Form: Farmer's Market Application & Participation Agreement
General Rules and Regulations for the 2024 season
Downtown Visions shall enforce all Market Rules and Regulations. Permission to participate in the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market (DWFM) can be revoked by Downtown Visions and/or the City of Wilmington at any time. These rules are mandatory for all farmers, food vendors and artisans (collectively called vendors) participating in the DWFM and are part of the agreement for participants.
1) Hours of Operation
Wednesdays: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
DWFM tent vendor arrival and set-up: 8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
DWFM food truck arrival and set-up 10am - 10:30am
DWFM vendor breakdown and leaving: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. All vendors must vacate Rodney Square by 3:00 p.m.
All vehicles must be removed from the market area by 10:00 a.m. Vendors agree to open for business at 10:00 a.m. and to stay open for business until 2:00 p.m., unless otherwise pre-arranged with Market Manager (Tucker Casey). If you arrive late to the market you may lose the opportunity to vend for the day.
2) Market Schedule
The Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market will be held weekly from May 1, 2024 through October 30, 2024. There will be no market on June 19, 2024 because of the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Rodney Square.
3) Absences
Vendors are asked to give 24-hours notice if they cannot attend a weekly Market. If an emergency arises preventing your attendance, please contact the Tucker Casey at (302) 425-0196 or tcasey@downtownvisions.org
If a vendor does not arrive on-site by 9:45 a.m., unless otherwise pre-arranged with Market Manager, his/her assigned or pre-paid space will be considered vacant for that day and DWFM staff reserves the right to fill vacant spaces at that time with other vendors.
4) Parking
Daily parking passes will be given out on a First Come Basis (25). If you purchase a space for the year and are paid in full before the start of the 2024 season you will receive a parking pass for the full market season, these passes are located at 11th and King St. Vendors will be issued a Vendor Parking Pass for either the WPA lot at 8th & Orange Streets or the King Street meters. Vendors must have their vehicles in the designated area no later than 10:00 a.m. A total of 25 parking passes will be given out, if you do not get one you will have to pay for your own parking. NO Parking at Handicap meters at any time.
Please display your parking pass on your dashboard. Downtown Visions and the City of Wilmington are not responsible for any parking tickets incurred by vendors or customers at the DWFM.
5) Market Fees
Downtown Visions establishes rental fees for tents and spaces at the Farmers Market. The DWFM staff will collect fees at the end of each market day. Vendors also have the option of paying fees in advance. Please see below for options. Downtown Visions will continue to offer vendors the option to pay space and tent rental fees on-site (by check or cash only) on a weekly basis.
Payment Information
The fee for a 10 x 10 space at the Market is $25 (flat rate) per space per day on a pay-as-you-go basis. If you require more than a 10x10 space, you will need to reserve 2 spaces, each at $25. This includes both space on the grass and the stone walk area. *All food trucks will be charged $50.00 per market day. Pre-paid food truck space for the 25 weeks of the 2024 season $1,250.00. All payments must be made by April 1, 2024. Space is available on a first-come basis with the approval of the Market Manager.
Daily fees will be collected at the end of each Market day.
If you would like to be a RESERVED/PREPAID vendor, you can prepay. Total prepayment for the 2024 season is $300.00. Also included in pre-payment is first choice picking your vendor space and parking on King Street or 12th Street. Pre-payments can be made by mailing a check, payable to Downtown Visions, to the address below on or before April 1, 2024. All pre-payments must be received by April 1, 2024. This applies to season prepayments only. Please do not mail pay-as-you-go, weekly payments.
NO REFUNDS will be issued for prepaid vendor space for any reason. NO REFUNDS/Credits will be issued for RAIN events. If you set up for the market day, you will be charged for the vendor’s space.
6) Spaces
The DWFM staff will assign all tents and locations. Space preference will be given to those vendors who pay in advance. Please see above for advanced payment options. While we try to locate vendors in the same spot each week, there are no guarantees that they will have the same space each week and will be assigned a location according to space availability. Reserved/Prepaid vendors are guaranteed their location only when they are present at the market. The DWFM Staff reserves the right to use their space if they are absent from the Market or if they fail to arrive onsite by 9:45 a.m. without prior notice to Market Manager.
