ARTS & CRAFT MARKET 

The Beaufort Water Festival attracts crafters from all over the state and the southeast with some having made the trip to Beaufort for more than a decade. Whatever your taste or budget, you’ll be sure to find something at the Beaufort Water Festival’s Craft Market.

1st Weekend:
Friday 2pm – 7pm
Saturday 9:30am – 7pm
Sunday 9:30am – 5pm

​2nd Weekend:
Friday 12pm – 7pm
Saturday 9:30am – 7pm
Sunday 9:30am – 3pm

​Full 10 Days:
Friday 2pm – 7pm
Saturday 9:30am – 7pm
Sunday 9:30am – 5pm
Monday – Friday: 12pm – 7pm
Saturday 9:30am – 7pm
Sunday 9:30am – 3pm​

 Application Information, Rules and Procedures

The application must be completed in full and signed. Your signature indicates that you have read and agree to abide by the rules. Please READ thoroughly!                                                    

1. ​Accepted exhibitors will be notified by email. A deposit of 50 percent of the booth space(s) rental must be sent within ten (10) days from that approval email. We accept cash, checks, and money orders. Exhibitors not accepted into the show will be notified by our Craft Market Director. Payment in full will be required by the final due date of June 15, 2026. If payment is not received by the final due date, the deposit and spot in the Beaufort Water Festival Craft Market will be forfeited.
2. An accepted application is a commitment to show, and NO REFUND will be made for cancellations after the show application deadline. NO EXCEPTIONS. 
3. Application Deadline: June 1, 2026.     $50 discount if application and payment are received in full by May 1, 2026.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION, RULES, AND PROCEDURES:

