Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival 2027

For over half a century, the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival has welcomed visitors from near and far to the heart of downtown Cary, North Carolina, for two days filled with art, entertainment, food, and incredible experiences! 

First held in 1977, this juried arts and crafts festival celebrates the “lazy days” of summer on the last weekend of August, showcasing nearly 300 artists from across the United States. Guests can enjoy a vibrant mix of experiences, including a beer garden, interactive art activities, Kid Daze fun, and live demonstrations by skilled artisans. Lazy Daze continues to be recognized as one of the nation’s top contemporary craft festivals, drawing over 50,000 art lovers each year to Cary’s Town Hall Campus. A highlight of the weekend is the presentation of the Jerry Miller Awards, honoring the festival’s best-in-show artists. 

The Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival exists to enrich the community, strengthen Cary’s cultural identity, and foster civic pride through the celebration of visual and performing arts. As Cary’s largest annual event, Lazy Daze is free and open to all—a true celebration of creativity and community. 

IMPORTANT DATES 
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 – Applications open  
Saturday, February 28, 2027 - Application due (midnight EST) 
Sunday, March 7, 2027 - LATE Applications due (midnight EST)
Week of March 29 – Notifications emailed 
Sunday, May 2, 2027 – fees due 
Friday, July 30, 2027 - Last day to receive 100% refund 
 

EVENT DATES 
Artist Check-In: Friday, August 27 – 3:30 – 9 p.m. and Saturday, August 28 5:00 a.m. – 8 a.m. 
Festival Hours: Saturday, August 28 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Sunday, August 29 – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 
Artist Load-Out: Sunday, August 29 – 5:30 p.m. - until 
 
ARTIST AMENITIES 

• On-site artist parking located near the festival footprint
• Limited RV parking; no hookups provided
• Artist hospitality with coffee, snacks, and other refreshments
• Artist lunch delivery program
• Artist listings on the festival website with images, artist name, and website link
• Overnight festival security
• Booth sitter support
• Jerry Miller Awards for seven exhibiting artists, including complimentary application and booth fees for the following Lazy Daze Festival
• Volunteer support throughout the event
• Artists retain all proceeds from sales

 
APPLICATION PROCESS

• Artists may apply in up to three different categories from one ZAPPlication profile.
• Each application requires a separate non-refundable $30 application fee (and a separate set of jury images.
• Artists may exhibit and sell work only in the category or categories in which they have been accepted.
• Each distinct body of work or artistic discipline must be submitted as a separate application in the category that most accurately represents the primary material, process, and artistic contribution.
• Do not submit the same or substantially similar body of work in multiple categories.
• Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.
• The Festival reserves the right to move an application to a more appropriate category prior to jurying when the submitted work clearly falls within another category. Festival staff may contact the applicant if additional information is needed to determine the appropriate category.

DIGITAL IMAGES
Artists must submit five images for each category entered.

Artwork Images
Four images must show individual examples of work representative of the body of work the artist proposes to exhibit and sell at Lazy Daze.
Submitted images should accurately reflect the quality, materials, techniques, style, and price range of work that will be available at the festival.

Booth Image
One image must show the artist’s complete outdoor booth and current body of work.
The booth image must:

• Show the entire 10' × 10' booth or equivalent exhibit area
• Represent the artist’s current presentation and body of work
• Clearly demonstrate professional display quality
• Be free of identifying artist names, business names, signs, or photographs of the applicant

An outdoor booth image is preferred.

First-time festival artists who do not yet have an outdoor festival booth image may submit a professionally staged 10' × 10' booth mock-up. The mock-up must accurately represent the tent, display equipment, layout, and body of work the artist intends to exhibit at Lazy Daze.
Commercial studios engaged primarily in volume production should not apply.

Applications that do not meet image requirements may be returned to the applicant for correction. Application fees are non-refundable.

If an applicant is given the opportunity to correct a submission but elects not to do so, the application may proceed to jury with a scoring deduction or may be determined ineligible.

ARTIST STATEMENT 
Please take up to 500 characters to concisely describe the material and technique used for your body of work. The best artist statements, according to our jury, are based on techniques and mediums, rather than inspiration, ideas, and how patrons engage. DO NOT INCLUDE artist or business name. 
 

MEDIA DESCRIPTIONS

• • NOTE: All jewelry must be juried in the jewelry category.  Only those artists accepted in the jewelry category may display or sell jewelry. All jewelry, whether produced from metal, glass, clay, fiber, wood, or other materials must apply in the jewelry category.

Ceramics: Original functional or decorative works created primarily from clay or porcelain and permanently transformed through firing. Hand-building, wheel-throwing, sculpting, slip-casting from artist-designed molds, and other original ceramic processes are permitted. Commercially purchased molds, ceramic blanks, kits, decals used as the primary design element, and mass-produced ware are not permitted.

