My Capital City Fest Vendor Experience: Lessons Learned and Silver Linings

This past Saturday, September 13th, I had the opportunity to participate as a vendor at Capital City Fest, and it was an adventure! While the event presented some unforeseen challenges, it helped me get back into the market groove and learn a bit about what resonates with my audience. And as always, a great reminder of how connecting with customers makes every experience worthwhile.

Setting Up at Capital City Fest

The vendor setup process at Capital City Fest was certainly unique and definitely unorganized. After arriving at the designated entrance, my husband and I discovered that traditional vendor check-in procedures weren't in place. Rain from the previous night had prevented any ground markings, creating a wild west where vendors fended for themselves, leading to creative spacing solutions. Vendors clustered together in some areas while leaving significant gaps in others, creating a confusing layout for potential guests. We did, however, make a friend in this trying time - the Baking Biker - who helped us find a good place to set up.

The Festival Atmosphere

Capital City Fest featured live music throughout the day, adding energy to the area. The festival aimed to be family-friendly with special children's activities, though some music selections didn't quite align with that goal. The abundance of food trucks with their generators created a noisy, marketplace environment that's typical of many outdoor festivals.

Customer Connections Make It Worthwhile

Despite lighter foot traffic than expected, the connections I made were incredibly rewarding. Several visitors showed genuine interest in my lava lamp prints, so I will definitely be adding more for Marydale. The highlight of my day came when a couple approached my booth and excitedly recognized my "Power of Creativity I & II" pieces, which they had purchased previously. Hearing how much they love displaying the artwork in their home and how many compliments they receive was incredibly encouraging and reminded me why I love sharing my art at local festivals.

Looking Forward

While Capital City Fest may need some organizational improvements for future years, every vendor experience teaches valuable lessons about connecting with the community and understanding what resonates with art lovers. The enthusiasm for my lava lamp designs has definitely sparked ideas for my next collection!