01

the schedule

important dates

July 15
Deadline to pay Exhibition Fee
Deadline to complete Participation Agreement

August 15
Booth assignments sent out
Deadline for rentals

September 25
Indie Craft Parade

festival schedule

Friday, September 24
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Artist Happy Hour /
early check-in

Saturday, September 25
6:30 am - 8:00 am: Load in and set up
8:00 am - 9:00 am: Finish getting your booth ready and complete exhibitor check-in (loading area is closed). All exhibitors must be present and checked in by 8:00am.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm: Open to the public
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Tear down and load out

02

exhibitors

festival check in Procedure

Friday, September 24: The evening before the festival, we will host an Artist Happy Hour from 4:00 to 6:00pm. This is a chance to meet your fellow exhibitors and enjoy some drinks and snacks. This is also an opportunity for you to check-in early and receive instructions for the next day.

Saturday, September 25: Official festival load in begins at 6:30 AM. You must be on site and checked in by 8:00 AM.

When you arrive to the festival to load in, please come immediately to our info tent to receive instructions unless you checked in the night before.

There will be temporary parking near the field while you are setting up your booth. However, you will need to move your vehicle to the designated exhibitor lot before the festival opens. 

Food at the event 

During festival open hours there will be an exhibitor lounge in a private area where you can grab a complimentary snack or PB&J sandwich.

Lunch Options: There will be food vendors on site on Saturday. There are also a plethora of restaurants in Travelers Rest, within a 5 minute drive.

Safety Protocols

As this is an outdoor event, Indie Craft Parade will not be limiting attendee headcount or requiring attendees to wear masks. Exhibitors or attendees who to wish to wear face coverings are more than welcome to do so.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS

Travelers Rest: nightly rates from $80 - $200.
Travelers Rest is a charming town just north of Furman University. These are the closest accommodations to the venue.
Best Western Travelers Rest
Hampton Inn Travelers Rest
Swamp Rabbit Inn and Properties
Travelers Rest KOA

Downtown Greenville: nightly rates from $200 - $350
If you’ve never been to Greenville, SC, check out the visitor guide from VGSC. The driving time from downtown to the festival is 18 minutes. 

Greater Greenville: nightly rates from $100 - 250
A large concentration of hotels are located on Haywood Road, which is approximately 30 minutes from the festival.

You can also check Airbnb which has some options around Greenville and Travelers Rest.

INDIE CRAFT PARADE WILL PROVIDE:

Wireless internet access
Security during festival hours
Exhibitor Lounge

INDIE CRAFT PARADE WILL not PROVIDE:

Access to electrical outlets (unless you prepaid as part of your exhibition fee)
Extension cords
Individual booth signage

exhibitors may rent from Indie Craft Parade:

Tents (that include weights)
Tables (with the exception of 6 foot Emerging Artist tables)
Chairs
Linens

Rentals must be reserved by August 15

Booth Assignments 

The sample event map above shows the basic venue layout. Your booth assignment will be sent out on August 15.

- 10 x 10' booths – All exhibitors, with the exception of Emerging Artists, will be given a 10x10’ exhibition space.

- Emerging Artist booths (6' table) – These booths are located within a provided tent. Your booth includes a 6ft table (no linen). As you will be sharing this tent with other artists, please note that your display space is limited to your designated table, which may not be moved.

Booth Displays

Indie Craft Parade is an outdoor, rain or shine event.

Exhibitors are required to bring both a 10 x 10’ tent and tent weights. Trailblazer Park requires that all exhibitors weight their tents with 40lbs per leg.* This is non-negotiable. Any exhibitors who do not weight their tents will not be allowed to sell until weights are acquired and set up, per venue rules.

Tent stakes, or any other fixture designed to drill into the ground, are not allowed.

Tents can be rented at cost from our provider.

*If you do not have tent-specific weights, 40lbs can easily be accomplished with a 5 gallon bucket of water or sand per leg or 2 cinder blocks per leg.

If you wish to add sides to your tent to provide shade or give a backdrop to your display, please choose a material that fits within the overall aesthetic of your booth (e.g., no bright colored tarps or materials that would detract from your neighbor’s booth).

You must stay within your booth area. You may not place anything outside of your tent, and the area in front of your tent must be left clear.

Booth display elements must not pose a safety risk to others. Rugs, extension cords and any propped displays must be secured to prevent possible injury to attendees.

Note about Electricity

The venue has limited electrical outlets around the perimeter of the field. If you paid for electricity as part of your exhibition fee, you will have access to 1, perhaps 2, electrical outlets. Please note, all extension cords must run behind your tent and not interfere with other exhibitor booths.

If you have not yet paid for electricity, but wish to have access, please contact erin@makerscollective.org by August 1. After booth assignments will be sent out, and we cannot guarantee electrical access.

Exhibitor Badges and Assistants

All exhibitors will receive 2 exhibitor badges, which must be worn to gain entrance to the festival site any time on Saturday.

Our staff will be monitoring badges and wristbands, and anyone without them will be asked to pay admission at the entrance.

Kids under the age of 12 are always free at the festival.

If you have additional assistants, you can purchase general admission wristbands for them for $5 each. 

For unloading and set up as well as tear down and load out times, additional helpers without badges are allowed, but they must clear the area as soon they are done assisting you. If your kids under the age of 18 are assisting you, let us know, and you will not be required to purchase an additional wristband. 

Please note: pets or other animals, with the exception of service dogs, are not allowed in the festival site per venue rules.

There will be Indie Craft Parade volunteers available to assist with booth watching (festival hours only).
 

RETAIL LICENSE

Below is the information regarding retail licenses from the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Neither Indie Craft Parade nor its organizers are responsible for any fines you might incur with SCDOR. Representatives from SCDOR may attend the festival and ask to see your retail license.

Retail License details:

- You must have a copy of a South Carolina retail license with you at Indie Craft Parade, or the SC Dept. of Revenue could fine you $500. Out-of-state licenses do not qualify.

- Obtain a Retail License for from the SC Dept. of Revenue. This can be submitted in person or by mail.  

- If you operate a full-time retail business in SC and already have a current SC retail license, you do not need another license, but do bring a copy of your regular retail license.

- If you have secured a South Carolina retail license in the past and have never terminated it, it is still current. You do not need to apply again, just bring the license you already have.

- If you have any questions, you can contact the SC Dept. of Revenue directly at (864) 241-1200. We encourage you to ask lots of questions. Be sure you understand SC filing laws.

04

marketing & Promotion

Tell everyone you know about Indie Craft Parade. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

If you're on social media, help us spread the word. Below is a selection of graphics that can be used, or you can create your own content to share. Use the hashtag #indiecraftparade, mention the date, location and invite people to come see you at the show. Tagging your posts makes it easier for us to follow along and share your work.

#indiecraftparade

WHAT WE Do

1. Billboards go up around the South Carolina upstate in August.

2. Online and print ads will begin in August.

3. Local TV programming in the weeks prior to the show.

4. 5,000 postcards distributed.

5. Regular show updates posted on Instagram at @makersco_ .

what you can do

1. If you have an email newsletter or events section on your website, be sure to let your fans know you will be at Indie Craft Parade!

2. Post behind the scenes process shots as you work. Don't forget to tag #indiecraftparade so people can follow along. You can also share any of our provided graphics (below).