As we wrap up our regular outdoor seasons, we have decided to try something new: active vendors with existing season passes may renew starting this weekend.
IMPORTANT: If you are not an existing vendor, or if you do not currently have a season pass, this post does not pertain to you. New enrollments in 2025 Season Passes will begin mid-January. There is no need to contact us prior to then. Seriously, go watch Netflix and enjoy the break.
For those of you who are currently active AND currently hold a season pass, then you can secure your existing booth again for 2025 by one of two methods:
- pay $200 non-refundable deposit now towards your 2025 Season Pass (balances due in full by March 1)
- pay in full now and be done with it.
- To renew, chat with the front desk on Sunday after the morning setup rush.
As a reminder, Season Pass fees are non-refundable, and with the understanding that you intend to attend every weekend. An occassional absence due to vacation, illness or other minor conflict is not a problem — but if you only expect to be present once/month, then you will not be eligible for renewal. All fees described below are our setup fees, and include overnight security fees when applicable; a sales commission (typically 10%) is also to be paid at the conclusion of each market day.
Chattanooga Market
We have 31 market days in our regular 2025 Season, including two single overnight security events (Opening Weekend and outdoor Holiday Market). Our base setup fee is increasing to $40 from $38, which is significantly less than the 16%+ increases we are seeing with our insurance and safety costs. We understand that most of the nation is feeling the inflation pinch, and we are working to keep those burdens minimal.
- Season Pass base: $1,280
Our two-day Chattanooga Oktoberfest® is excluded from the Season Pass, and renewing Season Pass vendors who also participated in Oktoberfest this year may preregister for the upcoming Oktoberfest as well. As has been the case the last few years, your booth location may shift during this event.
- Oktoberfest, add: $120
Finally, Chattanooga Holiday Market 2025 will be held outdoors in the Pavilion on November 23-24. We also anticipate the inclusion of the ice rink again, which means the interior layout will change (as it is this year). Thus your booth location may shift during this event, as it has for several vendors this year. Space is limited due to the ice rink footprint, although we did have some extra signup slots for others this year.
- Update: Holiday Market, add: $120
That all sounds a bit complicated, but in practice is basically the same as this year - except the calendar offers additional days to the schedule.
River Market
The setup fee for River is increasing $1 to $30 next year, which makes the math a bit simpler. There are no overnight security fees at this venue — but daily setup/breakdown is required, even for multiday occassions.
River will begin March 8-9, and be held on both Saturday+Sunday up until Easter weekend where it transitions to our normal Saturday-only Market. It will continue through the end of October, with Oktoberfest weekend being the only Saturday skipped. In total, 39 River Market days are scheduled for 2025. Since disruptive weather does impact this venue a bit more frequently in the early Spring, we are discounting the Season Pass in anticipation of a couple lost days.
- Season Pass base: $1,100
Note that Head of the Hooch® is not included in the Season Pass, as it is a separate partner event subject to quite a bit of uncertainty due to downtown redevelopment plans. I’m currently on that board of directors, and will know as soon as anyone knows – even if the Hooch has to relocate, it’s likely that we will work to be involved in the new location.
If you’ve read this far, congrats! Next steps for eligible renewals: chat with the front desk on Sunday after the morning setup rush.