Fall Garden Festival
Vendor & Musician Applications
Join us for the 2026 Fall Garden Festival at the New Orleans Botanical Garden on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 9am-5pm.
The Fall Garden Festival is one of the region’s premier gardening events, bringing together plant enthusiasts, local businesses, educational organizations, and musicians for a day of horticulture, shopping, entertainment, and community engagement.
Registration Deadline: September 21, 2026
To be included in the festival brochure and promotional materials, all applications must be submitted by September 21, 2026.
Vendors are responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and professional booth throughout the Fall Garden Festival. Participants should provide sufficient inventory for the duration of the event and are solely responsible for the security of their merchandise, displays, equipment, and personal property. Vendors must keep their booth areas orderly, operate during all festival hours, properly dispose of all trash and materials generated during the event, and leave their space in the same condition in which it was received. As the festival is a rain-or-shine event, vendors are expected to be prepared for all weather conditions and remain open and operational throughout the day.
Application Opportunities
Sales Vendors
Sales vendors are an integral part of the Fall Garden Festival, offering visitors a diverse selection of plants, garden products, artisan goods, home décor, and unique merchandise. Participants have the opportunity to connect with thousands of gardening enthusiasts and shoppers while showcasing their products in a vibrant outdoor marketplace. Booth spaces are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fee: $150 per 10′ x 10′ booth. Additional adjacent booth spaces are available for $150 each.
Please review the Fall Garden Festival vendor maps and indicate your preferred booth location when completing your application for the Fall Garden Festival. While we will make every effort to accommodate booth preferences, placements are assigned based on availability and event needs.
Requirements
- Vendors selling merchandise must obtain an Occasional Occupational License from the City of New Orleans
- IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt from the license fee but remain responsible for applicable sales taxes
- Plant vendors must maintain a valid Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Nursery Certificate Permit or Nursery Stock Dealer Permit
- Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable permits, licenses, and tax regulations
Apply: Sales Vendor Application
Food Vendors
Fee: $150 per permit
Food vendors play an important role in creating a welcoming and enjoyable festival experience by providing food and refreshments for attendees throughout the day. Vendors are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required licenses, permits, inspections, and certifications and must comply with all applicable health, safety, fire, and sanitation regulations. Unless otherwise specified, food vendors are also responsible for providing all equipment necessary to operate their booth during the festival.
The sale, distribution, or sampling of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited. Food vendors may not sell, serve, dispense, or provide alcoholic beverages in any form at any time during the Fall Garden Festival.
Apply: Food Vendor Application
Educational Exhibitors
Fee: No charge for universities, government agencies, and garden societies exhibiting for educational purposes.
Educational exhibitors play an important role in making the Fall Garden Festival both engaging and informative. Through interactive demonstrations, hands-on learning opportunities, educational displays, exhibits, and conservation and gardening outreach, exhibitors help inspire visitors of all ages to learn more about gardening, horticulture, and environmental stewardship while enhancing the overall festival experience.
Please review the Education Vendor Zone Map indicate your preferred zone when completing your application for the Fall Garden Festival. While we will make every effort to accommodate booth preferences, placements are assigned based on availability and event needs.
Apply: Educational Exhibitor Application
Musicians
Fee: Musicians will be scheduled for two-hour performance slots, with the first slot beginning at 9am, and will receive a $150 stipend in recognition of their participation.
Live music is an important part of the festival experience, helping to create a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere for guests throughout the day. We are excited to showcase local and regional talent while providing festival attendees with quality entertainment in the beautiful garden setting of City Park.
Musicians will perform on the Haspel Stage, located in the Azalea-Camellia Garden across from the Pavilion of Two Sisters, during a scheduled two-hour performance slot. Performance times are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
Musicians are responsible for providing their own sound equipment. Electrical access and stage lighting will be available on site. Convenient parking is available near the Haspel Stage, and a gate located directly behind the stage provides easy vehicle access for loading and setup.
Apply: Musician Application
Registration & Payment
Registration and payment are completed through the online application process.
Educational Exhibitor Application
Booth Assignments & Performance Schedules
Booth locations and musician performance times will be assigned after registration closes on Sept. 21, 2026 and will be confirmed by September 25, 2026.
Assignments are based on event needs, space availability, and registration order whenever possible. While we make every effort to accommodate booth placement and performance scheduling requests, specific assignments cannot be guaranteed.
Load-In & Event Logistics
Detailed load-in and load-out instructions, including designated gate access, will be emailed to all participants by September 25, 2026.
Load-In Schedule
Participants may set up during the following times:
Friday, October 2, 2026
- 7am-3pm
- The Garden will be closed to the public during setup
- Overnight security will be provided on Friday, October 2 following setup
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 7-8:45am
- The Fall Garden Festival opens to the public at 9am
Load-Out Schedule
Participants may begin breakdown at the conclusion of the festival
Saturday, October 3, 2026
- 5-7pm
All materials, merchandise, and equipment must be removed from the Garden following the event. Nothing may remain on site overnight.
Review the Fall Garden Festival Participant Information Packet for additional details.
Questions about the 2026 Fall Garden Festival? Contact the Botanical Garden Team at [email protected].