How to Find Craft Fairs to Sell At: The Ultimate Guide for Vendors in 2026
Finding the right craft fairs to sell at can make or break your handmade business. The difference between a $3,000 weekend and a $200 bust often comes down to choosing the right events. But with thousands of craft fairs happening across the country, how do you find the ones worth your time, booth fee, and inventory?
This guide covers every method for discovering craft fairs — from online databases to local networking — plus how to evaluate whether a fair is actually worth applying to.
Why Finding the Right Craft Fairs Matters
Not all craft fairs are created equal. Some draw thousands of eager shoppers with money to spend. Others attract mostly other vendors and a handful of people who showed up for the free parking.
Choosing the wrong fairs costs you more than just the booth fee. You're also losing:
- Time preparing, traveling, setting up, and tearing down
- Inventory that could be selling elsewhere (or online)
- Energy that could go toward making products or marketing
- Opportunity cost of missing a better fair the same weekend
Successful vendors don't just find fairs — they find the right fairs for their products, price point, and geography.
Method 1: Use a Craft Fair Directory
The fastest way to find craft fairs is through dedicated directories that aggregate events across the country. Instead of searching dozens of websites, you get one searchable database.
TheCraftMap.com
TheCraftMap is purpose-built for craft fair vendors. With nearly 5,000 fairs listed across the United States, you can:
- Search by state and city to find fairs near you
- Filter by date to see what's happening this weekend or any specific month
- Check booth fees to budget before you apply
- See application deadlines so you never miss a cutoff
- Save favorites to build your season calendar
- Compare fairs side-by-side to choose between competing events
The platform also categorizes fairs as juried, indoor, outdoor, or free — so you can filter for exactly what you're looking for.
FestivalNet
FestivalNet is one of the oldest festival directories online. It lists craft fairs, art shows, music festivals, and more. A subscription gives you access to organizer contact info and application details. It's comprehensive but includes many non-craft events.
Sunshine Artist Magazine
Sunshine Artist has been a vendor resource since the 1970s. Their magazine and online directory focus on art and craft shows, with vendor-submitted ratings and reviews. It's particularly strong for shows in the Southeast.
Method 2: Search by Location
If you want fairs within driving distance, location-based searching is your best bet.
Google Search
Simple but effective. Try searches like:
- "craft fairs near [your city] 2026"
- "juried art shows [your state]"
- "vendor events [your county]"
- "handmade market [your city] spring 2026"
Look beyond the first page of results. Many smaller fairs only show up in local event listings, community calendars, or Facebook events.
Browse by State
On TheCraftMap, you can browse all 50 states to find fairs in your region. Each state page shows upcoming events, average booth fees, and the most popular cities for craft fairs.
Some of the most active craft fair states include:
- Texas — Huge year-round market with indoor and outdoor events
- Florida — Peak season October through April
- Georgia — Strong spring and fall seasons
- California — Year-round with heavy farmer's market crossover
- North Carolina — Blue Ridge region is packed with artisan events
Method 3: Social Media and Online Communities
Some of the best fair recommendations come from other vendors.
Facebook Groups
Search for groups like:
- "[Your State] Craft Fair Vendors"
- "Craft Show Vendors [Region]"
- "Handmade Market Vendors"
Vendors openly share which fairs were profitable and which were duds. This insider info is gold — just be sure to contribute back when you attend events.
Follow hashtags like #craftfairvendor, #handmademarket, and #craftshow. Event organizers post calls for vendors, and vendors share their booth setups and sales results.
Subreddits like r/craftfairs, r/Etsy, and r/smallbusiness occasionally have threads about finding local events. The r/craftfairs community is small but helpful.
Method 4: Local Resources
Don't overlook what's happening in your own backyard.
Chamber of Commerce
Your local chamber of commerce often organizes or sponsors community events. Call or check their website for upcoming festivals, holiday markets, and downtown events. They can also connect you with neighboring chambers that host fairs.
Parks and Recreation Departments
City and county parks departments frequently host seasonal events in public parks and recreation centers. These fairs tend to have lower booth fees and strong local attendance.
Tourism Boards
State and regional tourism boards promote events to attract visitors. Their event calendars often include craft fairs, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Libraries and Community Centers
Many libraries and community centers host small holiday markets and vendor events. These are excellent for new vendors — low fees, low pressure, and a chance to practice your setup.
Method 5: Word of Mouth and Networking
The vendor community is surprisingly tight-knit. Once you're in, you hear about events before they're publicly listed.
At the Fair
Talk to neighboring vendors. Ask what other events they're doing this season. Most vendors are generous with recommendations (and warnings about bad shows). Build relationships and you'll have a network of intel.
