We Want To Hear From YouVendors
Bringing Together Local Creators
On Saturday, October 17, we will bring together the most compelling voices in literature, art, and stewardship for the inaugural Salt Lake Book Festival.
The Market
Our market of creators and retailers is intentionally curated to serve our community of readers and the book-curious.
Every vendor at the Salt Lake Book Festival is already making Salt Lake City the cultural hub we know it can be. We’re excited to work with those businesses to bring our anticipated 7,000 attendees analog experiences, community ties, and human connection. Trust us when we say: Your booth neighbors and customers are already your people.
Who We're Looking For
If your brand belongs in this story, we want to hear from you. Applications close June 30 at midnight.
Book Retailers & Publishers
You’re not fighting for shelf space here — you’re the main event. Our attendees show up ready to discover, buy, and come back for more.
Art + Retail
Readers are drawn to beautiful things that tell the story of their lives, or the lives of the books they read. If your product lives in that world, our attendees will find you, and love you.
Food + Beverage
We have a captive, hungry crowd staying all day. They will be engaged, exploring, and ready to eat, drink, and keep coming back to your booth between sessions.
Food Trucks
Different from a booth, and intentionally limited. Only three food truck spots exist, which means the vendors who get in own the category for the entire festival.
Vendor Guidelines
On October 17, the inaugural Salt Lake Book Festival will come to The Gateway, bringing together leading voices in literature, art, and stewardship. Our curated market of creators and retailers is designed to serve a community of book lovers and the reading curious, featuring vendors committed to making Salt Lake a cultural hub. With an anticipated 7,000 attendees, the festival celebrates independent businesses and the analog, community-driven experiences they offer.
We’d love for you to join us.
What makes this festival worth it:
Juried & Curated
Vendors are selected, not just accepted. That protects the quality of your experience as much as the attendees'.
Focused, Intentional Audience
This crowd comes for literary culture. They're not wandering through. They're there on purpose. And it’s for you!
Low Category Competition
Market participants are selected to avoid redundancy, with very few vendors in each category.
High Foot Traffic
We anticipate 7,000 attendees day-of, bringing sustained visibility from morning through close. And it’s not passive either.
Every Spot a Premium Spot
There are no sidelines here, and no one will be put in a dark corner. Your booth will be an essential part of festival flow.
Full-Day Commitment
No early breakdown, no thinning crowd. The festival runs 10 AM to 6 PM and everyone stays.
Application, Details, & Pricing
There is no cost to apply. You will know if your application was accepted within 5 business days of submission. Following acceptance, you will receive the vendor contract for signature, and payment will be collected at that time.
Cost
- Standard Retailer (including food and beverage stands): $500
- Food Truck (different from a standard vendor): $750
- Community Partners (not-for-profit civic associations that need a table): $150
We know that life happens. If you cannot show up to your spot at the SLBF, we would love to hear from you as soon as possible so we can plan for your absence.
Refund Policy
- 100% refund (minus $50 administrative fee) will be honored if submitted between May 1 and July 15
- 50% refund will be honored if submitted between July 16 and August 10
- No refund will be honored between August 11 and October 16
All refund requests must be submitted in writing via email to operations@saltlakebookfestival.org.
Day-of Logistics
Booth Size: Standard spaces are 10′ x 10′. All displays, including signage and racks, must stay within your designated footprint.
Staggered Load-In: To prevent congestion on Rio Grande St., vendors will be assigned a specific 30-minute load-in window between 7:30 AM & 9:30 AM.
No Electricity: Please ensure your Point of Sale (POS) devices and any booth lighting are fully charged or battery-operated.
Early Breakdown Fine: Our festival runs until 6:00 PM. Breaking down early creates a “dead zone” that hurts your neighbors. Vendors who pack up before 6:00 PM will be fined an amount equal to their booth fee and may be barred from future festivals.
Vendor FAQs
Additional questions can be directed to operations@saltlakebookfestival.org.
No. Vendors must bring their own tables, chairs, tents, and displays.
This is a rain-or-shine event. Please bring weights for your tent and waterproof covers for your books.
No. Booth sharing is not permitted; each space is for one registered vendor.
Fees are reinvested directly into digital ads, flyers, and venue costs to ensure a high turnout for the festival.
SLC Book Festival 2026Vendor Application
Event Date: October 17, 2026 | Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
(Vendors will be assigned a set-up time slot; open through 7:00 PM for break-down)
Location: The Gateway, SLC (Rio Grande St.)