Attention local makers, artists, or entrepreneurs! 

Looking for a place to host a marketplace event this summer? 

Want to try a new, outdoor location? 

Apply to host it on King William Street!

Dubbed “restaurant row,” King William Street is home to a variety of restaurants and cafes, serving up a rich array of delicious eats. The street will be closed to vehicle traffic between James St N and Hughson from mid-July to mid-September, opening up a temporary public space in the downtown, complete with enhanced lighting, seating, shade, and a variety of activities programmed over the summer months. 

The City of Hamilton with the Downtown Hamilton BIA invite marketplace organizers and producers to submit proposals for one-day Marketplace events to activate the area on Saturdays, offering an opportunity to promote/sell local products and engage with passersby to create a sense of community and connection.  

As a new seasonal public space for activation, we want to help ensure your success by offsetting some of the costs through providing basic marketplace infrastructure and a fee paid to selected groups. Submissions are open to Hamilton-based marketplace organizers and producers who feature the work of local makers, artists, and entrepreneurs.     

The Basics: 

• Space will be available on Saturdays from August 1 - 29, 2026 for a total of 5 unique marketplace days. 
• Public hours for the pop-up markets is between 11:00am and 5:00pm,  

Space available: 

• Selected marketplace applicants will be invited to set up on the south side of the street between James St N and Hughson St, which will be closed to vehicular traffic and open to pedestrians, 
• Each marketplace producer will be supplied with eight (8) 10x10 tents and eight (8) 8' foldable tables assembled in a set layout in the streetscape in advance of their event start time,

Marketplace proposals must meet the following criteria: 

• The organizer/producer and at least 50% of vendors must be Hamilton residents. 
• Food trucks and vendors serving food made on site are not eligible and will not be permitted. 
• There is no power on site. All vendors must be prepared to present without access to power. 
• Only battery powered amplification means will be permitted and must be approved by the City of Hamilton and the Downtown Hamilton BIA in advance. Amplified music above the City of Hamilton's 60 dBA limit will not be permitted. 
• The City of Hamilton will provide basic event infrastructure as outlined in the "Space Available" section above. The organizer/producer will need to provide all other necessary equipment and all staffing to support the event. 
• The organizer/producer is responsible for event-specific marketing and promotion. The City of Hamilton will list the marketplaces in the King William event listings.
• Liability insurance with coverage of at least $2 million, listing the City of Hamilton as “additional insured”. If a group does not have liability insurance, they can apply for GameDay insurance through the City of Hamilton to cover their events. 

Application Details: 

Applicants must complete an online application form detailing their proposed marketplace structure including: 

• Description of the marketplace including theme linking the different vendors and a list of prospective vendors, 
• Preferred date to host event as well as possible back-up date(s), 
• Include any past experiences hosting marketplaces or similar events, 
• A programming plan including load in and load out schedule and staffing details. Please keep in mind that the marketplace will be hosted on a road closed to vehicular traffic and vendors will need to plan to carry equipment into and out of the area on foot. There is parking available in a lot adjacent to the closed road, pending availability and subject to parking fees.
• Details on any planned ancillary programming pieces (ex: acoustic musicians, family activities, etc) 
• A completed copy of the Marketplace Map, detailing the planned placement of vendors and ancillary events in the closure area (link to template is provided in the application form),
• Details on how the event will be publicized. 

 Budget: 

Applicants can submit a proposal with a budget of up to $1,000 for a one-day event 

Applicable expenses that can be covered by the $1000 fee may include the following:

• Participation fees paid to vendors,  
• Organizer/producer fee, 
• Equipment rentals,
• Marketing and promotion costs including: posters, sponsored social media posts, ad buys, etc, 
• Costs to support ancillary programming such as acoustic musicians or children’s activities, 
• Travel, transportation, and parking costs 

 Some examples of potential eligible marketplace proposals:  

1. A vintage marketplace featuring vendors specializing in vintage clothing and collectibles. With a proven track record, the organizer charges a nominal fee to vendors in order to access an event with an established audience. The proposal includes costs for an acoustic performer and some children’s activities. 
2. A youth makers marketplace, produced by a not-for-profit youth arts organization. The event is new and the budget includes a small fee paid to each youth vendor to encourage participation, a marketing budget to publicize the offering through posters and sponsored social media posts, as well as a fee paid to youth spoken word artists presenting work at a variety of points throughout the day. 

        Some other potential applicants:  

• Culturally focused marketplaces (ex: Indigenous artisans, Black Entrepreneurs) 
• Hamilton Artists Marketplace 
• A market based on promoting local start-up entrepreneurs 
• Or – pitch us your idea! 

  Selection: 

• Applications will be reviewed and selected by staff from the City of Hamilton and the Downtown Hamilton BIA.  
• Selection will be based on representing a broad range of offerings throughout August. 
• Priority may be given to vendors who are not currently contracted by the City of Hamilton's Tourism and Culture Division. 
• Only selected groups will be contacted. Applications will be kept on file and considered as needed to fulfill various programming requirements. 
• Selected groups will be required to sign a Letter of Agreement with the City of Hamilton, which will indicate all required actions. 
• Applications will be considered as they are received, with the final closing date on: JUNE 22, 2026