Decorative Craft / Home and Garden:  Original decorative or functional work intended primarily for home or garden use that is created through an integrated craft process and does not fit more appropriately within Ceramics, Fiber/Leather, Furniture, Glass, Metal, or Wood. Examples may include artist-made wreaths, mixed-material garden art, wind chimes, and transformed found-object work. Commercially manufactured décor, purchased components that are merely assembled, and minimally altered blanks are not permitted.

Digital Art:  Original two-dimensional artwork created primarily through digital drawing, painting, illustration, collage, or image manipulation. All source material must be created by the artist or used with appropriate permission, license, or public-domain status. Photography should apply in Photography when the artist’s original photograph remains the principal basis of the finished work.

Drawing:  Original two-dimensional works in which drawing is the primary process, including graphite, colored pencil, charcoal, pastel, chalk, crayon, pen and ink, and similar media. Works created primarily with paint should apply in Painting. Hand-pulled prints should apply in Printmaking.

Fiber/Leather:  Original work crafted from fibers, including basketry, batik, embroidery, leatherwork, papermaking, quilting, soft sculpture, tapestry, and weaving. This includes both wearable and decorative art. Work must be substantially designed and constructed or transformed by the artist. Items made primarily from commercial sewing patterns, preassembled kits, commercially embroidered stock products, or minimally altered manufactured garments are not permitted. Commercial findings and closures may be used only as subordinate components.

Furniture:  Original functional or decorative furniture designed and substantially constructed by the artist. Commercially manufactured furniture that has merely been painted, refinished, embellished, or altered is not permitted. Commercial hardware, upholstery materials, and subordinate components are permitted when incorporated into an original artist-designed piece.

Glass:  Original design, functional or decorative glass works that are kiln-formed or have been crafted by glass blowing, molding or casting, or stained glass may apply.  Assemblage glass, windchimes, & mosaics should apply under Decorative Craft / Home & Garden

Jewelry:  Jewelry must be designed and substantially fabricated by the applying artist. Artist-created models, molds, dies, and casting processes are permitted when disclosed. Commercially purchased charms, pendants, cabochons, findings, chains, and beads may be used only as subordinate components and may not constitute the principal artistic content of the work. Simple assembly or stringing of commercially manufactured components is not permitted. Production-studio work is not eligible.

LIVE ARTIST:  Live Art Vendors include things such as face painting, fairy hair, henna, caricatures, and DIY crafts. Permanent jewerly is not accepted at Lazy Daze. Live Art vendors may have insurance requirements depending on their service. See Live Artist prospectus for full details.

Metal:  Original functional, decorative, or sculptural work created primarily from metal, excluding jewelry. Processes may include forging, fabrication, welding, casting, forming, machining, repoussé, plasma cutting, and related metalworking techniques. Digital fabrication is permitted in accordance with the Festival’s Digital Fabrication & 3D Printing policy.

Mixed Media (2D & 3D):  Original 2D or 3D work in which two or more distinct artistic media are intentionally integrated and are essential to the finished work. Examples may include combinations of painting, drawing, collage, fiber, paper, photography, printmaking, found materials, or other media when no single medium adequately describes the work. Applicants should identify the principal materials and explain how they are integrated.

Painting: (two subcategories):

• 2D: Original two-dimensional work created primarily through the application of wet media. Eligible media may include watercolor, acrylic, oil, gouache, encaustic, and similar painting media applied to canvas, board, paper, panel, or another generally flat surface. Reproductions made from the artist’s original paintings are permitted, subject to the Festival’s reproduction requirements.

• 3D: Original artwork in which painting is the dominant artistic process and is applied to an artist-created, found, wearable, or dimensional surface. Examples may include painted rocks, shoes, hats, clothing, artist-made objects, or other dimensional surfaces. Commercially manufactured objects may be used only as a substrate and must be substantially transformed through original painting. Items featuring decals, transfers, purchased designs, stock graphics, or minimal decorative painting are not eligible.

Photography:  Original photographic work in which the applying artist created the source image and exercises creative control over capture and post-processing. Printing may be completed by the artist or by a professional lab under the artist’s direction. Applicants must disclose their photographic, editing, compositing, and printing processes. Works substantially transformed into digital illustration may be more appropriately entered in Digital Art. Limited-edition photographic work must be signed and numbered.

Printmaking:  Original prints created through artist-directed traditional or fine-art printmaking processes. Eligible processes may include: Etching, Engraving, Relief printing, Linoleum block, printing, Woodcut, Screen printing, Lithography, Monotype, Collagraph, Letterpress, other comparable artist-controlled printmaking techniques. Original print editions must be signed and numbered when produced as editions. Applicants must disclose their creative and printmaking process.

