Ann Arbor State Street District MarketPlace 2027 - Vendor Application

59th Annual Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair Marketplace
July 15-17, 2027
Downtown Ann Arbor, MI

The Ann Arbor State Street District Art Fair (SSDAF) is one of three official fairs that comprise the award-winning Ann Arbor Art Fair, presented by the State Street District for nearly 60 years. The fair transforms downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan into one of the most celebrated art fair destinations in the country. The Art Fair has drawn over 400,000 visitors during three days in July, offering a dynamic cultural experience that showcases the best fine art and handcrafted goods. Together, the fairs create a massive open-air gallery that stretches across 30 city blocks of charming streets, attracting collectors, art lovers, and tourists from around the world.

The Marketplace, located exclusively within the State Street District section of the Ann Arbor Art Fair, traces its origins back to Bargain Days, the original event that sparked the Ann Arbor Art Fair. Centrally located within the State Street District Art Fair, the Marketplace is adjacent to the fine art section and showcases artisanal crafts, handmade goods, and locally-inspired products in a lively setting of Ann Arbor's historic theatre district.

Join a tradition more than five decades in the making and connect your brand with one of the Midwest’s marquee summer events.

Questions? (734) 768-2907

Fair Dates: Thursday, July 15 - Saturday, July 17, 2027
Application Open: December 8, 2026
Application Close: April 1, 2027, by 11:59 PM ET
Application Fee: $60.00 (Non-refundable)

Categories

• Candles & Fragrance
• Entertainment or Experience
• Fashion & Accessory
• Packaged Food & Beverage (jams, jellies, etc.)
• Handmade Crafts
• Health & Wellness
• Home Decor
• Nonprofit or Charity Organization
• Paper Arts & Stationery
• Pet Friendly Items
• Toys, Books & Games

Food Vendor Categories

Packaged Food & Beverage: Select this category for products such as jams, jellies, and other packaged foods or beverages sold from a Marketplace booth. Marketplace zone pricing applies.

Food Court: Select this category if you are applying for a Food Court location. Food Court spaces are $1,500 and include electrical setup of either one 220-volt connection up to 50 amps or two 110-volt circuits. Indicate your electrical choice in the application and provide either the NEMA code(s) or clear photos of your required plug(s). Placement is subject to availability.

Fair Hours

Thursday and Friday: 10 AM-9 PM. Saturday: 10 AM-8 PM.

On-Site Rules for Exhibition

1. Exhibitors must comply with all local ordinances, regulations, and rules, including but not limited to prohibitions on firearms within the Fair boundary and open flames in tents or other enclosed areas.
    
2. Picture I.D. is required for Fair registration and must be presented upon request of State Street District staff at any time during the Fair.
    
3. Designated fire lanes and fire breaks must remain free of storage or any other obstruction that blocks clear passage. All storage must be neatly concealed within the booth structure. Violations must be corrected immediately or the booth will be required to close until resolved.
    
4. Sales are permitted only during Art Fair hours: Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Early closing is not allowed except with prior approval or in an emergency. Each vendor is responsible for recording all sales for Michigan sales-tax purposes.
    
5. On-site consumption of alcoholic beverages and the use of recreational marijuana or any illegal substances during Fair hours are prohibited.
    
6. All exhibiting vendors must maintain a high level of professionalism. Hawking, harassment, rude or obscene language, threats, physical restraint, or abuse toward staff, volunteers, vendors, businesses, or the public are strictly prohibited.
    
7. Booth structures and displays must not exceed the limits of assigned space or obstruct passage. Hazardous or interfering artwork must be removed upon request. Booth substructures must not impede water flow.
    
8. Use of sidewalks and planters is prohibited. All booth materials, chairs, and storage must remain within the assigned space. ADA-accessible routes must remain clear at all times.
    
9. Per Ann Arbor Fire Department regulations, vehicular traffic is not permitted within the Fair boundary from 9:00 a.m. through 9:30 p.m.
    
10. Generators are not permitted within the State Street District Art Fair.
     
11. All electrical cords must be safely secured at a minimum height of 10 feet above ground when connecting to electrical sources. No cords or obstructions may cross streets or sidewalks.
     
12. Marketplace vendors with electrical service will be provided one 110-volt circuit with a maximum draw of 5 amps. This circuit is suitable for lighting, point-of-sale devices, fans, or small electronics only. This standard Marketplace circuit is not permitted for use with high-draw appliances such as air conditioners, refrigeration units, cooking or heating equipment. Food Court spaces instead include either one 220-volt connection up to 50 amps or two 110-volt circuits; Food Court applicants must indicate their electrical choice in the application.
     
