The Market runs Memorial Day through Labor Day, every Monday and Friday evening (5–9 PM) at
📍 19826 Central Street, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Live music, food trucks, drinks, and over 20+ local artist vendors make it one of the most vibrant and well-attended creative events in the region.

The Creative Market exists to connect artists directly with their community. It’s more than a place to sell — it’s a place to build relationships, grow your audience, and create meaningful connections that lead to long-term collectors, commissions, and collaborations.

This is an excellent place for a first-time show for an artist just starting, or for a professional trying something new with low barriers to access. We welcome all creatives!

We intentionally target people who value local art, understand the importance of supporting small creative businesses, and want to know the story behind the work they buy.

Beginning in 2026, all vendors will participate in a pre-season application process before Market sign-ups open. This helps DAC curate a balanced, high-quality mix of artists and makers that align with our mission of fostering creativity, community, and professionalism.

Key Dates:

• Applications Open: January 1, 2026

• Applications Due: March 1, 2026

• Vendor Notifications: March 16, 2026

• Sign-Ups Open: March 16, 2026

All Creative Market event dates from Memorial Day through Labor Day will be available for sign-ups beginning Monday, March 16th. Vendor fees are due at the time of booking.

If you miss the March 1st application deadline, you must wait until 2027 to participate.

Just a reminder — Creative Market artists are permitted to share booths, allowing for collaboration and cost-sharing between vendors.

We’re investing in new weather-proofing solutions for the Market space, including stronger awnings, booth anchors, and drainage improvements. These upgrades will help keep vendors more comfortable and protect products during light rain or windy conditions, so the Market can stay open more often and feel more professional and reliable for both artists and visitors.

The vendor fee for each Creative Market event is $75, paid at the time of booking.
This fee is based on roughly 20% of the average sales most artists make at the Market (galleries typically take 40-50%!)— a structure we believe is equitable, predictable, and supportive of artist success.

This fee also directly supports:
• Paying fair wages to the staff who run the Market
• High-quality marketing that brings the right buyers
• Live music, lighting, power, and on-site support
• Continued investments in weather-proofing & infrastructure

Our goal is to keep the Market vibrant, sustainable, and artist-centered for the long term — while continuing to attract audiences who value and invest in local art.

In the 2025 season, we experienced 154 artist cancellations (not including weather-related cancellations). This significantly impacted the artist experience, vendor flow, and overall Market consistency.

To ensure fairness for all artists and to maintain a strong and reliable Market environment, all vendor fees are now non-refundable.

The Creative Market runs rain-or-shine, and booth space is limited. When artists cancel last-minute, it becomes difficult to fill the spot and affects both fellow artists and the community experience.

We ask that artists select their dates thoughtfully and treat sign-ups as a firm commitment.
We understand that emergencies happen — and when they do — artists are welcome to transfer their spot to another approved vendor with DAC staff approval.

This policy helps us keep the Market consistent, supportive, and fair for everyone involved.

To keep the Creative Market fresh, diverse, and reflective of our full creative community, each artist may sign up for a maximum of six (6) Market dates during the 2026 season. This ensures that more artists have the opportunity to be seen, and that attendees experience new work and new connections throughout the summer.

For artists who want a stronger, more consistent presence at the Market, we encourage you to apply for the Creative Market Artist Incubator.
Incubator participants receive:
• 12 guaranteed Market placements (1 per week)
• Professional development & mentorship
• A feature showcase opportunity

This structure allows us to support both breadth and depth: a dynamic, rotating lineup and a pathway for artists who are ready to grow their creative business with more visibility and guidance.

The West Side Creative Market will now operate rain or shine — with no advance cancellations based on weather forecasts.

Delaware weather changes quickly, and in past seasons, many forecasted storms cleared up, leading to beautiful evenings that artists and attendees missed out on. To ensure fairness and consistency for all vendors, DAC will no longer cancel Markets in advance due to predicted rain or wind.

• Markets will only be canceled onsite if conditions become unsafe for artists, visitors, or equipment (such as lightning, extreme wind, or flooding).

• DAC is investing in new weatherproofing improvements — including awnings, booth anchors, and drainage updates — to help artists continue vending comfortably through light rain or wind.

• Artists are encouraged to come prepared with weights, waterproof covers, and displays that can withstand light weather conditions.

This policy helps maximize opportunities for artists and maintains a consistent experience for the public.

We allow Artists to choose to participate if there is bad forecasted weather, but there are no refunds for fees.