Cleveland Bazaar is Northeast Ohio's longest running indie handmade event. We've been doing shows since 2004 in spaces all over Cleveland, and continue to grow from year to year. We added Akron Bazaar events in 2023. Applications for all shows will continue to be processed using Cleveland's original Submittable account.
We welcome applications from artists outside Northeast Ohio, especially for our larger holiday shows, and we particularly welcome applications from artists typically underrepresented at handmade events. All shows are juried, so some product categories are more competitive than others.
Cleveland Bazaar has a longstanding tradition of being welcoming and inclusive, and of treating our fellow artists like family. We expect that you will treat your peers with respect and consideration, and that you will do your best to help promote and otherwise make the shows a success.
All Bazaar applications will be made using Submittable, and all billing* will be done via Xero invoice unless other arrangements are made. (You can use PayPal to pay these invoices).
*Timely invoice payments are expected; unless you have communicated with the show organizers for an extension, you risk losing your place if you do not pay on time.
Hello and welcome!
Cleveland Bazaar will return to Market Square Park in Ohio City May-October in 2025 and our maker application is now open! With the addition of Akron Bazaar in 2023 we are also continuing to hold events throughout the year there.
Deadline for all summer applications is March seventeenth 2025.
You must have all application materials submitted by that date to be considered, and we have instituted a $15 jurying fee to ensure only serious applicants. This covers all events listed on this application and is a non-returnable, one time fee. Please note that our events are handmade- and local designer-focused and we do not accept MLM sellers such as LuLaRoe, Jamberry, etc.
PRICING.
Each event varies in price. Market Square is always $75. We expect Akron ArtWalk events to be the same pending our final contract with ArtSpace. Food truck events will vary from $99 to $149 depending on length.
ABOUT THE VENUES
Market Square Park Held in the park across from the West Side Market from 10-4:00, this show gets extra traffic from not only the Market but also other events happening in the neighborhood. You will need a 10x10' tent. Spaces are $75 per date.
Summit ArtSpace Akron's home for artists featuring studio space, galleries and more. We will be on the third floor (there is an elevator) for the March show and may move outside for the summer shows if weather permits / building construction becomes an issue. This will also be our only venue for the holiday show this year.
[Food Truck Festivals, various] We partnered with Happy Camper Bar Car at two of their festivals last year with much success and will be expanding in both Cleveland and Akron this year.
Jurying, acceptance and billing: Your jury fee is nonrefundable and was instituted many years ago to ensure serious applicants only. Each show date is $75 and payment is expected before day of show. You will receive bills via email for each show to which you are accepted. If you cannot do one or more of the shows you've been selected for, please email us ASAP so we can replace you.
Your responsibilities as a Bazaar vendor: We expect you to do your part in promoting the events. We have a private vendor group on Facebook if you need help, and you will be invited to join if you aren't already a member. If you are accepted you will receive instructions, graphics and more to help you with promotion. If you can't or won't take the time to promote the shows you are in, please do not apply.
Cleveland Bazaar is northeast Ohio's longest-running indie handmade holiday popup. We got our start at what is now 78th Street Studios in 2004 and have steadily expanded in the years since. We hosted our first holiday show in Akron in 2023.
Bazaar prides itself on being an inclusive, welcoming environment for makers, artists and small businesses at all levels of development, and we have an active private online community that provides support and education year-round. Forget the buzzwords. We're about doing business, having fun doing it, and finding like-minded makers who can help each other along the way. If that sounds good to you, read on!
This form will allow you to apply to all currently-scheduled holiday Bazaar shows in 2025. We are opening applications as early as we can to give you additional time to plan your show schedule for the year. The dates for each show are as follows:
- WinterLand/5th Street Arcades: Saturday November 29th, $99
- Akron Bazaar: Friday November 28th through 30th, $199
- Lake Affect Studios: Saturday December 6th, $99
- 78th Street Studios: Saturday December 13th-Sunday December 14th, $249
We have established a $15 administrative/jurying fee for applications to encourage only serious applicants. We are a handmade only show, which means we do not accept MLM vendors such as Lularoe, Jamberry, doTerra, etc.
Akron Bazaar will be held solely at Summit Artspace this year.
We are a juried show, which means that your application will go in front of multiple people who will rank your application based on the information you supply. Applications in various categories are then compared against each other and rank ordered. Some categories are more popular than others (jewelry is particularly full every year).
We strive for a balance of quality, a variety of price points across all exhibitors, and a number of other factors on the individual seller level, including success at previous Bazaar events, effective social media usage, and active promotion of prior Bazaar shows, if any.
The last point is very important: we are far more effective when we work together. For the holiday shows we provide a hands on, how-to guide with instructions and expectations for pre-show social media promotion by our accepted sellers. If everyone does their part, EVERYONE succeeds. If you are accepted please understand we will expect you to participate, or ask for help if needed.