10th ANNUAL WHEATON ARTS PARADE & FESTIVAL (WAPF)

SEPTEMBER 27, 2026 10 am - 5 pm 

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ART VENDORS & EXHIBITORS

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS IN THEIR ENTIRETY

 

POINTS OF CONTACT

 

Vendor Coordinator: James Tretick, james@wheatonartsparade.org, 301-704-6111

Parade Coordinator: Chris Lindsley, chris@wheatonartsparade.org, 443-610-1956

Stage Performance Coordinator: Ingrid Gorman, ingridgorman@gmail.com, 301-351-2451

WAP ED: Dan Thompson, danthompson@wheatonartsparade.org, 301-949-3727

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

“RAIN OR SHINE.”  Please check the forecast and dress accordingly. If showers are possible, bring rain gear. In case of severe weather, we will decide to cancel the festival around 6 am on September 27, and details will be posted on the WAPF website, Facebook page, and Instagram account.

 

CHECK-IN/LOAD-IN 

 

Please come at your assigned time ONLY (Not early, not late). Assigned unload times are 7:00 am, 7:30 am, and 8:00 am (See the chart on pages 7-9 for your time).

 

Exhibitors will receive an email with their specific load-in time and a color-coded pass. Present your pass upon arrival for access to the festival area. Each vendor’s unloading ‘window of time’ is 30 minutes. Arrive, unload, and move your car to the county garage or somewhere else outside the festival area within your time slot. Early arrivals will not be permitted to enter until their designated time. All vehicles must exit the festival before 9 am.

 

Park in the bus lane just past the Metro walking bridge before you reach Reedie Drive and watch for directions from our traffic staff. At your appointed install time, you will be admitted to the festival area.

 

LATE ARRIVALS 

 

No vehicles will be admitted to the festival area after 8:45 am. 

Park somewhere outside of the festival area and tote your items to your assigned booth. Festival Staff will then check you in at your booth. Approach the vendor entrance on Viers Mill Road heading North/West (from Georgia Avenue NOT University Blvd.) There will be NO left turn from Viers Mill coming down the hill from University Blvd
 

UNLOAD AND MOVE YOUR CAR

 

Have your festival pass ready to show to improve traffic flow for all. Staff will direct you to your assigned booth. Drive up close to your booth and park on the right side of the road near your space so that cars can get around on the left. *DO NOT DOUBLE PARK EVEN FOR A MOMENT. MOVE YOUR CAR OFF THE STREET AS SOON AS YOU HAVE UNLOADED. Come back to finish setting up after you park.

 

Volunteers can help you find your booth and unload. However, we cannot be responsible for any items left unattended. Move your car off the street BEFORE your assigned time slot expires as the next group will be eager to unload too.

 

All tented exhibit spaces must be set up by 9:45 am and staffed from 10 am until 5 pm. Wait until 5 pm to begin tearing down your booth.

 

PARKING

 

You may park in the underground garage on Grandview Ave. If your booth is uphill from the garage entrance on Grandview, or on Reedie Drive, please continue driving up the street. 

Do Not attempt to make a U-turn. 

 

HOW TO GET TO THE COUNTY GARAGE

 

From Grandview Avenue:

• Continue up the street and turn right onto University Blvd.

• Turn right onto Georgia Avenue.

• Turn right at the bottom tip of the triangle onto Veirs Mill Road and you’ll be back to where you entered.

• Show your pass and tell the traffic staff person that you want to park in the garage.

 

From Reedie Drive:

• Continue up the street and turn right onto Georgia Avenue.

• Turn right at the bottom tip of the triangle onto Veirs Mill Road and you’ll be back to where you entered.

• Show your pass and tell the traffic staff person that you want to park in the garage.

 

You can park in the garage and tote your stuff, but it may make more sense to park outside the festival area. Alternative parking options are the WMATA garage on Veirs Mill Rd (enter next to Wendy’s), the Price/Fern Lot behind the Safeway, and the Westfield Wheaton Shopping Center parking lot. Exhibitors on Reedie Drive will have an easier load-in if they park in Westfield or the WMATA garage.
 

FESTIVAL EXHIBIT SPACE SPECS 

 

Exhibitors are provided a 10’x10’ tented area with one 6’ table and two chairs, plus signage.  You must use the tent provided and cannot use your own. The tents are erected in “marquee style", e.g., 10’x20’, 10’x30’, and 10’x40’ groups. There may not be tent poles or cross bars between every booth. There are crossbars at the front and back of each space. End spaces have crossbars on 3 sides. Consider this when planning your display.

• You may bring easels, tables, standing screens, and other displays as you see fit to display your work within your allotted space. MAKE SURE YOUR ITEMS ARE SECURED TO SOMETHING AND WEIGHTED AS NEEDED. Wind can be the enemy of vending lightweight or breakable items. 

• No power will be provided to the artists’ exhibit spaces 

• There will be a sign on your tent with the name as requested

• Please use the trash and recycling bins distributed throughout the Festival Area. Keep your area clean. 

• Exhibitors may not sell edible items and may not add pay-for activities that were not pre-approved because they may conflict with the free services the event is providing. 

• Exhibitors are fully responsible for their own sales transactions and reporting sales tax.

 

BREAK-DOWN AND EXIT 

 

Thank you for NOT breaking down your booth before 5:00 pm. We want everyone to stay for the festival and interact with the community for the whole event. Please pack all your belongings BEFORE you get your car so others can move around you. Tents will begin being dismantled between 5:30-6:00 pm, so please be out of the festival area ASAP.

 

How to Leave the Garage and get back to your Booth

 

From the Garage:

• Turn RIGHT (ONLY) onto Grandview Avenue. 

• Turn right onto University Blvd.

• Turn right onto Georgia Avenue.

• Turn right at the bottom tip of the triangle onto Veirs Mill Road and you’ll be back to where you entered.

• Show your pass and tell the traffic staff person that you want to pack up your booth.

 

Parading too? Please check in at the parade check-in desk and be at your parade assembly area by 9:30 am. Have someone at your booth while you walk in the parade. Wheaton Arts Parade cannot be responsible for watching your artwork.

 

RESTROOMS: Portable toilets are at two locations on Grandview Avenue. Public restrooms in the county office building are accessible from the Grandview Ave pedestrian entrance to the parking garage.

 

PROMOTION:  A media kit will be sent to you in a separate emaIl to help promote this unifying event! Share our flyers and invite others to join in. Tag and share @Wheatonartsparade (FB & IG), @artswheaton (Twitter/X). Please include the hashtag #wheatonartsparade.

 

BOOTH NUMBERS and FESTIVAL MAP

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