A curated, family‑friendly weekend market in Knoxville, TN — full of joy, creativity, and community. Think whimsical treasure hunt meets boutique shopping meets kids‑play paradise.

We hand‑select vendors who fit our playful, curated aesthetic. We love:

• Boutique retail

• Vintage + antiques

• Up‑cycled + refinished goods

• Art, pottery, candles, jewelry

• Kids’ items

• Plants + home décor

• Food trucks + baked goods

• Farm produce

• Unique treasures that spark joy

We avoid:

• Flea‑market bulk items

• Adult‑only products

• Counterfeit or trademark‑infringing items

• Anything unsafe for families

Scan the QR code or use the link on our website to fill out the Vendor Application Form. We will look at your photos and links — in a friendly, supportive, “ooh this is cute!” kind of way.

Booth prices differ depending on the type you select.

AND HERE’S AN EXTRA SPRINKLE OF JOY: for every weekend in May, if you join us both days and follow the vendor guidelines, you’ll score a $50 Vendor Incentive refund (based on the fees you actually paid).

That’s a little magic back in your pocket!

 (Heads up: this happy bonus doesn’t apply to small cart vendors or local small  farm/produce vendors with special discounted rates. )

• Classic 10×10 Booths – $50/day ($25/day for May)

• 10×10 Booths with Power – $75/day

• 18×10 Pavilion Booths – $100/day (power not included but can be accommodated)

SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THE FOLLOWING VENDOR TYPES:

• Verified Local Small Farm Vendor – $25 to $35/day (fee waived for May)

Give us the details in your application and we’ll get in touch.

• Food Trucks – $25/day ($0 after Vendor Incentive refund) (We will require a deposit paid just to confirm and ensure that you’re there on the scheduled day, but we will refund your deposit in full within 24-48 hours of market close if you show up and participate the full day of your confirmed date.)

(Vendor Incentive programs may be extended past May for Food Trucks.)

*For the opening weekend and possibly future dates, we are limiting the food truck vendor spaces to two trucks. This is to make sure there isn’t over saturation and low food sales. Once the market is growing, we’ll reevaluate the head count!

• Small Cart Vendors (Cotton Candy, Nuts, etc.)

Space is limited—and the fee is based on your specific space needs.  Give us details in your application and we’ll get in touch.

Once your application gets the thumbs-up, it's time to secure your spot with payment—simple, quick, and official! That way, your booth is locked in and ready for market magic.

Let’s keep your cash flowing and your calendar sparkling! If you’re joining us for multiple weekends (or even picking your favorite days), you don’t have to drop the whole vendor fee at once. We make it easy to secure your dates without breaking the bank, so you can focus on your booth magic.

Applying for two or more weekends in one fell swoop? (Shout out to Nate Bargatze’s wife!) You can pick both days of a one weekend (hello, $50 Vendor Incentive Refund!) or choose just one day per weekend (no $50 Vendor Incentive refund, but flexibility galore) over multiple weekends. You pay just 50% upfront, then the remaining 50% two weeks before each market date—plenty of time to plan.

Need to cancel? With 14 days’ notice, you get a full refund for that date. Need to bow out last minute? You’ll snag a raincheck good for 12 months. And if life throws a curveball, verified emergencies may get special consideration. We’re here to keep things fair and fabulous!

See the Vendor FAQ What if I have to cancel?  for more information.

To kick off our opening month with sparkle and energy, we’re rolling out a special treat for vendors: join us for both days of a weekend, follow all guidelines, and you’ll get a $50 Vendor Incentive refund on your paid vendor fees. It’s like unlocking bonus booth hours! Here’s the scoop—you just need to pay your fees in full at least 14 days before the market starts, and after you complete both days, $50 comes magically back to you the very next Monday or Tuesday (within 24 to 48 hours after the weekend wraps—because even the Market Success Team needs a little rest before making it rain refunds!).

Who gets to join the refund party?

• 10×10 booths

• 10×10 booths with power

• 18×10 pavilion booths

• Food Truck Vendors (limited to actual fees paid)

•  (Heads up: this happy bonus doesn’t apply to small cart vendors or local small  farm/produce vendors with special discounted rates.)

It’s simple: as soon as you receive your vendor approval email, just pay the invoice attached—and voilà! Your booth is officially reserved. No magic wand required, just timely payment. We promise to be timely with your vendor incentive refunds too! We’ll have them back to you within 24-48 hours after your market date closes.

12 PM – 5 PM Saturday & Sunday — your weekend adventure awaits!

• Setup starts at 10am — not earlier, or we’ll still be brushing our teeth.

• Be fully ready by 11:30, Then the fun begins at Noon.

• Booths must stay open until 5 PM. And everyone packed up, cleaned up and off of the lot by 7pm.

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Please do not arrive early — we’ll still be fluffing our feathers.

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM is our official close-down window—please keep the show going until 5:00 PM sharp! By 7 PM, let’s have everything sparkling, packed up, and out.

YES. Yes. And also… yes. Tents must be weighted with 25–40 lbs per leg. Flying tents are not whimsical.

We have a limited number of power booths. If you need power, select that option on your application.

Absolutely—unless Mother Nature decides to throw a curveball! We’re ready for Tennessee’s unpredictable moods, so bring your best umbrella and some sunshine just in case.

