Mermaid Fest March 27-28, 2027

Mermaid Fest is back on the island after Hurricane issues!  Previous event grounds not usable and we have an upgrade to Times Square!  This boutique Festival will feature no more than 50 artists allowing for less competiton, less crossover booths and more potential opportunties to connect with shoppers. This application is for Fort Myers Beach Festival of the Arts.  It is set in iconic Times Square - replacing the island's Invitational at Lover's Key due to damage from hurricanes.   This is downtown on the North side of island.  There is no music, no booze and no food putting the focus solely on art, craft and unique gifts.

• Open Saturday & Sunday 10am to 5pm
• Apply early and save $50 - $325 if paid before Jan 27, $325 if paid after
• May apply in up to 2 categories

Event setup is Saturday morning 6:30am to 9am.   
There are 3 dates for this location.  Additional dates:
Holly Jolly Market Dec 19-20, 2026
Fort Myers Festival of the Arts Jan 23-24, 2027

Focus is on handmade & artist designed items but the jury will consider unique/creative gift ideas, authors, inventors and designers for holiday gift giving.
Each event juried separate.  You may apply to one or all.  Participating in one, does not guarantee you will be accepted every month.
We love and encourage emerging artists of all levels.  Please feel free  to reach out if you need assistance in applying or booth setups.
 

The artists are selected through a review of their work by a panel of experts. We are busting the box open and making changes!  The art industry is changing and we are encouraging creatives of all types to apply.
For all events, we will accept the following:

1. artist - made by my hands
2. artist - production/studio work - no more than 2 assistants
3. artist - studio work with more than 2 assistants
4. craft - made by my own hands
5. craft - production/studio work - no more than 2 assistants
6. inventor - created an innovative concept that is put into production
7. designer - creates all designs and images that may be utilized in final creation
8. other, describe - this includes fair trade and anything NOT made by your hands
9. sponsor - (start $600) All other service businesses looking to sell a service or product

Sponsors are home service repairs, car dealerships, and any large contract type retailer.  These spaces are limited to no more than 4-6 at this event.
Easy load in and load out next to booth, weather providing.  Setup is Saturday 6:30am to 9:30am.  All vehicles must be off festival footprint by 9am! There is NO day before setup.
You will receive setup email about 30 days before event.  Booth numbers are given out when you check in. 

• All artist exhibitor tents must be white with the exception of branded sponsor booths.  NO exceptions!
• No cheap camping tents.   Pop up tents are NOT recommended as in heavy winds and rains, they are the 1st tents to have issues blowing down or collapsing.  If you choose to use an EZ UP or umbrella type pop up tent, as with all tents a minimum of 40 pounds per leg are required for a mimimum of 160 pounds. 
• Booth spaces are approximately 10' wide by 10" deep with at least 2 foot between booths.  Booth and a half and Double booths are also available on a limited basis. 
• Your displays must be professional and pleasing to the eye.  No hand made signs.  Your booth space should be a reflection of your creativity.
• You must display within your allocated space and not infringe on your neighbors without show directors approval. This means no chairs out in walkways or obstructing neighbors or art show flow.
• If invited, your booth display should reflect the pictures you sent in for jurying.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  If your display changes you need to send updated photos.  Booth checks will be done Friday am

Vendor Amenities:

• Participating artists listed on Facebook event page for each event
• Categories capped with no more than 25% jewelry
• Designated reserved unloading area. 
• only 81 booth spaces available
• staff support on location throughout event
• Marketing & Advertising - social media ads, posters, rack cards, local tourism websites, local area signs and print ads.

Are you tired of being put in a box as a maker or artist?  Well, we believe that creating with broad brushstrokes works for some while others prefer pointilism.  We celebrate the classicly trained and we encourage the unique thinkers.  We encourage Happy Vibe - Happy Tribe creators of all types to apply. 
Art is subjective and at Blue Ribbon Events we encourage the new, the different and the unusual.  It is why we allow you to apply in two categories.  You may be an artist, crafter, inventor, designer or innovative creator.  Blue Ribbon Events does not believe in limiting you.  Instead, we choose to help you fly!  This year we have also reduced our prices for events to encourage emerging artists of all levels. 