Vendor Mailing Lists
Once you apply to or attend a fair, you'll get on organizer mailing lists. Many organizers also run other events or will recommend partner fairs.
Local Maker Groups
Look for local maker spaces, artisan collectives, or craft guilds in your area. Members share event opportunities and sometimes get group booth discounts.
How to Evaluate a Craft Fair Before Applying
Finding fairs is only half the battle. You also need to assess whether a fair is worth your time and money. Here's what to look at:
Attendance
Ask the organizer for attendance numbers from previous years. A fair claiming "thousands of visitors" should be able to back it up. Newer fairs won't have this data — which isn't a dealbreaker, but adjust your expectations.
Booth Fee vs. Expected Revenue
A good rule of thumb: you should aim to make at least 4-5x your booth fee in sales. If a booth costs $200, you need to sell at least $800-1,000 to make it worth the day.
Use TheCraftMap's expense tracking feature to log booth fees and compare actual returns across fairs.
Location and Foot Traffic
Is the fair in a high-traffic area? Downtown locations, popular parks, and well-known venues draw more walk-in traffic than random parking lots or rural fairgrounds.
Marketing Effort
Does the organizer actively promote the event? Check their social media, website, and local advertising. A fair with a strong marketing budget brings more shoppers.
Vendor Mix
A fair with 50 candle vendors is bad news if you sell candles. Ask about vendor categories and whether they limit the number of similar products. Juried fairs typically curate their vendor mix more carefully.
Reviews from Other Vendors
Check for vendor reviews on TheCraftMap, Facebook groups, or ask around. Experienced vendors are usually honest about which fairs deliver.
Building Your Craft Fair Season Calendar
Once you've found promising fairs, it's time to build a strategic calendar.
Start Early
Many popular fairs accept applications months in advance. Juried shows may close applications 3-6 months before the event. Start planning your spring season in winter and your fall season in summer.
Use TheCraftMap's deadline tracking to never miss an application window.
Balance Your Schedule
Don't book every weekend. Leave gaps for:
- Production time to replenish inventory
- Rest to avoid burnout
- Flexibility in case a great opportunity comes up last-minute
Mix Event Types
A healthy season calendar includes:
- 1-2 big juried fairs — Higher booth fees but bigger crowds and sales
- Several mid-size community fairs — Reliable income, lower risk
- A few small/free fairs — Low commitment, good for testing new products
- Holiday markets — November/December fairs are often the highest-grossing
Track Everything
After each fair, record your sales, expenses, and notes. Over time, you'll build data on which fairs are worth repeating. TheCraftMap's vendor dashboard helps you track performance across your entire season.
Seasonal Timing for Craft Fairs
Craft fairs follow predictable seasonal patterns:
Spring (March-May)
The season kicks off with Easter markets, spring festivals, and the first outdoor fairs. Competition for spots at popular spring fairs can be fierce — apply early.
Summer (June-August)
Outdoor festivals, farmer's markets, and community events dominate. Heat can be a factor for certain products (candles, chocolate, anything that melts). Indoor fairs are worth seeking out.
Fall (September-November)
Peak craft fair season. Harvest festivals, Oktoberfests, and the lead-up to holiday shopping make fall the most profitable time for most vendors. Book your fall schedule by summer.
Winter (December-February)
Holiday markets in November-December are some of the highest-grossing events of the year. January and February are slow — use this time for production, planning, and applying to spring events.
Common Mistakes When Searching for Craft Fairs
Applying to Everything
More fairs does not equal more money. A vendor doing 15 carefully chosen fairs will typically outperform someone doing 30 random events. Quality over quantity.
Ignoring Geography
Driving 4 hours for a $150 booth fee at an unproven fair is a risky bet. Factor in gas, hotel, food, and lost production time when evaluating distant events.
Skipping Research
Never pay a booth fee without researching the event. Check social media, ask other vendors, and look at past years' photos. A polished website doesn't always mean a well-attended fair.
Waiting Too Long
Popular fairs fill up fast. If you find a promising event, apply immediately. Waitlists are real, and last-minute spots often go to returning vendors first.
Start Finding Fairs Today
The craft fair landscape is massive, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Start by browsing fairs on TheCraftMap — filter by location, date, booth fee, and type to build your ideal season.
Whether you're a first-time vendor or a seasoned pro looking to expand your territory, the right fairs are out there. The key is knowing where to look and having a system to evaluate them.
Ready to find your next craft fair? Search fairs near you →
TheCraftMap lists nearly 5,000 craft fairs across the United States. Create a free account to save favorites, track deadlines, and build your vendor season.