Thanks for your interest in Main Street Trade Days in La Porte!  Our main goal is to have FUN, re-home our items, and leave the customer with the yearning to return for all upcoming Trade Days!  Your cooperation will help us with this goal! The following information is provided to assist with the ease of participating in this event. Events are held the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These are general guidelines. Event-specific information will be provided via email on the Thursday or Friday just prior to the event.

Participation Process

Events are organized one month at a time. An email in preparation for the next month is sent out the Wednesday following the Saturday event, around 11 a.m., with instructions on how to request a spot. As an approved vendor, you are the only one approved to sell in your spot and for items you submitted on your application. You may not transfer your spot to another vendor, add a vendor to your spot, or add items without pre-approval.  

Fees/Spot Availability

There is a $15 fee for regular spots and a $20 fee for pavilion spots. You are not permitted to pay without receiving the payment link from the event coordinator. There are 9 spots under a covered pavilion, and the remainder of spots are out in the open. Pavilion spots are first come first serve (meaning the first 9 to pay after receipt of the payment link). Canopies are allowed in all spots but not required. We limit the number of spots for like vendors based on the first to reply to the email and complete payment. Fees must be paid within 72 hours of spot confirmation to reserve your space. If payment is not received within 72 hours, we reserve the right to move on to the next vendor. The vendor fee is non-refundable unless the event is cancelled by the event planner. If the event is cancelled, a 50% account credit will be issued to those vendors on the roster at the time of cancellation. If a vendor cancels prior to the official event cancellation, no credit will be issued.

Set Up/Breakdown

Set up starts at 7:30 or 7:45 a.m. based on your assigned spot. We expect all vendors to be set up and ready to go by 9:30 a.m. and stay until 2 p.m. An email will be sent out the Thursday or Friday just prior to the event with the spot location, map and specific event related information. Please make sure to dispose of any trash in your area when packing up. If you pack up or leave before 2p, you will be precluded from participating in future events.

Space

 Each vendor will be assigned a 10 x10 space. Your displays should be sturdy and wind resistant as we often have a breeze/wind. Canopies are allowed but not required. Canopies must be secured with 25 pounds of weight per leg (or stakes if your assigned spot is in a grassy area). Canopies must be secured as soon as they are put up. Umbrellas are not allowed. You will need to provide your own tables/displays. Electricity is available on a limited basis and must be requested when you request a spot. Music within your booth space must be kept at a low level. Pets must be public friendly, kept on a leash at all times and any pet waste disposed of by the vendor. Smoking is not encouraged in your booth; please respect your neighbors and step behind your booth or another open area. Please dispose of smoking materials properly. We do our best to treat for ants but sometimes they have a mind of their own so feel free to bring your own ant repellent/poison.

Items

Items must be antique, collectible, vintage, repurposed, handmade or cottage foods. If items are not within these guidelines, you will be asked to remove them from the event and any future violations will result in the removal from the event. Items should be displayed in a pleasing fashion.  If you change the items you initially submitted with your application, you must obtain permission to add new items; this helps in limiting like vendors and promoting diversity for shoppers.

No Shows/Vendor Cancellations

The success of this event is largely tied to the vendors so it is important if you commit to a spot, you show up..we are counting on you! We understand life happens, so if something comes up, please communicate with Kelley at 713-824-2504. If you commit and do not show or communicate with us, you will be removed from future events.

Weather

Sunshine…that’s what we want! In the event mother nature doesn’t agree, the event will be cancelled. If the event is cancelled, vendors will be informed by email by 6 a.m. the morning of the event. For bakers and vendors of perishable items, a rainout plan is available. More information will be provided to said vendors at time of payment confirmation. It is hard to predict the weather, so we encourage all vendors to bring plastic/tarps just in case rain blows in!

Pricing

Pricing of goods sold at the event (and applicable tax) is solely the responsibility of the vendor. Please bring adequate monetary change to support your sales.

Licensing/Permits

It is the responsibility of the vendor to know and maintain the proper licensing/permits for their item. If food is being sold, it is the vendor’s responsibility to know what is required by Harris County Health Dept. Please visit the Harris County Health Department at, www.publichealth.harriscountytx.gov. And for more info on cottage food https://texascottagefoodlaw.com/

Correspondence

All event related correspondence will originate from mainstreettradedays@visitlaportetx.com. Fees will be paid via a link sent from this email. You will never be asked to submit payment via any social media post.