7) Tents
All vendors must obtain a 10x10' pop-up (EZ-Up) tent as there is no shade/rain protection in Rodney Square. All vendors must have weights available in case of strong gusts of wind. Tents with guide/support lines are strictly prohibited. Please contact Market Manager for more information.
The Downtown Wilmington Farmers’ Market may be able to accommodate requests from Vendors for additional/multiple 10x10’ tent rentals. Please contact the Market Manager for availability and pricing as the tent inventory is limited.
Tables and Chairs
All vendors are required to supply their own tables and chairs each week. The DWFM will not store tables for Vendors. The café tables and chairs are for customer use and are not to be used by vendors.
Sales People at the Tents
People knowledgeable of the items for sale must be present in vendor tents at all times during the DWFM.
Children under the age of 16 will not be allowed to sell unless accompanied by an adult knowledgeable of the items for sale.
Vendors must be dressed appropriately for working with the public.
8) General Rules/Code of Conduct
The market is a Farmers Market. We would like to encourage the sale of farm products, however, lunch food, craft, bakery, and other items will be allowed, as market demand dictates.
All vendors are responsible for liability insurance and compliance with any/all requirements of the State of Delaware.
All items for sale will be marked as such with clear pricing.
Any scale used for determining price will display a current legal inspection sticker.
All vendors will display their products in a clean and safe manner.
At the close of market vendors will clean their immediate area and remove all boxes, packing materials and trash.
Vendors should operate their business in a professional manner at all times.
This is not a discount market. Anyone engaging in price wars may be removed from the market. Fraudulent, dishonest or deceptive merchandising will result in removal from the market.
All vendors and non-profit vendors must work and stay in the 10X10 space allotted to them. No vendor will be permitted to do carnival barking or walk the event area and had out flyers or information.
Vendors and non-profits will not be permitted to collect personal information from market goers. (email’s, phone numbers, addresses etc.)
Fees collected will be used for advertising and maintenance of the market area and other operational expenses.
The DWFM staff (market manager, assistants, Department of Parks employees, volunteers, and community service workers), and DWFM vendors and customers will not be subject to language or actions considered to be abusive, profane, threatening, or harassing.
Solicitation for products, services, or charitable contributions, not specifically addressed as a market commodity, or by vendors other than market vendors, will not be permitted, except with special permission granted by the DWFM Staff.
All Vendors will be responsible for the actions of their employees and/or agents.
Possession of firearms, fireworks, gambling, use of alcohol or drugs, or disorderly conduct by a Vendor or his/her employees or agent also constitutes a violation of Market Rules.
Vendors and non-profits will not be permitted to collect personal information from market goers. (email’s, phone numbers, addresses etc.)
2024 Downtown Farmer's Market
Produced and managed by Downtown Visions and the City of Wilmington
May 1, 2024– October 30, 2024
See General Rules and Regulations including parking for the 2024 season below the form, left.
About the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market
Founded in 1988 by Mayor James M. Baker the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market is an important part of the City’s goal of downtown revitalization. The market provides farmers, crafters, bakers, and other vendors an opportunity to sell their products directly to citizens and tourists alike and to foster a sense of community in Wilmington. In addition to fresh produce, the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market offers live entertainment, café tables with umbrellas for tasty lunch items, and a comprehensive crafts and artisan market, featuring handmade items for sale. The demographic of the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market spans all ages, races, and socio-economic and educational backgrounds, attracting locals and visitors alike to enjoy all of the good things offered at the Market each week. Produced by Downtown Visions and the City of Wilmington, the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market showcases an average of more than 30 vendors. The Market is centrally located in Rodney Square (between Market and King Streets and 10th & 11th Streets) and offers 25 free parking spaces for vendors, use of public restrooms, and other amenities. It is estimated that approximately 2500 customers visit the Downtown Wilmington Farmers Market each Wednesday.