Wood: Original work created primarily from wood, excluding furniture and jewelry. Eligible processes may include carving, turning, joinery, hand-tooling, machine-working, marquetry, intarsia, or other woodworking techniques. Wooden toys and puzzles should apply in this category when they are substantially designed and produced by the artist. Digital fabrication is permitted in accordance with the Festival’s Digital Fabrication & 3D Printing policy.

Emerging Artists Showcase: Lazy Daze Emerging Artist Showcase spotlights new and rising talent from across the Triangle. This new initiative offers up to 15 emerging artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work at one of the region’s most beloved arts and crafts festivals. 

The program provides artists with a free booth space, promotional support, and the chance to connect with thousands of festivalgoers, seasoned artists, and the local creative community — all in the heart of downtown Cary. The Showcase also offers emerging artists a chance to grow, connect, and share their work with thousands of festival visitors while gaining real-world experience in a supportive, creative environment. Interested emerging artists should read through the program overview on our webpage.

GENERAL ARTWORK ELIGIBILITY

All work exhibited and sold at Lazy Daze must be original artwork designed and substantially produced by the accepted artist.

The artist must retain meaningful creative control over the design and production of the work.
Unless specifically permitted within a category, the following are not eligible:
 

• Wholesale merchandise or commercially manufactured finished products
• Work produced primarily from commercial kits  
• Commercial patterns or templates used as the principal artistic content
• Commercially manufactured objects that have received only minimal alteration
• Production-studio work that is substantially manufactured by undisclosed employees, contractors, or third parties
• Unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted or trademarked characters, logos, photographs, artwork, or other intellectual property
• Artwork generated wholly or substantially through generative artificial intelligence
• Work materially different from the work represented in the accepted jury images

Festival staff reserve the right to request information regarding an artist’s production process before or during the festival.

DIGITAL FABRICATION & 3D PRINTING

Digital fabrication tools, including CNC machines, laser cutters, plasma cutters, 3D printers, and similar equipment, may be used as part of an artist’s creative process when the artist creates the original design and remains substantially involved in production, fabrication, assembly, and finishing.

Purchased design files, stock models, commercially available templates used as the primary design, and automated production involving minimal artist participation are not permitted.

Artists using digital fabrication must disclose the process in the Artist Process Statement.


ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artwork generated wholly or substantially through generative artificial intelligence is not eligible for application, exhibition, or sale in any Lazy Daze Artist category.

AI-generated imagery, designs, patterns, compositions, or other generated creative content may not form the primary visual or structural basis of submitted or exhibited work.

Standard digital tools used for functions such as exposure correction, sharpening, noise reduction, color adjustment, image cleanup, file preparation, or other conventional editing processes are permitted.

Artists must disclose any material use of generative artificial intelligence within their artistic process.

ORIGINALS, EDITIONS, REPRODUCTIONS & MERCHANDISE

Original artwork must remain the principal focus of an artist’s booth.

For purposes of this prospectus, a reproduction is a mechanically or digitally reproduced copy of an original artwork. Reproductions must be clearly identified as reproductions and may not be represented as original works.

Except for media categories in which the accepted finished work is inherently produced through digital or photographic printing processes, reproductions may not exceed 50% of the artwork visibly displayed within the booth.

Original works created through accepted Printmaking processes are not considered reproductions and therefore do not count toward reproduction limits. Mechanically or digitally produced copies of original printmaking work are considered reproductions and are subject to the applicable limits.

Limited-edition work must be signed and numbered, with the edition size disclosed.
When printing is completed by a professional printer or production provider, the artist must retain creative control over the final product and disclose the printing process in the application.

Artist-Produced Merchandise
Artist-produced merchandise featuring the artist’s own original artwork may be offered for sale but may not exceed 20% of the total visible booth display.

Examples may include greeting cards, stickers, calendars, apparel, mugs, magnets, puzzles, or similar items featuring the artist’s own original artwork or designs.
Commercially sourced merchandise that does not feature the artist’s original work, wholesale merchandise, buy/sell products, and unrelated retail goods are not permitted.

Reproductions and artist-produced merchandise combined may not exceed 50% of the total visible booth display, and artist-produced merchandise alone may not exceed 20%.

WAITLIST
A waitlist will be created based on jury results and festival needs.

Waitlisted artists may be offered participation when an opening becomes available within their category. Waitlist invitations will be communicated through ZAPPlication and/or email.

Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee acceptance.

