Clinch River Fall Antique Festival 2026 (Artisan Application) 25th Annual

Historic Downtown Clinton welcomes artisans to apply to the 24th Annual Clinch River Fall Antique Festival to be held Saturday, October 3, 2026.  The event takes place from 9am – 5pm, and traditionally attracts over 10,000 shoppers. 

The festival is evenly split between antique vendors (Market St) and artisan vendors (Main St). Why set up as an artisan at an Antique Festival?  For years, this festival has paired antiques and artisans to create a well-selling event for all.  Clinton is one of the top antiquing towns in America, but also is a strong supporter of the arts, including three arts festivals each year and a historic district that features artisan storefronts.  All artisans will be set up along Main Street to encourage maximum visibility for accepted artisans.  We welcome you as Artisans on Main!

Amenities:

• 10’x15’ booth space on flat pavement
• All booths along Main Street in the heart of downtown Clinton
• Booth sitters available 
• Best of Show prize(s)
• Number of artists in each category limited to ensure breadth
• Easy load-in
• Free, plentiful, and convenient parking
• Well-established (25th year) and heavily advertised show
• Average attendance between 10,000-12,000 shoppers
• Optional pre-purchased lunch delivery to artist's booth

Fine Craft, Fine Art, and Handcrafted are the focus of this event. The show will be a juried selection of up to 60 artisans.  Artists who wish to be considered should submit five (5) photos: four of their work and one booth shot. 

Categories:
Please read the criteria carefully to ensure your eligibility before applying, and note the cutoff dates for early bird and regular pricing. If you have questions about the eligibilty of your art, please reach out using the "Contact Event" button on the top right of this page - we are happy to answer questions before you apply! The categories below will be updated in blue text as categories are filled or waitlisted; if you apply to a waitlisted category, you will still be juried and will be offered a spot if and as another artist in your category declines, or as the footprint of the festival expands to allow more artists in a given medium. Waitlisted artists are also added to our mailing list for future events. 

Apothecary: Hand-poured candles and handmade lotions, balms, soaps, bath/body, and/or herbal products. [apothecary is waitlist-only as of 6/20]
Author: Written works penned by the exhibitor. For product photos, authors must submit photos of the interior of their books/works. If the works contain illustrations, the illustration process should be detailed/included in the artist statement, noting if an outside illustrator completed the work (this is fine, but should be noted so the illustrator receives credit). No AI illustration or AI writing is permitted.
Clay / Pottery: Original clay, ceramic, porcelain, stoneware, or earthenware functional and non-functional work. [clay/pottery is waitlist-only as of 7/25]
Digital Art: Two- or three-dimensional works from which the original image is designed or manipulated by the artist using a computer. Designs must be original to the artist. It does not include art printed on commercially-made items and we do not accept AI-generated art.  
Drawing & Printmaking: Original drawings made with pen, pencil, charcoal, pastels, chalk, etc.  The printmaking process may include pulled plates, linoleum prints, etching, engraving, silkscreen, or lithography. Prints of the artist's original work are allowed, as are reproductions on stickers, magnets, or cards.
Edibles: Handmade items such as jams, sauces, baked goods, etc. that are pre-packaged and not prepared onsite. [limited spots remain]
Fiber/Textiles: Works created from fibers/textiles including basketry, batik, crochet, macrame, weaving, papermaking, knitting, leatherwork, and quilting.  Wearables, rugs, and wall hangings are likewise included in this category. [crochet animals are waitlist-only as of 4/15]
Furniture: Work where the primary intention is furniture, including lamps.  All media are included. 
Glass: An object made of glass including blown, fused, stained, cast, and molded.  
Jewelry: Original jewelry crafted from metal, glass, stone, clay, wood, or other materials.  Commercial molds or casts are not permitted; any commercially-made components must be subordinate to the handcrafted work. [limited spots remain]
Living Botanicals: Plants or flowers grown and cultivated by the exhibitor.
Metal: Functional and sculptural works incorporating metal.
Mixed Media: Includes more than one type of physical material, and can be 2-D or 3-D.  The finished art is suitable for wall mounting or display.
Painting: The use of oils, acrylics, watercolors, and tempera suitable for hanging. Prints of the artist's original work are allowed, as are reproductions of the original work on stickers, magnets, or cards. [limited spots remain]
Photography: Prints, transparencies, or digital images made from the artist's original negative or taken with a digital camera.
Sculpture: Three-dimensional work done in any individual medium.
Wood: Original works in wood that are built, turned, carved, or tooled. [limited spots remain]

1. All work must be produced by the exhibiting artist.
2. All work should exhibit an excellence in concept and technique, as well as the mark of individuality.
3. Absolutely no resale or ineligible art (see list in "jury details" below).
4. Booth sharing may be permitted, but both artists must submit individual applications to have their work separately juried.
5. The event is rain or shine.

Each exhibitor is responsible for:

• Setting up and dismantling their display.
• Being ready at the appropriate time for judging.
• Maintaining and staffing their booth. Representatives may not attend in place of the artist.
• All sales transactions.
• Payment of all sales taxes.
• The artist presence during the entire festival.
• No early breakdown.  

The jury meets to review applications and make determinations on April 16-17, June 16-17, August 16-17, and one final time for late applications on August 31. The jury may opt to convene more frequently if there is a high volume of applications in a given time period. Notification dates are below.

Early Bird Pricing I (applications received by April 15, notified by April 17, paid by April 24):
Application fee: $15
Booth fee, 10'x15': $85 
Double booth fee, 10'x30': $160 
 
Early Bird Pricing II (applications received by June 15, notified by June 17, paid by June 24):
Application fee: $15
Booth fee, 10'x15': $90 
Double booth fee, 10'x30': $170 

Regular Pricing (applications received by August 15, notified by August 17, paid by August 24):
Application fee: $15 
Booth fee, 10'x15': $100 
Double booth fee, 10'x30': $190

Late Pricing (applications received by August 30, notified by August 31, paid by September 2):
Application fee: $20 
Booth fee, 10'x15': $110
Double booth fee, 10'x30': $210

Note: After the payment deadline (September 2), booths may still be available for purchase by invited artists up until booth maps are finalized. Post-deadline booths are $125 for a 10'x15' space. 

Assigned Booth spaces are approximately 10’ deep and 15’ wide. Double booths are also available. All work exhibited must be confined to the assigned space(s). Artists are responsible for providing their own means of displaying their work. There is no electricity available at this show. All artist tents must be weighted with a minimum of 40 pounds per leg. Main Street is paved and flat. Booth assignments, maps, and other information will be sent no later than September 26, one week prior to the show. There is no electricty provided and personal generators are not allowed.

Load in/Load Out:
Artists can load in only during the designated times and should be prepared to check in with a photo ID. Upon arrival at your booth location, artists are required to unpack and then move their vehicle before starting set-up.  We depend upon artists’ cooperation to keep traffic moving at a pace that will allow everyone equal time to set up. Artists will be responsible for hand-carting in additional merchandise after the designated load-in time.  All load in and set up will be on Saturday, October 3, starting as early as 6:15am.

There are no refunds of jury/application fees.  Booth fees will be refunded minus a $20 administrative fee if requested by September 3.  There are no booth fee refunds after September 3.