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Hello gourd friends!

I hope all of you have put the Gourd Gatherings dates in your 2023 calendar for the 21st Anniversary Gourd Gathering will be held in WAYNESVILLE from June 7-11, 2023. Last year we worked hard on successfully finding a new location due to the Cherokee fairgrounds rebuilding/remodeling This year the focus will once again be on students. They are the only reason why a gourd festival survives. After all it is the students who come to take classes, and stock up on gourds and supplies. 

We are proud to have locked in the new location at the Waynesville Fairgrounds just 22 miles east of Cherokee. The plethora of hotel and other accommodations, restaurants and other after event activities should make this a wonderful location, not to mention that ALL vendors and classes will be in building at this location. 

We need to attract students, and everyone needs to help promote "our" event. So, please publicize the Gourd Gathering to your email list, on your Facebook page, on Twitter and on Instagram. Let people know what you will be selling and/or teaching at the Gathering. Let everyone know early so they can plan to attend and mention this event each month through May to help build attendance, fill classes, and sell supplies. 

Back to Vendor Basics 

Basically, there are no changes from last year for vendors. Please read this carefully, if you have questions, please contact Judi Fleming. Her email is fleminggourds@yahoo.com and her cell phone is 336-908-6341. Please note that she can answer questions after 5 p.m. (eastern) on weekdays or any time on weekends as she cannot answer calls during business hours due to her day job. 

HOURS - The Gathering will be open to the public noon. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, 9-5 Thursday through Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The building will be open for participants at 8:00 a.m. each morning and run into the evening hours. If you will be alone and need occasional booth sitters, let us know prior to the event. 

SET-UP / TEAR-DOWN - Vendors will be asked to set up on Wednesday, June 7th beginning at 9: 00 a.m. Vendors may drive onto the grounds for easy load-in and load-out during set-up and tear-down times. During the rest of the event, vehicles will not be allowed inside the buildings. 

No booths are to begin packing up prior to noon on Sunday. NOTE: the buildings need to be empty by 5:00 p.m. 

GENERAL BOOTH INFORMATION - All vendors are to provide their own tables, displays, chairs, tents, electrical needs, etc. There are tables available for rental on the fairgrounds at $10 each and must be reserved in advance. Booths inside the building are approximately 10' x 10'. The booths will be assigned on a “first-paid, first-served” basis. We will try to accommodate as many vendors inside as we can, but space is limited. 

NOTE: Except for our long-time vendors, there will be a limit of two spaces available inside per vendor. If you did not participate last year and are interested in an inside booth or if you want one additional space, you will be put on a wait list. If last year's vendors do not register and pay by March 31, 2023 they forfeit their space and you will be contacted. 

Booths in the Burley Barn are covered though the flooring is soft dirt. We have two categories of barn booths: smaller vendors who need a 10’ x 10’ or 10’ x 20’ space, or larger vendors who need much more room. See "COST" section for more information. No tents or other types of protection are necessary in this new venue space! 

All booth fees are due by MARCH 31, 2023.

SECURITY - The building will be locked at the end of nightly activities. The grounds are enclosed by a chain-link fence and locked at night, and there will be someone staying on the grounds at night. There are no other security measures, so plan accordingly. 

COST - The rental fee are as follows for all three days:

One booth inside the main building $75 each

(Approximate space is 10' x 10' -- limit: two spaces)

One 10' x 10' in the barn for small spaces on the grounds $75

Two 10' x 10' barn spaces $140

Extra-large booths in the outside barn spaces on the Grounds $150

Table rentals $10 each

Chair rental $2 each

The extra-large barn booth space size is not limited, and these vendors can use as much space as they need.  

NOTE: All woodburning, cutting and carving classes will also be held in this barn so you will have classes in the same space as you!!!

An exciting new option is that there is RV hookup (electricity only) right against the drive around the main building we will use. Please note that these are SMALL spaces with parallel parking and there are only 10 so we will be offering these to vendors only. A member of the Gathering staff will be staying on site there to serve as security! 

In addition, all vendors are required to donate one (or more) item(s) to the Silent Auction. It could be gourd art, tools, products, but must have a retail value of at least $50. 

TAXES - Vendors are responsible for North Carolina state sales tax as well as all applicable federal taxes and should have your own tax ID numbers.  See https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/sales-and-use-tax-ratesfor more information. 

CANCELLATION POLICY - A 100% refund of all charges will be granted to any vendor who cancels participation in the show prior to April 1, 2023. Refunds for cancellations after April 1st, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. 

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