Mississippi Makers Fest 2026

Join the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) at the Mississippi Makers Fest on Entergy Plaza at the Two Mississippi Museums and along North Street on Saturday, May 9, 2026. This festival will feature Mississippi artisans, live music, make-and-take activities, food trucks, and more. The Mississippi Makers Fest offers a juried marketplace with low booth fees, artist hospitality perks, well-equipped facilities, generous parking, and security for our Makers. This event will be advertised across the Southeast, bringing in visitors from all over the region to support our talented Mississippians.

Maker Amenities

• 10’ x 10’ tent, one 8’ table, and two chairs
• Free Wi-fi
• Easy curbside loading and unloading
• Hospitality area with drinks and snacks
• Overnight trailer parking
• Discounted hotel stays
• Event security, the State of Mississippi is not responsible for loss or damage of any kind.

Maker Categories:

Beauty Products: Handmade soaps, body butters, sprays, lotions and everything that makes you feel beautiful.

Ceramics: Original functional and non-functional works, other than jewelry, using clay as the primary medium, including, but not limited to porcelain, stoneware, raku, earthenware, etc. Any molds used must have been created by the applying artist. No machine-made or mass-produced work is permitted. If multiple pieces of the same design are displayed, each piece must be signed.

Clothing: All original, hand-made clothing, including surface design which is airbrushed or hand-applied to the clothing. Machine-made or massed produced clothing with a hand-applied surface design is acceptable.

Drawing & Painting: All works created by hand using wet and dry media including chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencil, wax crayon, inks, washes, paints, etc. Signed limited edition prints of original works are permitted.

Fiber/Textiles: works created from fiber including fabric, leather, etc.; excludes jewelry.

Food: Must fall under the Mississippi State Department of Health cottage food laws.

Furniture: Work created as furniture in any media.

Glass: All fused and slumped glass, hand-blown glass items, and handmade leaded glass works.

Home/Décor: Handmade products that are decorative and/or functional for the home.

Jewelry Fine: of any media.

Leather: All handmade leather items, including belts, bags, shoes, hats, wallets, or decorative art, such as wall hangings, etc.  Leather can be cut, stamped, sewn, embossed ,painted, or embellished according to the artist’s original design. 

Metal Work: Original work created by forging, twisting, and fabrication of various metals; excludes jewelry.

Mixed Media: All works utilizing different media combined to make one work of art or craft.

Paper: All handmade works of paper art or craft.

Photography: All photographic works including digital prints.

Printmaking: All printmaking works, including lithography, screen printing, woodcuts, engraving, etching, mezzotint, aquatint, drypoint, etc.

Sculpture: All art that is three-dimensional incorporating any material that is carved, modeled, constructed, cast or built-up. 

Toys: All handmade toys or games.

Wood: All handmade wood items that are sculptural and functional but not furniture, jewelry, or a toy.

All disciplines must adhere to the following rules:  works must be made by the exhibiting artist, no buy-sell/resale, imported, mass-produced, or machine line work.

Food Truck Amenities:

• Free Wi-fi
• Discounted hotel stays
• Event security
• Ice vendor onsite
• Generator connection

Photo Requirements:

Maker: All artists must submit five (5) digital images with each application, regardless of past participation. Applications without images will be automatically disqualified.

• The five images should represent individual artworks that reflect your current work. Include a range of price points. One of the images should be your booth setup.

Food Trucks: All food truck applicants must submit three (3) digital images with application. Applications without images will be automatically disqualified

• The three images should include an image of the food truck and setup. Includean image of food that will be sold. An image of the truck electric plug for generator is required.

Maker Guidelines

• Makers must be at least 18 years of age. 
• Makers are required to have products ready to sell at 10 a.m. Breakdown is at 8 p.m.
• Check-In is from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. All Makers must check in during this time frame. Anyone arriving after 9 a.m. may be turned away.
• Accepted Makers must pay a $150 booth fee to participate ($75 for non-profits; proof of 501(c)3 status required). A Maker who is selected by the jury and accepts the invitation to exhibit must submit his or her booth fee payment in full in order to participate in the festival. Failure to respond by the deadline may result in forfeiture of participation status. . 
• Makers may bring additional tables. Tablecloths are not provide, but are required.
• Makers must set-up, take-down, and transport their own display and products. No carts are available.
• Makers are required to unload their vehicle and remove it from the grounds in a prompt and 
  courteous fashion. This means they must drop off their items, immediately move their vehicle, and then complete their setup.
• Makers retain 100% of their sales but are required to submit taxes prior to leaving the event.

MDAH reserves the right to prevent an artist from displaying work that is not representative of the images originally submitted in the Maker application. No graphic images or words are permitted.

Selection is based on originality of work shown, salability, and a desire to keep the media in the show balanced. The artist statement, price range, process, and materials used will be available to a jury panel to aid in the scoring process. All applicants will be notified whether accepted, denied, or waitlisted.

Food Truck Guidelines:

• A Mississippi State Department of Health Food Permit and valid letter grade must be displayed during event. Temporary permits through the Mississippi State Department of Health will be accepted.
• Vendors should provide a copy of Certificate of Liability Insurance.
• Vendors must sell their products from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vendors must be able to setup prior to 10 a.m.
• Accepted vendors must pay a $250 fee to participate. Accepted vendors will be notified by email. A vendor who is accepted must submit this payment in full in order to participate in the festival. 
• Food Trucks may set up an additional table. 
• Vendors must provide their own electricity and water.
• No grease or gray water disposal is available.
• Food vendors who fry food must be in a food truck only. Food vendors with a pop-up tent are NOT permitted to fry onsite.
• Food trucks and food vendors will provide all required equipment for operations and sales.
• All vendors may sell any non-alcoholic beverages. 
• All food trucks must have a commercial ventilation suppression system.
• Food vendors retain 100% of their sales and are responsible for paying their own taxes.

For additional information, contact info@mississippimakersfest.com.

Application fee is non-refundable. Mississippi Makers Fest is a rain or shine event.