Vendor Application

Regular Season Market (June-October)

We are using a vendor management system, Convention Force, to help us manage applications. This software streamlines the application, payment, and communications processes. We can publish better vendor descriptions, product photos, and even vendor maps to our website. Vendors will also be able to see their booth locations ahead of time in the portal.

To start your application, create a no-cost account at https://portal.conventionforce.com/index.cfm?aid=871. The portal will walk you through the application steps (<10 minutes to complete). Even if you applied in 2024, you will need to update your application, including the Vendor Agreement and liability insurance document, to be considered for the 2025 season. If you need help with your application, please email us.

The Melrose Farmers’ Market aims to include a balanced variety of food growers, producers, artisans, non­profit organizations, local businesses, and educators that align with our mission. We strive to maintain a ratio of 80:20 of food to non­food items. All vendors wishing to attend the Melrose Farmers’ Market must submit an online application along with other required documents, which may include proof of liability insurance and a Board of Health Certificate for prepared food/beverage items, and workman’s comp form (even if you do not provide to your employees). Applications must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the desired market.

All vendors must read and agree to our Market Rules.

In addition to our farms and food vendors, each week we offer limited spaces for vendors offering Personal Care Products such as soap, salves, lotions (1 per market); Crafter or Artisan (1 per market), local for-profit business (1 per market), and non-profit (free of charge; 1 per market). We also invite local musicians to play at the market.

The fist round of vendor acceptances will go out at the end of February. Once a vendor is admitted to the market, payments can be made via credit card online or check made out to Melrose Market Community. Checks can be mailed to Melrose Farmers’ Market, c/o Melrose Chamber of Commerce, One West Foster St., Melrose, MA 02176. Discounts are available for vendors who pay at least two months prior to the start of the season.

Harvest/Holiday Markets

Harvest Market: November 16th

• The Harvest Market will be held at Bowden Park from 12pm-3pm on November 16th.

• Setup starts at 9am and needs to be complete by 11am; vendors must stay until 3pm.

• This is a rain or shine market, and it likely will be cold so please plan accordingly. 

• The fee for the Harvest Market is $45 per tent, and $15 for tent/table/chairs rental.

Holiday Market: December 14th

• The Holiday Market will be held indoors at Melrose Family YMCA from 11am-3pm on December 14th. 

• Setup starts at 9am and needs to be complete by 11am; vendors must stay for the entire market. Please note due to our venue’s restrictions we must be completely out of the building by 4pm, no exceptions. If you are unable to complete setup or break down within the given time frames, please do not apply for this market. 

• The fee for the Holiday Market is $85 per space (~8’x8’) ($40 for nonprofits). 

• Vendors must bring their own setup for the Holiday Market — we cannot provide tables or chairs at this event (tents are not allowed). Electricity is free but must be indicated in your application and is not guaranteed for non-food vendors.

Applications

To start your application for one or both the Harvest/Holiday markets, you will need to apply through our vendor portal Convention Force. The portal will walk you through the application steps. Even if you applied for these markets in 2024, you will need to update your application, including the Vendor Agreement and liability insurance document. All vendors attending the Harvest and Holiday Markets must have insurance. If you do not have insurance, please do not apply for these markets.

Prepared food/beverage vendors will need a Board of Health Certificate.

All vendors must read and agree to our Market Rules.

Next Steps

Once an application is completed and submitted, we will review it. Once approved, you will receive an email with instructions for payment submission. For these high demand markets, space is not confirmed until payment is received. Payment may be made by credit card through the portal, cash, or check made out to “Melrose Market Community”. Even if the fee is waived (e.g. non-profits, sponsors), you will need to log back in to the portal to “checkout” and finalize the process.

As during the summer season, we try to keep a variety of vendors so there is a strong possibility that we may not have room for all vendors applying to come. The software system allows us to “waitlist” applicants in case a vendor fails to pay their invoice or cancels.