1. The applicants are selected through a review of their work by a panel of qualified experts. The top applicants in their categories are selected according to their skill and quality of work.
2. You may submit an application in up to two categories.
3. Any and all jewelry, no matter what it is made from MUST apply in the jewelry category!  If you are NOT juried in for jewelry - you may NOT sell or display jewelry.  Absolutely NO JEWELRY CREEP!
4. OTHER category does not mean a mixture of categories, itis designated for those non-traditional creations that do not fit in any other category.
5. All particpating artists must use a white tent.  If using sides during event hours they must be white.  No colored sides may be used during advertised hours.  If you have colored sides, they must be taken down during event hours.  For safety reasons, no feather flags/easles or other non banner signage may be used in walkways or attached to tents.
6. Many pets are not allowed as per many municipality codes or ordinances.  No Pets allowed.  If you have a pet, it must be on a short leash at all times or in a crate.  No retractable leashes to be used on event grounds.  Any pet MUST be contained within your booth space and not to intrude on neighboring artists or on patrons at event. If you intend on bringing a pet, you must notify in writing at least 4 weeks before event and you must submit required insurance (1 million/2 million) naming Blue Ribbon Events, LLC and the event venue as additional insured.  If you bring any pet, it is your responsibility to clean up any mess or waste created by your pet and dispose of in a safe manner.
7. You must be open for full event hours, there are no one day opportunities.
8. Treat the other participants how you would like to be treated. We are all self employed people.  No one booth is any more important than another.
9. The Event Committee reserves the right to change any requirements for the betterment of the event as a whole.

Categories:

Author:  Anyone who writes any book

Accessories/ Clothing:  Factory-produced wearable items,  with additional modifications or enhancements by the artist may be exhibited.  Any embellishments must apply under this category. Please note if you plan on displaying jewelry, you must also apply in the jewelry category.  

Ceramics/Pottery: All original clay and porcelain work other than jewelry accepted in this category.

Designer:  An artists who conceptually creates an item but does not create the actual item for sale.  Please use artist bio to describe work completely.  This category is for fashion designers, jewelry designers, house wares, homegoods.  It is not meant to bypass to allow buy/sell, fair trade or imported mass produced items.  This will be strictly monitored.

Digital Art: This category includes any original work for which the original image or the manipulation of a source material is executed by the artist using a computer. Work in this category must be limited editions, signed and numbered on archival quality materials. Photographs taken through a digital camera should apply in the PHOTOGRAPHY category.


Drawing: Works created using such dry media as chalk, charcoal, pastels, pencils and wax crayon or from the fluid medium of inks and washes applied by pen or brush are to be entered in this category.


Fiber: All work crafted from fibers including basketry, embroidery, weaving, leatherwork, tapestry, and paper making. If you are making you are stitching your own clothing, apply under this category

Food/Gourmet:  All creations prepackaged that are edible.  Jams, spreads, hot sauces, baked goods, jerky, candy.

Glass: Original work created in glass by the artist.

Graphic & Printmaking: Print works for which the artist’s hand manipulated the plates, stones or screens, which have been signed and numbered as a limited edition may be entered in this category. Print makers are required to disclose both their creative and print making process.


Holiday/Seasonal:  All creations that are seasonal or holiday in nature.  For example wreaths, floral arrangements, tabletop accessories, stockings, holiday fabrics, signs, or seasonal yard art.

Jewelry: All jewelry, whether the work is produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, paper, plastic or other materials must be entered in this category. If you are not juried into jewelry, you may not sell under your booth.

Metalwork: Includes all non-sculptural, non-jewelry works crafted from metal.

Mixed Media: This category includes works, both 2D and 3D, that incorporates more than one type of physical material to produce.  Includes non-sculptural work as determined by the artist. 


Painting: Works created using such materials as oils, acrylics and watercolor, are in this category. Reproductions are allowed; however, they must be indicated as such.


Photography: Photographic prints made from the artist’s original image (e.g., film or digital) which have been processed by the artist or under their direct supervision, are included in this category. Images printed through software such as Photoshop are to be entered in this category, not in mixed-media or digital

Candles/Soap/Aromatherapy/Spa/Wellness/Bath-body products:  Any and all candles, soap, lotion, bath/body, sprays, CBD, salves, aromatherapy, oils, nail polish, makeup or perfumes. 

Sculpture: Three-dimensional original work completed in any medium (e.g., bronze, stone, acrylic).

Wood: Original works that are hand-tooled, machine-worked, turned or carved are accepted in the wood category.