1. Photographs (no slides or emails of pictures) are required with your initial application. Photographs must be a clear and accurate representation of the size, style, and quality of work to be exhibited with a description on the back or accompanying attachment. Photographs will not be returned. Exhibitors must submit the following photographs with this application: 
2. Exhibitors may only sell work that is represented in the submitted photographs. Anyone who displays work not described on the application or represented in the photographs will be asked to remove this work. 
3. The Beaufort Water Festival Jury will have the sole decision on the acceptability of work(s) and compliance. Acceptance is based on several factors, which include, but are not limited to, originality and quality of work(s). The Beaufort Water Festival reserves the right to limit the number of exhibitors in any one category to maintain a quality selection for the festival. Most decisions on acceptance/denial will begin as applications are received.
4. All items displayed for sale must be original work. Work must be done by the exhibitor and not by employees or staff. This means no mass-produced crafts, cottage industry, kits or handcrafted imports will be accepted. All clothing must be individually submitted for approval, including items embellished, altered, or decorated. If you did not make it, please do not bring it. This is an arts & crafts show – no Buy/Sell items allowed. Exhibitors must make all items and be present at the show. No representatives or agents are allowed. Quality is required. Weapons and/or sexually explicit items are prohibited.
5. No political agenda, materials, art, crafts, propaganda, or messages to be included in the craft market or items for sale.  Campaign material cannot be distributed. 
6. ​Artists must provide a tent, tables, and the entire display. Please present a professional appearance when setting up your booth. Tables must be skirted to the ground preferably with a cloth tablecloth, and storage boxes kept out of sight. No Sale or Discount signs are permitted.
7. Booth space is approximately 10’ x 10’ (White Tent Preferred). Extending your space is prohibited. If you need more room, you must rent another space. NO STAKES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED TO SECURE YOUR TENT TO THE GROUND, displays, or display your work.
8. This is an outdoor event. Please come prepared for all weather situations. It can become windy on the Waterfront Park -tents should be weighed down and properly secured with sandbags or weights. A suggested minimum of 40 lb. weights are needed for all four corners/legs of the tent. NO REFUNDS will be given due to the weather conditions. The Beaufort Water Festival is not responsible for any damage to vendor equipment, product, etc., that may be caused from undesirable weather conditions. The Beaufort Water Festival will provide electricity. Our supply of electricity is not endless, so we ask that you limit your use of lights and fans (small box fans are permitted) Make sure to bring ample extension cords. 
9. All Crafts are confined to your assigned booth. No soliciting is allowed in the park, streets, or parking lots. 
10. Please be present at all times during exhibit hours. Only one vendor is allowed per rented space. Relocating your booth is strictly prohibited. 
11. Participants must have their booths open for business during the operation of show hours. Please ensure you have enough products to sell for the week or weekend, whichever pertains. Many people travel long distances to visit these exhibits, thus it is important we provide the service they are seeking. Failure to have your booth open for exhibit during assigned days and times will be cause for dismissal from the show and future shows. If some unforeseen event may occur, preventing you from keeping your booth open on assigned days, you must contact the Craft Market Director. Any problems that may arise will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 
12. In support of nightly entertainment, Craft Show vendors have the option of remaining open during extended hours every evening except Sunday, July 19, 2026 and Sunday, July 27, 2026. Extended hours are from 7pm-10pm. Beaufort Water Festival reserves the right to change these hours as needed.  For more information on Craft Market Hours, please see below.
13. The Beaufort Water Festival Jurors and staff will check booths periodically throughout the festival for compliance with admission requirements and following Water Festival rules, policies, and procedures as outlined in this application. If determined that you are not in compliance, you will be first warned and then asked to leave if you do not make corrections. Your entry fee will not be refunded. 
14. There will be a $35.00 surcharge added to any checks returned for insufficient funds and possible rejection from the festival; this fee (along with the face value of the check) must be received four weeks before festival opening and must be in the form of Cash, Money Order or Official Bank Check. Failure to do so promptly will result in the exhibitor being rejected from this and all future festivals. 
15. Unloading and loading of vehicles will be limited. You will not be able to park your vehicle and/or trailer near the craft market area. Only one exhibitor vehicle unloading/ loading pass will be provided. Unloading/loading information will be given in the acceptance letter. The Beaufort Water Festival will tow any vehicle it deems in violation of the unloading/loading/parking policy. 
16. Each vendor is responsible for collecting and reporting South Carolina Sales Tax. For more information, contact the SC Department of Revenue, Post Office Box 4288, Beaufort, SC 29901. 
17. Each vendor is responsible for obtaining any/all licenses that may be required. 
18. The release of balloons is not allowed pursuant to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Beaufort, South Carolina, Part 3, Chapter 2, Section 3-2001.
19. Beaufort has a ban on single-use plastic bags pursuant to the Code of Ordinances of Beaufort County, South Carolina. Chapter 38, Article 6. Be sure to consider this as you prepare to sell your products.
20. All rules and procedures must be adhered to. Non-compliance with any admission requirement will cause for banishment from future Water Festivals. Please conduct your business in a professional manner. 

Craft Market Hours:

• Friday, July 17, 2 pm-7 pm
• ​Mon – Fri (July 20-24) 12 pm-7 pm
• Sat, July 18, 9:30 am-7 pm & Sat, July 25, 9:30 am-7 pm
• ​Sun, July 19, 9:30 am-5 pm & Sun, July 26, 9:30 am-3 pm

Set-Up and Breakdown Times:
Please complete the breakdown before 7:00 PM. Please also remember to take all the items you brought to the park.

Full 10 Days:
SETUP DATE/TIME:  Friday, July 17, assigned time only**
BREAKDOWN DATE/TIME:Sunday, July 26 at 3 pm

1st Weekend:
SETUP DATE/TIME:   Friday, July 17, assigned time only**
BREAKDOWN DATE/TIME:   Sunday, July 19 at 5 pm

2nd Weekend:
SETUP DATE/TIME:  Friday, July 24, assigned time only**
BREAKDOWN DATE/TIME:  Sunday, July 26 at 3 pm

CHECKLIST:
◻ Completed and signed application/contract 
◻Uploaded Photographs of your raw materials, your works in progress, your final product, and your 10X10 display 
◻ Check or Money Order for a deposit of 50% of the booth space(s) fee made payable to: Beaufort Water Festival

Beaufort Water Festival, Attn: Craft Market, Post Office Box 52, Beaufort, SC 29901-0052
For further questions or additional information, please visit our website at www.BftWaterFestival.com​

Print and Mail  Application:

~or~

---