DARK MARKET 

Oct. 25/26 

At Maris Farms in Buckley, Washington 

WHO: Celebrate H.A.R.V.E.S.T. is hosting its fourth annual DARK MARKET @ MARIS FARMS in Buckley, WA.

WHAT: The DARK Market is a fundraising event for Celebrate H.A.R.V.E.S.T., with all vendor fees going to the local nonprofit and helping support its cause of preserving farms by inspiring and financially supporting youth to pursue the agritainment industry as well as encouraging present-day farmers to supplement their commodity farm-driven revenues with non-traditional farming events and activities.

WHEN: October 25th/26th (See section below for specific times)

click image for larger map

Market vendor times are currently planned for anytime after 3 pm till the end of the haunted woods. There is a limited number of vendor spots available (TBD soon). Vendors can set up from 5-8 pm on Thursday (10/24), Friday (10/25) from 9 am-12 pm or Saturday (10/26) from 7 am-9:30 am and break down after the haunted woods ends on Friday and/or Saturday evening(s) using their vehicles. If/when setting up and/or breaking down, you must use your own cart or a Maris Farms wheelbarrow to load items and can use the area between the kids’ courtyard and corn room barn for access. A “vendors area load/unload” sign will be set up. Please click image to view the vendor load/unload area and where vendor booths will be set up.

WHERE: Maris Farms, 25001 Sumner-Buckley Hwy, Buckley WA 98321.

WHY: The intention of Makers’ Market is to help raise funds for Celebrate H.A.R.V.E.S.T. as well as promote experiential farming, aka agritainment/agritourism and the preservation of family farms. The Dark Market event is intended to offer a unique opportunity for market vendors to experience more of a themed market with the popular Haunted Woods at Maris Farms providing the setting and mood. Vendors are encouraged to dress-up in costume and have spooky-themed products to sell. Maris Farms will include many of the 3+ dozen activities throughout the farm, including the low ropes challenge course, human foos ball, trike racing course, jumping pillow, barnyard ball zone, conk the crow and a very popular mega-huge slide! You’ll also enjoy a beautiful gift shop and plenty of food options as well as our expanded BARn to enjoy a cool refreshing beverage.

VENDOR PRICING/DETAILS:

    • $40.00 for 1 day for a 10X10 space at a space TBD (limited to 20 spaces).
    • $75.00 for both days (Fri/Sat) for a 10X10 space TBD (limited to 20 spaces).
    • Room for 20 vendors, HOWEVER, we might find space for 5 more (stay tuned).
    • $25 application fee for first time vendors; No application fee for returning vendors.
    • Location of DARK Market is still TBD, but we should have this nailed down by April.
    • Applications for interested vendors can be found at Celebrate H.A.R.V.E.S.T. website (www.CelebrateHarvest.com) by January 8th or via a link from the Maris Farms website (www.MarisFarms.com) by Feb.1st, 2024.
    • Vendor applications for those sampling/selling food items that are submitted less than 14 days before the market begins, will be subject to a late fee. The Health Department will not accept Farmers Market Vendor Applications from uninvited vendors.
    • Food/Beverage vendors will be allowed to sample their products, but must do so per Pierce County Health Dept. rules/regulations/standards as it pertains to Covid-19 restrictions (you can call 253.649.1703 or e-mail food@tpchd.org for details).
    • Food/Beverage vendors will not be allowed to sell prepared-food products, but only in take-home format (pre-packaged and not consumable while on-site).
    • Maris Farms gift shop, kettle corn stand, concession stands (Farmers GirLL, Smokehouse and Moody Cow) and beer/wine tent (called The BARn) will all be open.
    • The Haunted Woods at Maris Farms provides a fantastic backdrop and mood for both the vendors and patrons of the Dark Market, which will feature many spooky-themed, hand-crafted products by local vendors.

More Important Details

  • Covid Rules: None at this time
  • Vendor check-in/info packet pick-up: All vendors are encouraged to arrive 30-60 minutes prior to designated set-up time (no later than 10 am), to check in and pick up their vendor welcome packet, which will have information pertaining to this and future farmers markets being hosted by Celebrate HARVEST, your assigned/designated booth space, a farm/makers’ market map with vendor space layout, one vendor raffle ticket for the gift basket drawing that weekend and some other pertinent market details.
  • Set Up times: 5-8 pm Thursday (10/24), 9 am-12 pm Friday (10/25) and 7-9:30 am on Saturday (10/26); you can bring your car to a designated unloading/loading area, but must remove vehicle by noon on Friday and by 9:30 am on Saturday and park in main parking lot
  • Market Time: 3 pm – end of the haunted woods
  • Makers’ Market Days/Times:

Oct. 25: 3 pm-end of the haunted woods
Oct. 26: 3 pm-end of the haunted woods

  • Tear Down: Anytime after the last patron exits the haunted woods or even on Sunday (1027) between 6:30 am-9:30 am (you can leave your tent and table, but must bring tent down; we are not responsible for any items/products you leave overnight. Cannot bring your car onto the premises until after last patron has exited the haunted woods, so will have to bring your items out using your own cart.
  • Booth Clean Up: Vendors are required to maintain their individual selling space in a clean, safe and sanitary manner, including protecting the pavement from drips from any part of the vendor’s vehicle during set up and/or break down. Each vendor is responsible for keeping his/her booth space clean during the market and for complete cleanup of the space at the close of the market. This includes removing any trash or garbage that is generated in or around your booth and sweeping up any product debris left on the ground. Vendors are not permitted to dispose of produce waste, overripe or leftover product or boxes in any on-site garbage cans or dumpsters. Vendors must take your garbage off-site/with you. Market trash cans and dumpsters are not available for vendor use. Vendors should bring their own brooms and dustpans. Those who do not clean up at the end of the market will be issued a written warning for the first offense and a $25.00 fine for a second offense. A third offense is grounds for termination of a vendor’s permit to sell.
  • For information, contact Steve Templeman at stempleman1967@gmail.com or 253.377.3574

DETAILS PERTAINING TO DARK MARKET EVENT:

DARK MARKET AT MARIS FARMS: featuring many of the fantastic activities experienced by visitors during the fall as well as some NEW ones that are sure to delight. All Included w/admission (ONLINE: $TBD ages 3-12, $TBD 13 & older; ON-SITE: $TBD ages 3 and older): GIANT MEGA SLIDE, hay rides, tube slides, trike race track, limited kids’ courtyard, jump pillow (if covid-restrictions allow), wall mazes, color change maze, human foosball, gaga ball, zip lines, etc., roller bowler, a tiny-tot zip line, the Feeds Mill Ropes (challenge), the flashlight corn maze and, of course, the now infamous Haunted Woods at Maris Farms. There will also be a DARK’ market (hosted by nonprofit Celebrate H.A.R.V.E.S.T.), food available at kettle corn stand and food concession (The Farmers GirLL), our fabulous sweete shop and the newly expanded gift shop. Goat walk feeding stations will be open. A parakeet feeding station may be open as well. We will offer photographers 1 day a week to book opportunities to take pictures with their clients. Tickets for Maris Farms fall-time activities go on sale TBD.