13. No open flames of any kind are permitted anywhere on the Fair site.
     
14. Respect all planters and private property. Intentional or negligent damage may result in City fines or additional fees assessed by the State Street District.
     
15. Booths must remain open for the Fair’s official hours unless vendors receive an emergency notification from organizers. Vendors concerned for personal safety may close temporarily but must notify staff and reopen as soon as conditions permit.
     
16. By two hours prior to Fair opening on the first day, vendors must have claimed their booth space and set up one hour before. Unclaimed spaces may be reassigned with no refund.
     
17. Booth spaces may not be transferred or reassigned by the vendor.
     
18. Exhibitors or their artwork may not participate in any other Ann Arbor Art Fair occurring concurrently with the State Street District Art Fair. Violation will result in immediate closure and forfeiture of all fees.
     
19. A white-topped tent is required unless officially approved otherwise by the State Street District.
     
20. All booth materials (tarps, roofs, walls, panels, coverings, tents) must be fire-retardant or fire-resistant. Manufacturer certification tags or paperwork must be available on-site.
     
21. Only work representative of the vendor’s submitted slides may be exhibited. If displayed work differs significantly, the vendor may be asked to leave and forfeit fees.
     
22. Works incorporating materials derived from the killing, hunting, trapping, or mutilation of endangered species, or using elephant or mammoth ivory (including fossilized ivory), are strictly prohibited.
     
23. Vendors leaving prior to the end of the show are subject to a two-year suspension from future participation. Booths must remain open during all official hours.
     
24. The State Street District Art Fair reserves the right to refuse any work not presented according to these guidelines and application materials.
     
25. Vendors violating any rule may be asked to leave and may be deemed ineligible for future Fairs.
     
26. Signs advertising sales or markdowns are prohibited. No protruding signs may extend beyond booth boundaries.
     
27. Demonstrations are permitted within booth space only with prior approval by State Street District staff; all other requests will be reviewed case-by-case.
     
28. Barricades placed by Fair staff or City of Ann Arbor emergency personnel may not be moved or altered under any circumstances. Doing so is a violation of City ordinance and subject to enforcement by the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD), which monitors barricade compliance throughout the event.
     
29. Because the Fair occurs in Downtown Ann Arbor, all tents must be removed on Saturday night during move-out. No debris may be left behind; improper disposal may affect future eligibility.
     
30. In an emergency, vendors must follow directions of the City of Ann Arbor’s Emergency Manager, State Street District Executive Director, State Street District Art Fair Director and/or their Staff. No refunds are issued due to weather or emergency conditions.
     

All vendors must name the State Street District as additionally insured under a short-term event policy and provide proof upon request.

Certificate wording:
State Street District
527 East Liberty Street, Suite 208
Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Applications

• Submit 4 images (three of your work, one of your booth is required)  
• Applications submitted without a booth image will be returned to await the booth image.

On-site Exhibiting
Only work representative of the vendors’ slides are permitted. If exhibited works differ significantly from the images submitted, the vendor may be asked to leave and forfeit fees.

On-site Registration
A picture ID is required for on-site registration and must be presented upon the request of Fair Staff at any time during the fair.
 

Attendance
Please be advised that any vendor who departs before the conclusion of the show will face a two-year prohibition on exhibiting at future events. This policy is in place to ensure a consistent and engaging experience for all attendees and fellow vendors. We appreciate your committment to the integrity of the event and the community it fosters.
 

Compliance and Lawfulness
Submitting this application is a commitment to the State Street District Art Fair MarketPlace rules. Vendors shall abide by all applicable laws, local ordinances, regulations and rules including but not limited to No Firearms within the Fair boundary, no open flames in tents, etc.

All exhibiting vendors are expected to maintain a high level of professionalism. The SSDAF reserves the right to remove any vendor violating the rules of this fair whose conduct or merchandise is unacceptable or who does not adhere to the regulations stated in this prospectus and otherwise made contractually.

If asked to leave, the vendor is ineligible for readmission to future events.

Tents
All booth material, tarps, and other coverings must be fire retardant or resistant. All roofs, walls, panels, coverings, and tents must be fire retardant or resistant. A manufacturer tag or paperwork certifying that all materials are fire retardant or resistant must be original and available on-site. A white-topped tent is required unless officially approved by the State Street District.

