BAKE SALE: SWEET TASTING FESTIVAL

Calling all bakers and bakeries! Bake Sale: Sweet Tasting Festival is a curated dessert-forward makers event featuring 45 bakeries and independent bakers. We are seeking vendors offering baked goods and sweets who can deliver strong presentation, consistent quality and an excellent customer experience.

This is a high-traffic, tasting and shopping-focused market designed to help vendors reach new customers, build repeat buyers and sell packaged products for take-home enjoyment.

Below you will find a detailed overview of the application process and important event information. Please read it in full, even if you have vended with us before, as it contains required updates and key details you will need before applying.

Please note: Sampling is REQUIRED for participation in Bake Sale.

LOCATION:
Salem Old Town Hall
32 Derby Square
Salem, MA 01970

VENDOR SELECTION: 
Bake Sale is a curated specialty dessert market dedicated to celebrating New England’s most talented bakers and bakeries. Our markets are built around creativity, craftsmanship, and community—spotlighting work that is thoughtfully designed, handmade, or thoughtfully sourced, right here in New England.

This market is best suited for bakers and bakeries who offer sweet treats ready for sampling. We are looking for cakes, cookies, pastries, breads, confections, and specialty drinks. If you are NOT a baker but a food-related vendor, please share in your application to share why you would be a great fit for this event!

We proudly champion original, locally made goods and we maintain a high standard for what we present to our shoppers. For that reason, we do not accept mass-produced items, imports, or products manufactured outside the region. Makers must be hands-on in the creation of their work, and bakeries must offer in house made food products; businesses that outsource design and production are not eligible.

Our mission is simple: to create meaningful opportunities for independent specialty food vendors to connect with customers who value authenticity, quality, and supporting local. If that sounds like you, we’d love to see your work and celebrate what you bring to the market.

APPLICATIONS OPEN:
February 24, 2026

MARKET DATE:
April 12, 2026

HOURS:
11 AM - 4 PM

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
March 15, 2026

NOTIFICATION DATE:
Rolling acceptances with all applications receiving decisions by March 16, 2026.

PAYMENT DEADLINE:
Within 48 hours upon acceptance

FEES, SPACE, & PAYMENTS:
6’ x 5’ (Standard 6ft Table) – $200.00
12’ x 5’ (2 Standard 6ft Table) – $275.00

Upon acceptance you will be sent an email with your reservation and a link to our Payment Page. Please bookmark this page for fast and easy payments.

TAX ID CERTIFICATES:
Tax ID Numbers are required in Massachusetts. All Exhibitors must be in compliance with State & Federal Tax Laws and display Tax ID Certificate in booth. This is required for both in state and out of state vendors. If you do not have a tax id certificate, you can obtain one online in a few minutes at no cost. Click HERE to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.

TABLE GUIDELINES:
All vendors are required to display their booths in a professional manner:

  • Your must display your Business Name/Logo at your table

  • Floor length table cloths are required for all display tables

  • Additional stock and boxes must be kept hidden under display

  • Rented space must be kept tidy during operating hours, your goods/displays must not extend outside of your area, and all trash must be hauled away at the close of the day

  • We do not supply or rent any setup supplies ie: tables, chairs, linens etc

SETUP EMAILS:
Before each scheduled market, vendors will receive a setup email on Friday. This email will provide you with specific details regarding your space assignment, setup time, and any special instructions or market requirements. It is essential for all vendors to thoroughly review this information and arrive at their designated setup time to ensure a smooth and efficient process, minimizing any potential delays or disruptions. Our team will be available to assist you with any questions or concerns that may arise during the setup. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a positive and well-organized market environment..

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Once a reservation is canceled, the associated fee is forfeited, and the reserved space cannot be sold or traded. We encourage you to make bookings accurately and thoughtfully.

REFUND POLICY:
NE Open Market does not provide refunds or credits for cancellations. If you need to cancel a paid reservation, your payment and spot will be forfeited.

WEATHER POLICY:
Bake Sale, hosted at Old Town Hall, is an indoor market. By participating, vendors acknowledge the possibility of unfavorable weather conditions. In the event of a rare closure due to severe weather, we won't be able to provide credits or refunds.

CODE OF CONDUCT:
In order to ensure the quality and enjoyment of the market and to promote a safe and positive atmosphere, we ask that all vendors act in accordance to the following:

  • Act with respect toward other persons, their privacy and safety.

  • Physical or verbal abuse to fellow vendors, customers or market management of any kind will not be tolerated.

  • All persons shall treat public and private property and equipment with respect.

Please report any activity that is deemed inappropriate to our on-site managers. Any violation of the Code of Conduct by a vendor will result in the immediate removal from the markets without refund. NE Open Markets, LLC owners, landlords, man­agers and pro­mot­ers reserve the right to restrict or ter­mi­nate any vendor’s activ­ity which, in their opin­ion, is disruptive, slanderous, inap­pro­pri­ate or is detri­men­tal to the qual­ity of the event as a whole. In the event of any restric­tions or evic­tions, NE Open Markets, LLC and its affil­i­ates will not be liable for any refund of rental or other expenses. 

HEALTH AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: Food Vendors Only

SALEM
If accepted, each vendor will be required to obtain a Salem Board of Health Temporary Food Service Permit. Please make sure you have all required documents ready before applying. You must apply for your permit and submit proof to us before paying the fee to secure your spot.

Specific document requirements and additional details can be found below:

Please note: NEOM requires Bake Sale temporary food permit applications to be submitted no later than 30 days before the event, with a final deadline of Monday, March 16. Be sure to plan ahead and have all required documentation ready before completing your Bake Sale application.

PROMOTER STATEMENT:
In the event of any restric­tions or evic­tions, the NE Open Markets, LLC and its affil­i­ates will not be liable for any refund of rental or other expenses. NE Open Markets, LLC man­agers and pro­mot­ers reserve the right to remove, with­out refund or recourse, any exhibitor who mis­rep­re­sents him­self or his prod­uct. In addi­tion, the pro­moter reserves the right not to select ven­dors who may not be suit­able for the market. NE Open Markets, LLC reserve the right to amend or add to the applic­a­ble rules per­tain­ing to and gov­ern­ing the Boston Open Market at any time dur­ing and before the oper­at­ing sea­son without notice. The inter­pre­ta­tion of all the rules by the pro­mot­ers shall be final.

COMMUNICATION:
Please direct any questions to mia@newenglandopenmarkets.com and mk@newenglandopenmarkets.com.

Thank you! We look forward to reviewing your application.