Other:  Any and all works which do not fit in any other category.  Please explain in comments section                                            
Blue Ribbon Events Rules, Regulations, Procedures

• Applications will be processed in the order that we receive them.  Spaces will be allocated on a first come/first jury basis. Space is limited and categories will be capped.  We promote boutique, quality shows.  
• We require four photos or slides of your product and one booth photo included with your application.  Artists may only show work in the categories and bodies of work selected by the jury.  All work exhibited must be of the quality, category, and body of work that were shown in the images used by the jury process. An application or cashed check does not guarantee an acceptance.  Please make sure you provide us a correct email address. You will be notified via email of your acceptance.
•  Application must include non refundable jury fee
• Upon receiving an invitation to participate in the show, you will need to submit a booth payment by at least 60 days before event for lower price advertised.  Prices increase an additional $50, 60 days before event. You will be sent a square invoice upon acceptance.  Booth fees are not accepted via Zapplication. Simply accepting on Zapp will not secure your space in the show.  Please note that your invitation email may go to your SPAM folder, so it is in your best interest to check your status on Zapp or check your SPAM folder. Due to the deadline being so close to the show date, the show will most likely be closed prior to the deadline. PLEASE NOTE that we keep a WAIT LIST on a category basis.  
• Check-in times are Saturday 6:30-9:30am.  Upon arrival, you must check-in with a government ID. You will be given booth space number at check-in.  We have a designated area for unloading.  The parking spaces are reserved and you will be instructed which one to unload from. Please unload your vehicle, move to parking and come back and setup your booth. 
• Spaces are held until 9am Saturday.  Any space not checked into by 9am, may be forfeited at the discretion of the show director to a waitlisted or standby artist.
• Offensive items (nudity or occult) will have to be removed or you may be asked to leave.  Show fee will not be refunded.
• No pets.
• No infants.  Children must not be a distraction to other vendors or customers.
• No music in booth.  No hawking or other intrusive behavior.
• No generators without prior approval from Blue Ribbon Events.  If you have generator approval, please bring a heavy duty electrical cord at least 50 feet long.
• No smoking in the footprint of the event.  This includes in or behind your booth. 
• No breakdowns before advertised closing time each day. If you do, you run the risk of no future events
• Please dress in appropriate attire for duration of show.
• Please take pride in your booth setup.  Tablecloths must be to the ground. No sale signs, tacky discount signs or handwritten signs allowed.  
• White tents only.  Setup must have at least 40 pound weights on all four corners.  The set-up must be strong enough to withstand winds and crowds. You are near water.  Please bring shims if needed. This is an outside show on pavement.
• Each exhibitor is responsible to pay their own State Sales Tax on their sales.

Blue Ribbon Events, LLC produces multiple shows therefore we have an ongoing jury process that meets tweekly and juries by category. SHOW DIRECTOR’S SUGGESTION: We recommend that you apply EARLY as the show and/or most categories will fill quickly. Upon receiving an invitation to participate in the show, you will need to submit a deposit/booth fee immediately to secure your space in the show.
There are no refunds for cancellations.  If cancelled more than 60 days before event, you will receive a credit to another show good for one year from date of show cancelled. 

Call us if you need clarification before applying.  MANAGEMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY ANY EXHIBITOR CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS TO FELLOW EXHIBITORS OR MANAGEMENT

Jury Fee:  early bird $15 before 11/1, $25 after
Booth Fee:  $325 if payment received before Jan 27, if paid after booth fee is $375
Corner booth: additional $75
15' by 10' Booth = $487.50 before Jan 27, after $537.50
20' by 10' Double Booth $650 if paid before Jan 27, after $750

• Please notify show director of trailer size at least 14 days before event for logistics.  Regular size vehicles and booths check-in times begin setup at 7am to 9am.  All vehicles must be off festival footprint by 9am!

Your displays mut be professional and pleasing to the eye.  All exhibitor tents must be white.  No hand made signs.  Your booth space should be a reflection of your art and a mini art boutique or gallery.  
You must display within your allocated space and not infringe on your neighbors.

If invited, your booth display should reflect the pictures you sent in for jurying.  NO EXCEPTIONS!  If your display changes you need to send updated photos.  

There are no rain dates. A $50 non refundable deposit is required for every event you have signed up. There will be no refunds or credits if a show is cancelled due to rain, floods, hurricanes, or any other forces of nature after logistics and advertising have been arranged! There will be no refunds on artist cancellations within 70 days of the event. Credit will be issued if Blue Ribbon events, LLC. is notified in writing at least (60) SIXTY days prior to an event. Exhibitors are responsible for full payment of show fee if cancelled less than 60 days prior to event. Credit is to be used towards a future event (minus $50 non-refundable booth deposit). Any credit issued must be used within 18 months.