2026 Flathead Cherry Festival // Food

Flathead Cherry Festival 

Polson, MT // July 265-26 // Main Street 

The Flathead Cherry Festival has become a cornerstone summer event in the Flathead Valley, drawing growing crowds year after year and earning a reputation for its high-quality vendors, welcoming atmosphere, and stunning lakeside setting. What began as a local celebration has grown into a much-anticipated regional event, reflecting both the community’s enthusiasm and the festival’s continued positive impact. From enjoying a slice of classic cherry pie to browsing a thoughtfully curated selection of artists, makers, food vendors, and local businesses, the two-day festival offers a vibrant showcase of creativity, flavor, and community spirit set against the backdrop of Flathead Lake.

HandMADE Montana invites you to apply to be part of this milestone event. Held annually on the last weekend of July, the Flathead Cherry Festival celebrates the region’s iconic cherry harvest while bringing together talented artists, exceptional food vendors, and community-focused businesses. With strong attendance and increasing visibility each year, the festival offers vendors an opportunity to connect withlocals and visitors during one of the busiest times of the summer season.

Presented by HandMADE Montana in partnership with the Polson Chamber of Commerce, the Flathead Cherry Festival reflects a shared commitment to producing high-quality, well-organized events that support creative businesses, foster meaningful connections, and strengthen the local community.

APPLICATION PROCESS

This application is for those selling food items in one of three categories:

• Off-Site Food (baked goods, jams & jellies, sauces, honey, etc)
• On-Site (food truck, beverages, etc)
• Cherry orchards

You must submit a copy of your food license, temporary food service permit, or cottage food permit after you have been accepted and upload it with your contract.  Information on how to apply can be found online. You can contact Anna Baxter at Lake County Environmental Health with any questions.

Cherries sold at the Flathead Cherry Festival must be commercially acceptable, quality fruit from orchards within the legally established Pest Control District located in Lake and Flathead Counties.  To protect Flathead cherries' reputation and commercial value, fruit must be free of Western cherry fruit fly (WCFF) infestation. Cherry vendors may be asked to provide written evidence of the steps they havetaken to control an infestation of the WCFF in their orchards.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Fill out the online application

2. Upload images ( up to 5 product shots and one booth (a set-up of what your goods look like)

3. Pay the application fee

BOOTH FEES // SET-UP // EVENT HOURS

IMPORTANT DATES

• January  15: Accepting applications
• April 15: Deadline for submissions
• May 1: Accepted and declined artisans notified by email
• May 15: Booth fees due

BOOTH FEES // SET-UP // EVENT HOURS

• 10’ x 10’   $250 Cherry Orchard: $150
• 20 ’x 10’   $425 Cherry Orchard $300
• 30 ’x 10’  (or food truck)  $600

Corner booths are available in limited numbers for an additional $25. If you are interested, please indicate this on your application. Booth sizes are listed as width × depth. Chairs, tables, and electricity are not provided or available.

To improve traffic flow, we are streamlining the layout this year and will have one centralized food court located on 3rd Avenue. If you plan to use a generator, it must be an inverter generator (the Honda Quiet Series is a good example).

All pop-up tents must be properly weighted. Food trucks are allowed one additional 10’ × 10’ tent for customer waiting areas to provide shade.

Booth fees for this year remain the same as last year. Your booth fee covers not only your participation in the event, but also access to the full range of HandMADE Montana benefits designed to support artists and enhance visibility before, during, and after the show. We believe these benefits add significant value and contribute to a successful, well-supported event experience.

 SET-UP: Friday, July 24 //  5 PM - 9 PM  Saturday , July 25  // 6 AM - 9 AM

Streets will remain closed at night with security.

SHOW HOURS // SAT July 25, 9 AM - 5 PM // SUN July 26, 10 AM- 3 PM

All vendors must participate on both days of the event and must not dismantle their booths prematurely without obtaining prior permission. Ending early without authorization will affect future participation opportunities. Your adherence to this policy ensures a positive experience for all participants and contributes to the overall success of our events.

TAKE DOWN //  SUN 3 PM- 8 PM 

VENDOR BENEFITS 

For many, our shows are the season's highlight, and we promote our artists extensively on our website and social media. Our customers love to pre-shop and plan their day, which is an extra benefit compared to other handmade markets. This is just one of the many things that sets us apart!

As an artist at our event, you’ll enjoy:

• Exposure to over 8,000+ customers eager to buy handcrafted products and meet you, the artist
• Product image, business name, and links featured on our website
• A dedicated landing page with detailed information about your business, including links to your website, Facebook, and Instagram
• Promotional event graphics you can share on your Instagram, Facebook, or website
• A listing on a printed and digital floor plan for easy customer navigation
• A name tag and other great swag
• Additional promotional opportunities via featured artists and raffles.

PROMOTION   Our events consistently draw large crowds, and we put a lot of effort into attracting diverse customers. In addition to promoting through our website, Facebook, and Instagram, we use the following methods to advertise well in advance:

• Printed media: 5,000 rack cards, 500 posters, and 5,000 mini cards
• Advertisements in local newspapers and magazines
• Radio spots
• Glacier Country Tourism partner advertising
• Social media ads on Facebook and Instagram
• Calendar listings in newspapers, online, and magazines
• Digital and printed floor plan maps to help guide customers to your booth

We ensure our events are widely promoted to maximize visibility and foot traffic for our artists, non-profits, and food vendors.

ACCOMMODATIONS

We are committed to coordinating local dry camping options exclusively for vendors. Once you receive your acceptance email, you’ll be provided with detailed information and instructions on how to reserve a camping spot. We also encourage local vendors who have available space to consider offering homestays to fellow participants. Please note that lodging in Polson and the surrounding areas fills up quickly, so we strongly recommend securing accommodations as early as possible, even before acceptance.