Fall Festival 2026

The Folk School will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fall Festival this year, taking place Oct. 3-4 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Over the decades, the festival has grown into a beloved arts and crafts tradition, welcoming more than 13,000 visitors from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and beyond.
Each fall, the Folk School campus comes alive with more than 200 craft and food vendors in both juried and non-juried categories, creating a lively and engaging experience for all.
Set on a scenic 270-acre campus with 17 studios, wooded walking paths, and ample parking for visitors and vendors alike, the Fall Festival is a vibrant and much-anticipated annual event.

WIFI is provided throughout campus and three ATMS will be available for visitors. 

Show Hours
Your Booth Must Remain Open During These Times.

Saturday, Oct. 3: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Craft Vendor Notes:
Accepted Mediums: The Fall Festival accepts handmade work created by the applying artist. No mass-produced, commercial, or buy-sell items will be permitted.

Food Vendor Notes:

• This platform is primarily an artist application site.  Please read the notes below to understand the application as a food vendor:
  • Your Medium Category will be either “Concessions – Food” or “Concessions – Beverage Only”. 
  • For Description of Material and Technique, please provide a brief description of your food/beverages. 
  • We require you to provide an exact listing of the food items that you will serve
  • Alcholic beverages are not permitted
  • We reccommend using garden carts/wheel barrows for replenishing your stock
  • Vehicles are NOT ALLOWED in vendor areas
  • No loud generators, refrigerators or freezers are allowed
  • Food vendors must apply with the Cherokee County Health Department before submitting an application to the Folk School. 
  • Permits will be issued by the Health Department after the onsite inspection on Oct. 2.

Non Profit Application Notes:

• Your Medium Category is “Non-Profit”.
• Your Description of Material and Technique" should describe your non-profit, state the activity you plan on providing, as well as a description of the information you’ll be providing attendees.

Wait List: We keep a wait list and refer to it immediately when a cancellation has occurred.


 

The John C. Campbell Folk School is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful environment for all festival attendees, vendors, performers, volunteers, staff, and guests. We believe that equity, diversity, accessibility, and mutual respect are essential to creating a positive event experience for everyone.

All participants are expected to contribute to a safe and welcoming atmosphere by following these guidelines:

Be respectful and considerate of others. Disrespectful, aggressive, intimidating, abusive, or harassing behavior—verbal, physical, or written—will not be tolerated. If asked to stop a behavior, participants must comply immediately.

Support an inclusive community. Discriminatory or hateful language or behavior based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status is strictly prohibited.

Help maintain a positive event environment. Conflicts should be handled calmly. If a situation arises, please contact a Folk School staff member so it can be addressed promptly and appropriately.

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in removal from the event without refund and/or exclusion from future Folk School events. The John C. Campbell Folk School reserves the right to remove any individual whose behavior is deemed unsafe or disruptive.

If you experience or witness a Code of Conduct concern during the event, please notify a Folk School staff member immediately.

 

• Craft vendor booths are 10' x 10'.
• A limited number of double booths are available and must be requested at the time of application.
• Booth locations include both juried and non-juried areas.
• Food vendor booths are 20' x 20'.
• Vendors must provide their own tents, tables, and chairs.
• Booth sharing is permitted, with a maximum of two vendors per booth.
• The Festival cannot guarantee specific booth locations for returning or new vendors.

[Click here to view a map of the Folk School campus.]

Festival Barn – $300
Large open-air barn location. Juried selection required.

Studio Row & Studio Row Annex – $250
A winding row of outdoor vendor spaces located among the campus studios, extending to the circle drive in front of the Keith House. Juried selection required.

Marketplace (Non-Juried Area) – $225
A winding row of outdoor vendor spaces stretching from Bidstrup to Davidson Hall and around to the Craft Shop.

Food Vendors-- $250
Located in food alley and various spots around campus. 

Electricity for Craft Vendors & Food Vendors – $50
Electricity is not available in all areas and may not exceed 20 amps. If electricity is purchased and cannot be provided, the fee will be refunded.

 

CANCELLATIONS & RAIN DATE POLICY 

• The Fall Festival is a rain or shine event. There is no rain date.
• Accepted vendors who cancel on or before July 15 will receive a full refund.
• Cancellations made by Aug. 1 will receive a 50% refund of the booth fee.
• Cancellations made after Aug. 1 are non-refundable.
• The application fee collected via the Zapp platform is non-refundable.
• No-shows or vendors who fail to notify the Folk School will not receive a refund and may not be invited to participate in future festivals.