Lowell Folk Festival applications are now open – deadline is May 16, 2025 Please read through the details below, or click here to download a paper copy.

LOWELL FOLK FESTIVAL

Located in the Enterprise Bank parking lot at 222 Merrimack Street, this event will feature Lowell artists, makers, and organizations so that festival attendees and Lowell residents can experience everything that Lowell’s arts and culture community has to offer. This event is produced by Mosaic Lowell, in collaboration with the Lowell Folk Festival.

The Lowell Folk Festival welcomes over 100,000 visitors during the weekend and is the longest-running, and second-largest, free folk festival in the United States. It is made up of three days of traditional music, dance, craft demonstrations, street parades, dance parties, and ethnic foods. All of this is presented on six outdoor stages throughout the city.

Interested vendors should thoroughly review all of the event details and requirements below, prior to submitting an application. To download a copy of these, click here.

Date and Time for Experience Lowell (time subject to change):

• Saturday July 26th, 12pm – 7:30pm
• Sunday July 27th, 12pm – 6pm

Important Dates:

• Applications Due: May 16, 2025
• Vendors Notified: June 13, 2024
• Table Fee Due: June 27, 2025
• Deadline to Withdraw (with full refund): June 27, 2025
• Deadline to Withdraw (no refund): July 11, 2025
• Please note: If vendors do not confirm, pay, or request a scholarship by June 27, 2025, Mosaic Lowell reserves the right to rescind your acceptance into the market. Failure to confirm or communicate timely may affect your future applications to Experience Lowell.

Permitted items include:

• Arts and crafts such as: fine arts, pottery, fiber art, jewelry, glasswork, candles, soaps, traditional crafts, etc.
• Books or publications illustrated by the artist or written by the exhibitor (i.e. poetry, prose, short stories, local author anthologies, etc.)
• Locally made non-perishable pre-packaged culinary items (ex. Bottled hot sauce, honey, etc.)
• Handmade clothing, costumes and accessories

Prohibited items include:

• Commercial items for resale, kits, imported or consigned goods
• Alcoholic beverages
• Any visual representation of sexual or violent content
• Per Folk Festival regulations, apparel (including hats, t-shirts, and sweatshirts), recordings or CDs, perishable food and beverage, and mardi-gras beads are not permitted to be sold or given away

For Artists:

• Artwork/crafts must be produced by the exhibitor; 3rd party goods and goods for resale are not permitted
• Experience Lowell will prioritize, but not limit to, Lowell-based makers, and Lowell-based organizations.
• Galleries or cooperatives may sell work by multiple artists

For Organizations:

• Must hold 501(c)3 status or operate under a fiscal sponsor
• Must be a Lowell-based Arts and/or Cultural Organization (organizations who do not have arts and/or culture missions can contact lee.viliesis@lowellfolkfestival.org for more information on exhibiting)
• Must be a non-partisan organization
• Organizations may sell items that relate to their mission (i.e. tickets or memberships), but must not sell anything listed in the prohibited items list above. Galleries who wish to sell member works, please refer to the artist criteria above and use the artist application.
• Organizations may have collateral about their mission and work, including sponsorship opportunities, but may not collect donations on site.

Important Facts for Exhibitors:

• Exhibitors must be present at their table during all open hours for both days of the event.
• Exhibitors cannot set up after the start time or pack up before the end of the event.
• Please plan for sufficient inventory for the 2 day event
• Exhibitor is responsible for handling their own sales
• It is recommended that exhibitors have the capability to accept virtual payments and/or credit card payments, but this is not required.
• Exhibitor is responsible for collecting and forwarding Massachusetts sales tax to Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
• There is no available wifi, so be prepared to use data to process virtual sales
• Electrical power and water source are not available, so be prepared to operate without an available electric outlet and bring any cleaning supplies you may require. A portable charger for your devices is recommended.
• Artwork must be appropriate for all ages
• Placement within the Experience Lowell area is at the discretion of the planners and non-negotiable.
• All items must be moved and placed in the festival-provided storage unit by the vendor.
• Items must be in secured bins with lids and clearly labeled for overnight storage. Vendors are limited to 3 bins in overnight storage. Experience Lowell is not liable for damages to, or theft or loss of any items.
• Based on previous arts markets, the most common sales were in the range of $5 – 55
• Any additional display structures must be provided by the exhibitor, but may not be placed outside your allotted 10’ x 10’ space.

Festival Provides:

• One 8 foot table and two chairs
• Volunteers to mind your tent during your breaks
• A secure overnight storage area for Saturday evening 

Vendor Must Provide:

• Their own 10’ x 10’ tent 
• Tent weights for each support leg of at least 40 lbs each

Event Timeline

• Exhibitors will be assigned a time for load-in and load-out and will be required to adhere to that assigned time. Carts will not be provided but exhibitors are encouraged to bring one.
• Detailed load-in and load-out instructions will be provided to vendors closer to the event. Expected load in times will be Saturday morning between 8 and 10:30am, and load out time Sunday evening between 7 and 10pm. This is subject to change.
• Event volunteers will be available but there may be long wait times for assistance. Vendors should plan on having additional help for load in and load out if possible.
• Please note: load in and load out for this event is impacted by road closures and safety procedures that are strictly enforced by Lowell and National Park police. If you do not adhere to the allotted load in and load out times, be prepared to carry items in and out, and up to a ten minute walk between the parking garage and market location.

Table Fee:

• Your table fee is due by June 28, 2024
  • Please note: Failure to confirm, pay, or request a scholarship by June 27, 2025, Mosaic Lowell reserves the right to rescind your acceptance into the market. Failure to confirm or communicate timely may affect your future applications to Experience Lowell.
• Artist fee for 2 days with a 10’ x 10’ space with one 8’ table and 2 chairs: $180 
• Organization fee for 2 days includes a 10’ x 10’ space with one 8’ table and 2 chairs
  • Fee is based on organizational budget
  • Organizations under $200k operating budget: $180
  • Organizations over $200k operating budget: $350
• Scholarships are available for artists and organizations, please inquire at info@mosaiclowell.org
• Payment information will be sent with your application acceptance. 

Application:

You will be required to submit:

• A website and/or social media page links
• Up to 5 images of your work including a previous booth set up if available
• Description of products you plan to sell

Correspondence and notification will be done entirely by email, so please make sure the email address provided is one you check frequently. Failure to communicate in a timely manner may affect future Experience Lowell applications Artists and organizations will be juried by a panel including Mosaic Lowell staff, Folk Festival staff, and community members.

Applicants under age 18, please contact info@mosaiclowell.org for details.

ARTISTS: APPLY HERE

ORGANIZATIONS: APPLY HERE