Location: Downtown Hays County Courthouse - 111 San Antonio Street San Marcos, Texas
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBITTING APPLICATION
UPDATE as of April 3rd! - The Mermaid Promenade and Downtown Street Faire will now be held on September 28th, both this year and on the Fourth Saturday of September in the future.
We recently had an opportunity to change the date, and after careful consideration, we decided to make the leap. We've heard the concerns over the years about the heat, so we're crossing our fingers that this time of the month will bring cooler weather!
We invite you to take part in the 8th Annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest – Downtown Street Faire - a curated market featuring an eclectic variety of artisan vendors! This event is scheduled for September 28th from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Downtown Street Faire immediately follows the Downtown Mermaid Promenade scheduled from 10:00 a.m. – Noon.
The Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest is created to celebrate San Marcos’ vibrant community while highlighting the San Marcos River. In 2023 the festival featured over 100 parade entries, 140 artisan vendors and over 7,000+ festival-goers. The Downtown Street Faire artisan booths will be located on the courthouse grounds and adjacent streets around the Square to include LBJ and San Antonio streets. The selected streets will be closed to traffic to allow for this grand event. Live music, cultural dance performances, artisan booths, food courts, and downtown pubs and restaurants will all be part of the 2024 Downtown Street Faire experience!
Join the fun! Please complete the following application - this is a curated artisan market and booth spaces are limited! Submitting an application does not guarantee you a space. Vendors will be selected based on criteria to include but not limited to quality of products and uniqueness of business. Artisans creating handcrafted wares and the like are highly encouraged to apply.
Requirements, Documentation and Fees
Please note, past participation does not guarantee acceptance to this years Fest. All artisan vendor applications will undergo a “First-Time” review process by our team to ensure required documentation is received and the quality of artwork and handcrafted goods/creative services meet the standards for participation. Once approved, you'll be added to our APPROVED Artisan Vendor List and won't be required to repeat the application review process again unless significant changes are made to your artwork/handcrafted goods/creative services. We'll periodically send a “call for artist” email invite to the Approved Artisan Vendor List for participation in our events throughout the year. Please note that receiving an email invitation for artisan event participation will be on a “first-come basis” specific to the category of artwork, as we aim to not over saturate representation of featured handcrafted goods.
* If you are selling pre-packaged food (honey, beef jerky, etc) mark "Farmers Market" in the Category Selection below. Otherwise, please fill out the Food Vendor Application if you wish to be a food vendor - mobile food trailer, food cart or booth space.
Completed Application
Images (directions included on Application) 3 images of products and 1 booth sent up including tent shot. All images MUST be sent as a
jpg or png from your email - not from phone, please. If images do not follow
this format you will not be considered. (You will receive a confirmation reply
to the email you send the images from. If you do NOT receive an email
confirmation within 3 days of emailing your images, we have NOT received them.
Please contact us as sometimes emails do not make it to us.)
Texas State Sales Tax Permit Number (If you do not have your TX STPN here is the link : https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/permit/. There is no charge for this permit). All tax collection and reporting is vendors responsibility.
10x10 White Tent -Required for Artisan Vendors. This will be enforced this year and you will not be able to participate in the event.
Artists must be present for the duration of the Street Faire unless arrangements are made with Director.
If you are accepted to this years event, you will receive an
email with payment link sent to you directly to secure your spot. Please note,
your payment is your reservation and location will be determined on a
first-to-pay basis.
Booth Fees
$135 Street Level Booth (10x10)
$150 Courthouse Level Booth (10x10)
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Application Opens to General Public: March 11
- Application Deadline: May 30
- Notification of Acceptance: No Later than June 15
- Payment due upon Acceptance
- 8th Annual Mermaid Capital of Texas Fest: Sept 28
Day of Event Schedule:
- Vendor Set-up - 7:00 am to 9am
- Downtown Mermaid Promenade - 10am to NOON
- Downtown Street Faire - 12pm to 6pm
- Live Music - 1pm to 6pm
- Vendors take-down - 6:00 -7pm
**This event will take place outdoors RAIN or SHINE. Please plan accordingly.**
EVENT RULES AND POLICIES
1. NO USE of GLITTER or any type of micro trash to decorate your booth or costuming allowed. Includes glue on jeweled body embellishments.
Just don’t! We aim to be environmentally friendly during the festival.
2. Each vendor MUST HAVE their own trash receptacle located at their booth for use by patrons.
3. Booth spaces are 10x10. You must provide your own tent, tables, supplies, change, etc.
* WHITE TENTS ARE REQUIRED. You will not be allowed to set up if you do not have a white tent.
4. Set up will begin at 7:00 am for Courthouse and 8:00 am for Street. Take-down is at 6pm. Vendors are not permitted to arrive any earlier and must remain open for the entirety of the event, even if you have exhausted supplies. Vendors who do not adhere to the event published times will not be invited to submit for future events. We ask that you pause booth operations during the Mermaid Promenade and enjoy the show! The Mermaid Promenade takes place 10:00 a.m. - Noon along LBJ Street.
5. Live music will be performed throughout the day. Music is not allowed at individual booth spaces. Please note there will be parade speakers set up along the parade route. They will only be used during and shortly after the parade.
6. All booth areas must be cleaned by vendors after the event. TAKE WHAT YOU BRING! Bring your own trash bags and depart with your trash. Zip ties and other trash left behind at your booth space will be taken to account for future event opportunities. HELP Keep San Marcos Beautiful! A dumpster will be located at the corner of San Antonio Street/Guadalupe Street.
7. Vendors may only sell the items listed on their application. New items may not be added after acceptance has been granted. Any vendor who adds new product(s) without prior approval from event staff may result in not being able to participate or may forfeit their participation for future events. Please be specific in your description of items you wish to sell.
8. Social Media - IMPORTANT! Vendors are required to RSVP on the Mermaid Capital of Texas event page and add our event page to their Facebook business page. We will send you the link in your acceptance email.
LIKE us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on festival activity. We highly encourage you to actively INVITE and SHARE the Mermaid Capital of Texas festival event page with your network.
Mermaid Society SMTX Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/mermaidsocietysmtx
Should you have any questions please email us
at registration@mermaidsocietysmtx.com or call
Jamie Lynn Shelton, Event Director 512-214-2589.
** By Submitting this Application you are agreeing to adhere to the rules and policies outlined above. **