Only Heavy-Duty EZ-Up tents and Framed Tents are permitted. (If you have any questions, please contact us.) Aluminum tents are highly discouraged as they will require additional weight and may bend. Vendors must supply their own booth tents with sufficient weights, or rent one for the 4 days from a local tent rental company. If renting, vendors must provide the name of the tent company and contact information to the State Street Art District Fair by June 15, 2027, so the tent company can have access to the site at 6:30am on the set-up day. Tent companies will not be permitted on site outside of the allotted delivery window.

Weights are mandatory throughout the fair and the responsibility of the vendor. Local tent companies have recommended a minimum of 500 lbs of weight per tent; or 125 lbs per tent post.

Location Requests
Vendors may request amenities and booth space locations during the application process. Though we cannot guarantee that all vendors will receive their booth location choice, we make every effort to place the vendor in the general location that is requested.

Fees must be paid before locations are finalized.
 

No Relocation Allowed
Vendors are not permitted to relocate space during the event. Any relocation of assigned booth location will be at the discretion of the State Street District or local authorities.
 

Marketplace Zones: Click here to see a Map

• Zone 1: State Street from Liberty to William
  • Inline: $1,500
  • Regular Corner: $1,750
  • Intersection Corner: $2,250
• Zone 2: Liberty Street between Fifth and Division
  • Inline: $1,500
  • Regular Corner: $1,750
  • Intersection Corner: $2,250
• Zone 3: State Street from Washington to Liberty
  • Inline: $1,000
  • Regular Corner: $1,350
  • Intersection Corner: $2,000
• Zone 4: Thompson Street south of Liberty
  • Inline: $850
  • Intersection Corner: $1,150

These are total prices per Marketplace booth for the selected location type. All location requests are subject to availability. Corner booths are highly desirable; intersection corners are extremely desirable and limited. Neither is guaranteed.

Food Court

Food Court applicants must provide either the NEMA code(s) or clear photos of their required plug(s). Food Court spaces are $1,500, including electrical setup of either one 220-volt connection up to 50 amps or two 110-volt circuits. Food Court pricing is separate from Marketplace zone pricing. Packaged food and beverage vendors, such as jams and jellies, apply under the Packaged Food & Beverage category and pay Marketplace zone rates.

Food Court trucks and trailers: Submit the overall length, width, and height of your truck or trailer in feet, including the trailer tongue/hitch and any attached equipment. Also describe the total operating space needed with service windows, awnings, doors, and other extensions open. Upload a clear photo of your truck or trailer. Food Court placement is based on the submitted vehicle dimensions and operating footprint rather than a standard 10 × 10-foot Marketplace booth.

The booth map is preliminary and subject to change pending final approval by the City of Ann Arbor. Booth locations and assignments may be adjusted to reflect the approved layout.

Marketplace booth assignments are for spaces that measure 10’ x 10’ (Ten feet by Ten feet)

Payments
Booth payments are invoiced through QuickBooks. Fees must be paid by May 14, 2027. Any fees paid after May 14, 2027 will have a One Hundred Dollar ($100) late fee added.  

Refunds, Cancellations, on the part of the vendor, will be honored and receive a refund, less $100 administration fee, until June 10, 2027.

All cancellations/refund requests must be made via email with a brief explanation for cancellation.

ANY and ALL Refunds are issued by check and will be mailed to the vendor’s address provided in ZAPP.

Application fees are nonrefundable as they are priced specifically to cover the costs of Zapplication.org per our service agreement. 
 

Waitlisted Vendors
In the event space does become available, vendors will be notified and all fees will be due immediately.

Application Fees:
Application fees are nonrefundable, as they are priced specifically to cover the administrative and service costs associated with ZAPPlication.org.

Booth Fees:Refunds, Cancellations, on the part of the vendor, will be honored and receive a refund, less $100 administration fee, until June 10, 2027.

Third-Party Fees:
For any fees paid directly to outside organizations such as parking, hotels, or other City of Ann Arbor services, please refer to the respective organization’s refund policy, as those are not managed by the State Street District.

Refund Process:
All cancellations or refund requests must be submitted via email to ArtFair@StateStreetDistrict.org with a brief explanation for cancellation.
All refunds are issued by check and mailed to the vendor’s address provided in ZAPP.