What is the Downtown Providence Holiday Market?

The Downtown Providence Holiday Market is an outdoor seasonal celebration that began in December 2024 as a collaboration between InDowncity and the Providence Tourism Council, both seasoned veterans in organizing festivals and marketplaces in the city. The Downtown Providence Holiday Market will be back and bigger and better than ever this December 2025, with more to shop, experience, and taste.

When is the 2025 Market?

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

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

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

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

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

Where is the market being held?

The 2025 DPHM will take place at Grant’s Block Park at the corner of Westminster and Union Streets in downtown Providence. Like last season, the park will host a heated lounge tent for guests to gather, watch live performances, enjoy seasonal cocktails, and rest their feet.

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

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 be eager to work with the market organizers to highlight their unique products amongst the larger event’s aesthetic.

The Downtown Providence Holiday Market is 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 22nd, 2025. All applicants will be notified of their status by mid-October.

Upon acceptance, you will have 10 days to submit the contract form for accepted vendors and make the vendor payments in order for us 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 dates are not the same. Some market dates are nighttime hours only, while others are full-day events.

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

Saturday, December 6th, 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 7th, 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 event on the date 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 any future participation in the Providence Tourism Council events and programs in the City of Providence. Many applicants applied for the vendor space you were given. Please uphold your commitment to the event.

Do vendors have to vend outdoors?

Yes. This is an outdoor holiday market. We will be outdoors for the duration of the event. 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 to purchase warm beverages or to stand under the event 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, event 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, ample staff to professionally assist with set-up, sales, the daily logistics, and break-down, 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, and stands. Carts and/or wagons are useful when unloading from nearby parking areas to your assigned space. You will not be permitted to drive directly to your spaces, so bring the appropriate staff to assist with load-in and load-out.

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 have one 8-foot table.

Are vendor spaces assigned?

Yes. Vendors will be assigned spaces based on the dates the applications were received, the number of dates each vendor will be vending, and the overall merchandising mix of the market. Assignments will be sent to vendors before each market date.

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 participating days must be made prior to November 14th. 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 the downtown will be utilizing their own means of promotion as well.

We will also look to all of our 2025 vendors to help share the wonderful news of this year’s market. The more collective voices we have working together, the better!