Our organization works to bring new life to downtown Rockford by establishing a weekly tradition that draws people into the heart of the city, creates a vibrant community center, increases business at downtown shops & restaurants, and serves as an incubator for new businesses.
We hope you join us in the goal and meet us at the Market.
Yes! Our 2024 Vendor Applications are open from January 26th - February 26th, 2024.
Anyone wishing to become a vendor must sign up for a free vendor profile through managemymarket.com, submit a completed application, and be selected through a committee approval process. A completed application includes an application, photos of the product, photos of the booth set-up, and signed contract. Vendors wishing to sell food or beverages will be asked to submit samples. To ensure a wide variety of goods at the market, the number of vendors in each product category will be limited.
Applications for the season are available January 26th and can be found in our application section here
All vending questions may be directed to our Director of Market Engagement, Becca Bartels at Becca.Bartels@rrdp.org
The Rockford City Market gives preference to vendors within a 150-mile radius. Local products and vendors receive priority. The event strives to work with local small business owners and entrepreneurs in the area who produce their own items.
We are excited to introduce 5-week food truck spots for our 2024 season! Interested in being a part of the Outdoor Rockford City Market, but can’t commit to a full 20-week season? This might be the perfect fit for you! Choose your top 5 Fridays that you’d like to participate in (along with a few extra backup dates), and we’ll create a custom vendor spot for you.
Our new Rockford City Market Incubator Tent is the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs that are just getting started, but aren’t quite ready to commit to a full or half season at the Outdoor Rockford City Market. Apply for a single Friday in this rotating booth to test out your product and engage with the community.
All outdoor (non-food truck) booth spaces are 10ft x 10ft. Vendors can rent multiple spaces. Spaces are assigned by market management. Vendors will be charged for multiple spaces if vendor space needs exceed 10ft x 10ft with a discount of 20% for spaces 2 and beyond.
Please note: we do not allow vendors to park their vehicles within the grounds (unless you are a food truck) so spaces are for tents or trailers only. All Trailers will need to be unhooked from their vehicles and vehicles will be parked in the nearby vendor lot.
Food Truck Vendor (Full Season)
May 17 - Sept 27: $2,000
Food Truck Vendor (5-week Session)
Pick your own dates: $750
Prepared Food Vendor (full season only)
May 17 - Sept 27: $1,000
Art, Jewelry, and Other Processed Items or Foods (full season)
May 17 - Sept 27: $800
Art, Jewelry, and Other Processed Items or Foods (10 weeks)
First 10 weeks: $600
Last 10 weeks: $475
Produce Farmer (per 5 week session)
$50 per 5 weeks; $200 for full session
Outdoor Local Retail Space (full season)
May 17 - Sept 27: $1,000
Outdoor Local Retail Space (10 weeks)
First 10 Weeks: $750
Last 10 Weeks: $500
*NEW* Rockford City Market Incubator Spot
Non-Food One-Week Session: $100
Applications must be in by Monday, February 26th in order to be considered as a vendor for the 2024 season. For those approved, the deposit and vendor fee must be paid by April 16th. To receive an early bird discount, deposit and vendor fee must be in by March 22nd.
The market requires a $150 attendance deposit from every vendor to ensure consistent attendance. The deposit will be returned in full within 60 days of the close of the Market provided the vendor participates in the required amount of the selected Market season (9 of 10 weeks; 18 of 20 weeks.) Deposit is due with vendor fees once application is approved.
Electricity is available at no cost but is limited and vendors with high usage may be required to supply generators. Vendors are designated spots based on their electric needs. These electric needs must be clearly stated on the application. Fines will be assessed if vendors exceed stated needs. All details are on the vendor application.
Generators used at the market must be be “quiet” (70 decibels or lower) for the safety and comfort of surrounding vendors as well as customers. Quiet boxes and enclosures are permitted.
Vendor shall obtain and maintain general liability insurance covering bodily injury, personal injury, or property damage with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and a $2,000,0000 general aggregate. Certificates must list Rock River Development Partnership as certificate holder and additional insured.
It is the responsibility of the vendor to obtain and provide to the Market Manager copies of all licenses and permits required for the sale of the vendor's products at the Market in addition to the basic application.
Questions/concerns regarding food product regulations and/or licensing should be directed to the Winnebago County Health Department.
Vendors selling food or beverage items or giving samples of these must meet current Winnebago County Health Department food guidelines and have applicable operating permits. Vendors must keep a copy of these permits at their market stall at all times. All Winnebago County health permits must be acquired at least three weeks prior to the event. For more information on health permits, contact the health department at 815-720-4000 or contact the market vendor manager for an email for the assigned market inspector.
Unfortunately not every person who applies to be a vendor will get accepted. Every year we receive more applications than we can accommodate. All applicants will receive an email with their application status whether approved, wait listed, or denied. Applicants are welcome to reapply for the following season. Please see the Application page for guidelines on how applications are vetted. There is no application fee and no fees are invoiced until after a vendor is approved.
All applicants will be notified of their application status on Friday, March 8th.
Please contact Becca, our Director of Market Engagement, at Becca.Bartels@rrdp.org or 815.315.1337 if you have any questions!
The Rockford City Market is a downtown market that focuses on local small businesses that produce (make, bake, grow, etc.) their own goods. Vending booths are not available for services, political organizations or campaigns, franchises, third party or multilevel marketing/hostess companies (ex: Lularoe, Doterra, Avon, etc.), or not-for-profit organizations. For the full list of criteria and how applications are prioritized please see our vendor guidelines section.
Vintage and Small local retailers are welcome to apply for our Outdoor Local Retail Spaces.
We have a couple of great opportunities for nonprofits and schools to use to promote upcoming events or their organization. If you're a nonprofit organization who would like to promote your organization at the market by being gatekeepers or running a children’s activity booth please see our nonprofit volunteer opportunities section here or contact Becca at Becca.Bartels@rrdp.org for more information.
We welcome requests for sponsorship opportunities from these leaders of business. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Cathy at cathy.mcdermott@rrdp.org.
For the current vendor rules and guidelines on what types of vendors we approve, please go to our application page here
The Rockford City Market has a 24-hour commercial kitchen available for rent in their indoor market building adjacent to the outdoor market. For more information, please contact Becca at Becca.Bartels@rrpd.org or click the link HERE to see rates and general information.
All vendors are required by the state to have their own Tax Numbers and pay their own sales tax for their market sales. Vendors can check out how to apply for a tax number by going to the IL Department of Revenue website at www.revenue.state.il.us or by calling the local branch at 815.987.5210.
The City of Rockford requires market vendors to pay the 1% redevelopment (metro) tax in addition to their state sales tax. This affects vendors selling beverages or prepared food for consumption on site. It does not affect sales of produce or other goods. For more information or to find links to the Redevelopment Tax Form, click here. For additional questions, please call the City of Rockford Revenue at 779.348.7165 or email them at metrotax@rockfordil.gov