RULES & REGULATIONS

• Lazy Daze is open to all eligible artists who submit a complete application.
• All work exhibited and sold must comply with the requirements of the category in which the artist was accepted.
• Artists may sell only work represented by and consistent with the body of work accepted by the jury.
• Only artists accepted in Jewelry may display or sell jewelry.
• Each accepted artist must be present during the festival and actively participate in the operation of their booth. No representatives or booth subletting are permitted.
• Photo identification may be required at artist check-in.
• A maximum of two non-collaborating artists may share one booth space when approved through the application process.
• No more than three artists may collaborate on a single body of original artwork. All collaborating artists must be identified on the application and must be present at Lazy Daze.
• Artists are responsible for providing their own tent, tables, chairs, displays, and other booth equipment.
• Artists must comply with festival staff, public safety personnel, and uniformed security regarding site safety and festival operations.
• Vehicles may be parked only in designated areas.
• Failure to comply with vehicle, load-in, load-out, or safety instructions may affect eligibility for future Cary festivals.
• On-site consumption of alcoholic beverages by exhibiting artists during festival hours is prohibited.
• The Festival reserves the right to determine whether displayed work complies with the accepted application and festival standards.

Artists retain all revenue from the sale of their work. No commission on sales is due to the Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival. Artists are responsible for collecting and reporting the North Carolina-Wake County sales tax (7.25%) on any sales. For more information, please visit the North Carolina Department of Revenue web site.

The Festival Committee reserves the right to deny entrance into the festival to any artist whose work is deemed to be inappropriate or to not meet the festival's standards. The Committee also reserves the right to remove from the show (without refund) any exhibit that is not comparable to the submitted images. The work on display must be the same as the images submitted with the application. 

BOOTH INFORMATION
Booth spaces are assigned in the following order of priority:

1. Jerry Miller Award Winners in their jury exempt period (meaning artists who won an award at the previous Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival).
2. Returning artists wanting the same space as the previous calendar year.
3. Returning artists from previous calendar year wanting to move.
4. New artists and returning artists that did not show in previous calendar year.
5. Artists admitted from the waitlist.

Booth Fees
$250 per 10 x 10 single booth space for Cary, NC residents.
$500 per 10 x 20 double booth space for Cary, NC residents.
$275 per 10 x 10 single booth space for non-Cary residents.
$550 per 10 x 20 double booth space for non-Cary residents.
$137.50 per space for shared 10x10 booth spaces.
$50 additional for a corner space (based on availability)
$75 additional for electricity (based on availability)

Each booth is 10 ft. wide x 10 ft. deep. Artists must provide all tents, tables and necessary display equipment and should bring adequate overhead sun/moisture protection and come prepared with materials for leveling tables and displays. Tents must be secured with a minimum of 40 pounds per corner. No staking is permitted. There is a maximum of two (2) adjoining spaces per exhibitor.
 
Each artist must be on-site during the festival to staff his / her booth. No representatives or subletting is allowed. There is a maximum of two (2) artists sharing a space.

REFUNDS
Refund Policy for Artists and Vendors – Cary Art Daze Festivals

Cancellation by Vendor or Artist:
If the vendor or artist needs to cancel their participation in any Cary Art Daze festival, they must notify the event organizers in writing as soon as possible at caryartdaze@carync.gov. If refunds are approved, they will be processed within 30 days of receiving written notice of cancellation from the artist or vendor. Refunds will be issued via the original payment method used for the booth fee or by check as determined by event organizers. Refunds for booth fees will be processed according to the following schedule:

- Application Fees – Non-refundable
- Cancellation at least 30 days prior to event – Full refund of booth fee.
- Cancellation less than 30 days prior to event – No refund of booth fee*
- Additional purchases (Lunches, t-shirts, etc.) - Non-refundable

No Show Policy:
If a vendor or artist does not show up for the event without prior notification to the event organizers, they will forfeit their booth fee and are ineligible for a refund.

*Medical / Emergency Exemption Policy:
If a vendor needs to cancel their participation in a Cary Art Daze festival due to a medical emergency, they may be eligible for a full or partial refund of their booth fees. To be considered for a refund, the vendor or artist must provide documentation stating the reason why they are unable to participate in the event. Refunds will be processed on case-by-case basis and the event organizers reserve the right to request additional documentation. Participants requesting a medical or emergency exemption should submit their refund request via email to caryartdaze@carync.gov.

Ineligible Vendors:
If a vendor is deemed ineligible for participation in a Cary Art Daze festival (by the event organizers), fees will be refunded at the discretion of the Festival and Events Supervisor. Application fees are non-refundable. If an artist is deemed ineligible by festival quality control, they may be asked to leave and will be excluded from future Cary Art Daze Festivals.

Accidental / Duplicate Purchases:
Accidental purchases, overcharges, duplicate booth charges, etc. should request a refund via email to caryartdaze@carync.gov prior to the refund deadline. Fees will be refunded at the discretion of the Festival and Events Supervisor and the Cary Festivals Committee.