There’s a classic East Tennessee saying: If you don’t like the weather, just hang tight—it’ll change before you know it. So, while a little shower or sprinkle won’t stop our show, if storm clouds threaten something truly unsafe, we’ll close the market for everyone’s safety. Should we have to cancel before the fun even starts, you’ll get your fees refunded for that date, and we’ll keep you posted ASAP. We aim to send those refunds within 24 hours, but if things get busy, we may need up to 72 hours to make it rain (refunds, that is).

If things turn wild mid-market, we’ll check the clock and figure out a fair refund or credit for future dates, sprinkling a little sunshine back your way. We try to wrap up decisions by day’s end, but sometimes we need up to 24 hours after closing to get it right. All rainchecks and refunds are decided with care and fairness—expect an email with your verdict soon! It may take us up to 72 hours to process every refund or raincheck, but we promise we’re on it.

Our pledge: We’ll always put respect and fairness first—your time and talents truly matter to us.

You may request a market buddy, but final placement is based on flow, aesthetics, and logistics.

We review applications daily and send acceptance, waitlist or rejection emails as soon as decisions are made.

Change of plans? We get it—life happens! If you need to bow out, just let us know at least 14 days before your market date and we’ll send your fees dancing right back to you with a full refund (for fees paid), no worries. If you need to cancel closer to showtime, don’t fret—we’ll hook you up with a raincheck for the fees you’ve paid, valid for a whole year of future fun. And if life throws a curveball you can’t control, verified emergencies always get special consideration. The heart of our cancellation policy is to support a full and vibrant market, not to play greedy goblins! If you’re dealing with a truly tough situation, we’re here to work with you. On the other hand, if you simply change your mind and decide to hit the lake instead, we’ll do our best to fill your spot (highly likely!) and work with you for a rain check for a future vendor date. We’re all about keeping things fair and fabulous!

✨ What if you cancel a market date?

Should we have to cancel before the fun even starts, you’ll get your fees refunded for that date, and we’ll keep you posted ASAP. We aim to send those refunds within 24 hours, but if things get busy, we may need up to 72 hours to make it happen.

If we have to close mid-market,  we’ll check the clock and figure out a fair refund or credit for future dates, sprinkling a little sunshine back your way. We try to wrap up decisions by day’s end, but sometimes we need up to 24 hours after closing to get it right. All rainchecks and refunds are decided with care and fairness—expect an email with your verdict soon! It may take us up to 72 hours to process every refund or raincheck, but we promise we’re on it.

Our pledge: We’ll always put respect and fairness first—your time and talents truly matter to us.

Get ready—applications for June and the rest of the year will burst open in mid-May! Mark your calendars, keep your eyes peeled, and prepare to snag your spot for a season full of vibrant weekends.

Have a question, comment, or a brilliant idea? Drop us a line anytime! We’re here to make your market experience smooth and joyful. We love getting messages and will jump on your email or note as quickly as possible—usually within a day, but sometimes we may need up to 24 hours to send back a helpful reply.

Send us your magic at VendorServices@theplayfulpopup.com and we’ll be sure to help you out.

Customers, curious about the markets? Send your questions to CustomerService@theplayfulpopup.com. You can also check out our Market and Kids Zone FAQ for even more answers and info!

We’re a seasonal market. We open the first weekend in May and close after the second  weekend in January. During the down time in February, March and April, we’ll be working on blowing your socks off for the next season!

Yes, yes and yes!

This year we have special themes and events planned for all the major Holidays and everything in between. Below are some of the events we’re definitely planning and some are still in the dreaming phase, but you’ll get the big picture. We’ll release the June and later season  special events and weekend themes in mid-May.

WE’RE STARTING MAY WITH:

Pre Mother’s Day Weekend – with free and paid activities to entertain the kids, crafts and exceptional gifts the kids can make and take for Mom or Grandma, while Grammie, Mom and Dad shop for their favorite mom’s!

Mother’s Day Weekend – More free and paid crafts and precious gifts the kids can make for mom or with Mom and Grandma, A special Mother’s Day Photo Booth for Mommy and Me or Nanna and Me Photos, There will be something special for every Mom, Momma, Queenie, Ma and Marmie, Every Grammie, GG, Nonna, Baba, Bubbie, Great Grannie, Abuela, Obaasan, Yaya, Mimi, and Glam-Ma! -- Tell all your neighbors, tell all your friends, tell your kids, tell your Grandkids, tell your Mee-maw’s Mamaw! And tell your Dad and Pop-Pop too! It’s going to be an awesome memory making weekend!

Plus – Congrats Grads, Graduating Class of 2026, Memorial Day Weekend Events and an End of School/Welcome Summer Blow Out!

THEN IN JUNE AND JULY:

Father’s Day Weekend – free and paid crafts and premium gifts the kids can make for Dad or with Dad and Grandpa, A special Father’s Day Photo Booth for Daddy and Me or Papa and Me Photos, free and paid games and activities for dad’s and granddads, Pie Eating Contest for Dads and Granddads, Hoops and Mini Golf for the sporty dads, paper airplane building for the Grandkids and Gramps. There will be food, fun and shopping for everyone. Tell your dad, tell your Pappy, Pop, Opa, Papa Bear, your Abuelo, your Papaw, your Baba and your Granddaddy! Tell your mom, grandma and your pastor too! Tell all your neighbors, tell all  your friends, tell your kids!   It’s going to be an epic celebration of all the dads and Grandads we love and cherish. A weekend to remember forever for the whole family!

Dr. Seuss and His Whimsical World Weekend

Summer Reading List Favorite Character Book Day

Disney and Marvel Character Dress Up Weekend

Christmas in July

And more!