What is the Downtown Providence Holiday Market?

The Downtown Providence Holiday Market (the Market) is an outdoor seasonal celebration that began in December of 2024 as a collaboration between InDowncity and the Providence Tourism Council, both seasoned veterans in organizing festivals and marketplaces in the city.

The same partnership is bringing the Market back to downtown Providence this December 2025. Bigger and better than last year, the 2025 Market will showcase more vendors to shop, more activities and entertainment to experience, and more food and beverage choices to enjoy!

When is the 2025 Market?

This season, the Market will be held on 4 consecutive days in early December:

• Thursday, December 4: 5 - 9 p.m. (night market)

• Friday, December 5: 5 - 9 p.m. (night market)

• Saturday, December 6: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. (extended market)

• Sunday, December 7: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Where is the Market being held?

The Market will take place at Grant’s Block Park at the corner of Westminster and Union Streets in downtown Providence. Similar to last season, the park will host a tented and heated lounge for guests to gather, watch live performances, enjoy seasonal cocktails, and rest their feet.

On Saturday, December 6, the footprint of the Market will expand with the closure of the adjacent Westminster Street, transforming into a full-fledged holiday shopping market with vendors lining Westminster Street from Eddy to Mathewson streets.

What type of vendors is the Market looking for?

The Market organizers are looking to curate a special group of vendors who are positive and enthusiastic about the small business community at the Market. Vendors should look forward to working with the Market organizers to highlight their unique products amongst the larger event’s curation.

The Market organizers are looking to work with vendors selling an assorted variety of handmade goods, ranging from jewelry to apparel, apothecary, furniture, fine arts, paper and prints, pantry foods, textiles, fiber arts, farm-made products, plant material, and more. Vendors will be selected based on the overall merchandise mix at each Market date, specifically keeping the holiday gift aesthetic and the quality of the products being sold top of mind.

Organizers are seeking vendors showcasing unique goods that they individually promote via their own professional channels, be it Instagram, Etsy, or e-commerce sites. (Private Instagram accounts are not ideal.)

When does the application open and close, and when will I hear back?

The application is currently open and will remain open until September 22, 2025. All applicants will be notified of their status by mid-October.

Upon acceptance, vendors will have 10 days to submit the contract form for accepted vendors and make the vendor payments in order for Market organizers to finalize your acceptance.

Do vendors need to vend all 4 dates?

No. Vendors are able to select the dates they prefer to vend in their application. Please keep in mind that the hours for each of the 4 Market dates are not the same. Some Market dates are nighttime hours only, while others are full-day events. This should be considered when choosing preferred dates.

Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5, are nighttime markets in the Grant’s Block Park only.

Saturday, December 6, will be an expanded, larger market with vendor spaces running the length of Westminster Street from Eddy to Mathewson, as well as vendor spaces in the Grant’s Block Park. The event will begin in the late morning and run until early evening.

Sunday, December 7, will be a daytime-only market in the Grant’s Block Park only.

What is required of vendors at the event?

All vendors must be present and open for business at their vendor booths for the duration of the Market dates they are assigned. The Market is a great place to meet customers face-to-face. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity!

Any cancellations and no-shows will prohibit future participation in the Providence Tourism Council events and programs in the City of Providence. 

Do vendors have to vend outdoors?

Yes. This is an outdoor holiday market. We will be outdoors for the duration of the Market. All vendors must come prepared with proper clothing and the professional gear required for being outside in December. Please bring enough staff to provide yourselves with breaks to step indoors at nearby cafés and to purchase warm beverages or to stand under the Market heaters at Grant’s Block.

Is this event rain or shine?

Yes, the Market will be open rain or shine, with the exception of extreme weather events that make it unsafe or not feasible for the event to occur. Should there be any cancellations or delays due to weather, Market organizers will provide vendors with notice ahead of the event.

What do I need to bring as a vendor?

Vendors are responsible for bringing all of their amazing products, all furnishings, and merchandising items needed for professional displays (with the exception of one 8’ table provided by the Market organizers), including additional tables, table covers, chairs, racks, stands, etc. Vendors must bring ample staff to professionally assist with set-up, sales, daily logistics, and break-down.

Carts and/or wagons are useful when unloading from nearby parking areas to the assigned vending spaces. Parking can be up to a full city block from your vending space. Vendors will not be permitted to drive directly to their vendor space, so it’s critical that vendors bring the appropriate amount of staff to assist with load-in and load-out.

What parking is available for vendors?

There will be a designated vendor parking lot within one block of the Market. When the announcements go out to accepted vendors, Market organizers will share a map detailing the vendor parking lot location. Vendors will pay a daily rate directly to on-site parking lot managers to park for the duration of each day’s Market.

What will the event organizers provide?

The Market organizers have made arrangements to provide all accepted vendors with a 9’x10’ space under Market tents, which will be set up by Market organizers along Westminster Street. Each vendor space will include one 8-foot table.

Are vendor spaces assigned?

Yes. Vendors will be assigned spaces based on the dates their applications were received, the number of dates each vendor will be vending, and the overall merchandising mix of the Market. Assignments will be shared with vendors upon arrival at the Market.

Is there a fee to vend?

Yes. Accepted vendors will be required to pay a fee of $75 per Market date that they are vending. Any cancellations or changes to the participation must be made prior to November 14. No refunds will be provided after this date.  

How will you promote the event?

InDowncity and the Providence Tourism Council are fortunate to have an incredible reach both locally and regionally. Promotion of the market will be a collaborative effort between the two, designed to communicate with locals within the city and state, as well as those traveling to Rhode Island for the holiday season.

All vendors will be listed on the event website with dedicated links to their own respective sites. Event organizers will communicate with the press both locally and regionally, sharing press announcements throughout the months leading up to the 2025 market.

The InDowncity network of brick-and-mortar businesses in downtown Providence will utilize their own means of promotion as well.

Market organizers ask all of our 2025 vendors to help share the wonderful news of this year’s market as well. The more collective voices we have working together, the better!

Have more questions about vending?

If you have questions that we haven’t answered here, please feel free to reach out to us at indowncitypvd@gmail.com