Gather & Grow Makers Market: Vendor Applications Are Open

August 21, 2026 Abigail Gilman

Our Gather & Grow makers market has just 2 more Sundays this year, & applications are open. 🌼

If you make something with your hands, run a small local business, or have a service that families in Wauwatosa should know about, this is your invitation. Here's everything you need to know before you apply.

The dates

Sunday, September 13, 2026 · 8am–1pm
Sunday, October 11, 2026 · 8am–1pm

Both markets run on the Little Village patio & along 65th Street, at 6505 W. North Ave in East Tosa. You're welcome to apply for 1 date or both.

Apply by Monday, September 7 for the September market, & Monday, September 28 for October.

What Gather & Grow is

Gather & Grow is a garden-inspired outdoor market series hosted by Little Village. It brings together local makers alongside live music, coffee, treats & activities for kids. We're in our second year now, & it's grown into a real neighborhood morning: strollers everywhere, kids running between booths with a pop in each hand, & folks buying handmade instead of big box.

Why makers keep coming back

🎯 Market Bingo sends shoppers to your booth

Every customer gets a bingo card that only fills up if they visit each vendor, & we hand out prizes for a completed card. It means nobody wanders past you on their way to the coffee line. This is the thing vendors tell us they notice most.

🧺 The right crowd

Families with young kids, already out on North Ave, already spending. The first 75 guests who RSVP get a tote bag when they check in, so people show up early & ready to fill it.

📣 We promote you, hard

Your shop gets tagged in our market emails, Instagram stories & the vendor line-up carousel that goes out to 12,000+ followers across Milwaukee & Wauwatosa. We also share market recaps afterward.

🚗 Pull right up

Drive straight to your spot for an easy unload, then park free on the street a block away. No hauling your inventory 3 blocks in a wagon.

🧸 Your kiddo plays free

We'll comp a play pass for your child for the day, so if a partner or grandparent is tagging along, there's somewhere warm & fun for them to be while you sell. Please note this isn't childcare, & a grown-up needs to stay with them.

☕ A drink on us

Plus vendor discounts on food & drinks all morning. You will not be packing a cooler.

Spaces & pricing

$75 · 8ft table space, for artists, makers & curators
$120 · 10x10 tent space, for artists, makers & curators
$250 · 10x10 tent space, for wellness, community & professional services
Free · Junior Vendors, 16 & under, with a $100 refundable deposit

We only have 2 Junior Vendor spots per market, & honestly they're the best part of the whole day. If you've got an entrepreneurial kid, this one's for them. 🌟

A note for wellness, community & professional partners

Alongside our makers, we hold a small number of spots for realtors, pediatric practices, family attorneys, insurance agents, financial advisors, photographers, schools, studios & similar local businesses.

These spots include category exclusivity: we take only 1 business per field per market, so you won't be set up next to your competitor. Our crowd is young Wauwatosa & Milwaukee families, mostly parents of kids under 8, & 5 hours of face time with them is a different thing than an ad impression.

Partners who do well here bring a small giveaway or a kids' activity rather than a stack of brochures.

The logistics, plainly

Set-up runs 6:30–8:00am. Tear-down is 1:00–2:00pm.
Vendors bring their own tents, tables, chairs, merchandising equipment & displays.
This is an outdoor market.
Wifi & electricity are not available on site.

Our weather policy

It's Wisconsin, so let's be upfront about this.

We make the call on weather by 6am on market morning & contact you directly, before anyone loads a car.

Wellness, community & professional partners: if we cancel before the market opens, your fee becomes a full credit toward any remaining Gather & Grow date within the next 12 months. If we open & then close early for weather, we'll issue a 50% credit on the same terms.

Artist, maker & curator spaces: if rain or unsafe storms happen, we're unfortunately not able to refund your fee.

Credits are non-transferable, can't be redeemed for cash, & don't apply if you cancel on your own.

What makes a great fit

We curate a diverse & joyful mix of vendors that complements our space & community. Here's what we look for:

Products or services that appeal to families, children or caregivers
A warm, welcoming vibe that aligns with our playful & cozy atmosphere
Unique offerings that bring something fresh to the mix (we try to avoid overlap!)
Enthusiastic support of Gather & Grow's marketing across your own channels
Reliability, professionalism & kindness. We're building a village, not just a vendor list.
Willingness to engage with guests & make the experience feel personal
Thoughtful displays that reflect the care & creativity behind your work