Description

2025 Highland County Maple Festival Vendor Application and Rules of Participation

March 8 – 9 and 15 – 16, 2025 • Highland County, Virginia

www.highlandcounty.org/maple-festival

Sponsored by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce

** ROUND 1 VENDOR APPLICATIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN END OF DAY ON OCTOBER 31, 2024 **

The annual Highland County Maple Festival is held throughout Highland County during the second and third weekends in March.  Since 1959, visitors have been drawn to Highland County for a cultural and culinary adventure!  Each year, 20,000 – 30,000 visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of producing maple syrup.  Over 100 high-quality juried arts, crafts, and food vendors are an integral part of the festival alongside sugar camp tours, pancake meals, and entertainment.  This time-honored tradition has won audience-voted awards such as Best Festival of the Shenandoah Valley region in Virginia Living’s 2024, 2023, and 2022 Best of Virginia magazine, and Best Unique Festival in the Best of the Blue Ridge 2024 and 2023 Reader’s Choice Awards from Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.  We’re glad to have you apply to be a part of the experience!

Vendors are jury-reviewed for uniqueness, quality, and diversity of merchandise.  Vendors are set up at seven unique locations with interior and exterior options in Highland County during the following times:

• Saturday, March 8th from 9 am – 5 pm
• Sunday, March 9th from 9 am – 4 pm
• Saturday, March 15th from 9 am – 5 pm
• Sunday, March 16th from 9 am – 4 pm

In 2025, the Highland County Chamber of Commerce will be following the recommended CDC and VDH guidelines regarding COVID-19 current at the time of the festival. 

To apply for the 2025 Highland County Maple Festival:

• Please provide all requested information on the application.  After entering your email address, you will first choose whether you'd like an inside space, outside space, or a new 8' x 8' inside space option.  If you choose an inside or outside space, you will then choose your top choices among multiple options located in Monterey and McDowell.  Every effort will be made to place accepted vendors in their top choice, but the Chamber will ultimately place vendors as needed to optimize the show.  All fees include both festival weekends – 4 days total.
• Please provide 5 photographs of product (merchandise, food, etc.) to be sold, including 1 photo of your booth setup.  A website that includes the photos is also acceptable.  (Include business name on digital photo titles or on the backs of all mailed photos.)
• You can add electricity and/or additional spaces at the end of the application.
• Please FULLY READ the Vendor Agreement and acknowledge by checking the box at the end of the form.
• After filling out all the information, you can choose to submit payment online or be sent an invoice.  Payment is expected in full before October 31, 2024.  After the review process, any unaccepted applicants will receive their application fee payment back in full.
  
  *** IMPORTANT!!! AFTER SUBMITTING, PLEASE DO NOT EXIT UNTIL YOU REACH THE CONFIRMATION NOTIFICATION SCREEN. THIS MAY TAKE A FEW MINUTES UNTIL THE "SPINNING CIRCLE" DISAPPEARS. For physical payments, please enclose a check or money order payable to the Highland County Chamber of Commerce.  * There will be a $25.00 service fee for any returned checks.

Members of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce with a physical location in Highland County receive a $50 discount on their application in the form a refund if accepted.  Please contact the Chamber if you are interested in joining. 

We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable, and profitable festival!

Highland County Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 223

Monterey, VA 24465

(540) 468-2550  •  director@highlandcounty.org  •  www.highlandcounty.org