Capital Jazz Fest 2025 - 32nd Annual

The Capital Jazz Fest is now in its 32nd year. Nicknamed "The Jazz Festival With Soul", the event attracts a relatively upscale African-American adult audience and is an attractive alternative to traditional craft shows. The Festival Marketplace, located on the festival grounds, showcases products, services, clothing, jewelry, novelties and displaying quality traditional and non-traditional crafts. The Marketplace is not just a place to sell your wares, but also a great way to increase your brand visibility and build your customer mailing list. The event takes place June 7-8, 2025 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, with an average annual attendance of 30,000+.

Admission into the Festival Marketplace is selective and competitive, with the selection committee considering distinctiveness of product, creativity in design, quality of craftsmanship, excellence in display, and quantity of vendors with similar crafts. Vendors are classified in two categories: Traditional Crafts (original handcrafted work by the vendor including paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, textiles, candles, ceramics, etc.) and Non-Traditional Crafts (quality novelty items, wholesale products, graphics, imports, reproduced artwork, or mass-produced items). Traditional craft vendors provide their own NFPA 701 certified booth coverings, while non-traditional vendors are located under a large common tent.

Booth sizes are 10x10 with pricing at $725 for open space traditional crafts and $925 for covered space non-traditional crafts. All vendors receive electrical connection, entry passes for two persons per booth per day, and parking pass for one vehicle. Products containing any animal products are strictly prohibited. Vendors must be present during all selling hours (Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 10am-9pm) and are responsible for their own setup, breakdown, lighting, and Maryland sales tax collection. Application fee is free, 6 images and a booth shot are required, and emerging artists are accepted.