoula has become bigger and more popular each year. Held the first weekend of March and November in the downtown commuter parking lot.
An indoor craft show and marketplace in the heart of Cajun Country. Great for vendors who want a climate-controlled selling environment.
A craft show set on the grounds of a historic plantation along Bayou Teche. One of Louisiana's most scenic vendor settings.
The Shadows-On-The-Teche show deserves special mention. Selling your handmade goods under ancient live oaks beside a bayou is an experience you won't get anywhere else. The setting alone draws shoppers, and the atmosphere makes for incredible product photos if you're building your brand on social media.
An upscale, vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home decor, and seasonal plantings. More than a flea market.
A one-day arts and crafts festival featuring 300+ local and national vendors with handmade products including jewelry, clothing, woodcrafts, original art, and seasonal items. Plus Cajun food favorites like jambalaya, gumbo, and corn soup.
Southdown Marketplace is one of the biggest single-day craft events in Louisiana. With 300+ vendors, it draws massive crowds from across the region. The $200 booth fee is competitive for a show this size, and the Cajun food vendors keep shoppers on-site all day. If you can only do one spring show outside New Orleans, this is a strong pick.
Never Miss a Craft Fair Deadline
Get a weekly roundup of new craft fairs, upcoming application deadlines, and vendor tips — plus a free printable booth packing checklist when you sign up.
Major Festivals with Vendor Opportunities
Louisiana's biggest festivals attract tens of thousands of visitors. Competition for vendor spots can be fierce, and booth fees reflect the scale, but the sales potential is significant.
The 40th annual French Quarter Festival is one of New Orleans' biggest free events, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors over four days. Vendor opportunities for artisans and food vendors.
Located on the beautiful grounds of Melrose Plantation, a national historic landmark. Vendors show jewelry, pottery, iron work, glass, paintings, photography, and more, alongside live music, food vendors, and historic tours.
The Melrose Plantation show has been running for over 50 years. That kind of longevity tells you everything about the quality and the crowd. At $180 for a booth, it's one of the best values on this list. The plantation setting gives the whole event an elevated feel that works especially well for artisan goods.
Lafayette's flagship international festival with a curated Marche des Arts featuring up to 83 vendor spaces. A five-day celebration of music, art, and Cajun culture.
Summer & Fall Shows
Louisiana summers are hot, so the smartest vendors either go indoors or wait for fall. These events are worth planning around.
An indoor craft show at the Pontchartrain Center on Lake Pontchartrain. All vendor spaces are corners with pipe and drape provided. Easy load-in with a loading dock. RV parking available.
Shreveport's premier juried arts festival celebrating its 50th year. A four-day event attracting serious art collectors and craft enthusiasts from across north Louisiana and east Texas.
The Shreveport Arts Festival at 50 years old is a marquee event for north Louisiana. The $550 booth fee is on the higher end, but this is a juried show that pulls dedicated art buyers. If your work leans more toward fine craft than casual market goods, this is where you want to be.
A three-day festival celebrating Louisiana's legendary Rougarou (Cajun werewolf) with music, food, and artisan vendors. A uniquely Louisiana event.
Tips for Selling at Louisiana Craft Fairs
Louisiana has some unique factors that set it apart from other Southern states. Here's what experienced vendors will tell you:
- Get your sales tax permit. Louisiana has a combined state and parish sales tax that varies by location. You need a Louisiana sales tax registration, and some parishes require separate permits. Check with the Louisiana Department of Revenue before your first show.
- Heat management is critical. From May through September, expect temperatures in the 90s with high humidity. If you sell candles, chocolate, or anything that melts, bring coolers and shade structures. Some vendors skip summer outdoor shows entirely.
- Festival culture works in your favor. Louisianans treat festivals like a way of life. Shoppers at these events are in a spending mood. They're there to eat, drink, listen to music, and buy things that catch their eye. Have your best work front and center.
- Cajun Country is underserved. Most vendors cluster around New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Towns like Houma, New Iberia, and Lafayette have strong events with less competition for booth space. If you're willing to travel, the smaller markets can be surprisingly profitable.
- Build relationships with organizers. Louisiana's craft fair community is tight-knit. Show up, do good work, be easy to work with, and organizers will invite you back. Word of mouth matters more here than in bigger states.
Plan Your Louisiana Season
The best approach to Louisiana craft fairs is to mix your calendar: a few New Orleans markets for consistent monthly sales, one or two big festivals for volume, and a smaller town show or two where competition is lighter. You can track all of these events, set deadline reminders, and compare booth fees on TheCraftMap.
If you're a soap maker looking to track your recipes and inventory alongside your event calendar, check out Soaply for a free lye calculator and recipe organizer built for artisan soap makers.
Ready to Find Craft Fairs?
Browse 4,000+ craft fairs and keep track of application deadlines.
More state guides: Georgia · California · Texas · Florida · New York · Pennsylvania · Illinois · Ohio · North Carolina · Michigan · New Jersey · Virginia · Washington · Arizona · Massachusetts · Tennessee · Indiana · Missouri · Maryland · Wisconsin · Colorado · Minnesota · South Carolina · Alabama · Kentucky · Oregon · Oklahoma · Connecticut · Utah · Iowa · Nevada · Arkansas · Mississippi · Kansas · New Mexico · Nebraska · Idaho · West Virginia · Hawaii · New Hampshire · Maine · Montana · Rhode Island · Delaware · South Dakota · North Dakota · Alaska · Vermont · Wyoming