About the Cotton District Arts Festival
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Mark your calendars for October 29, 2022, because CDAF is coming BACK to the Cotton District. We've got all the things you love: the Pet Parade to kick off the day, the Artisan Village with local and regional vendors, Taste of Starkville food vendors, the Childrens' Village hosted by the Junior Auxiliary, the International Village hosted by The World Neighbor Association, the Writers' Village author readings and contests, live music ALL DAY at 3 stages from local musicians, and much more!
We'll also be selling BEER, as well as featuring a VIP Tent for our Patrons! ($1,000+ individuals and businesses). Check out all these activities and villages by navigating the pages above. |
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Held each year in the historic Cotton District in Starkville, Mississippi, the festival blends incredible art, music, and food into a showcase event. The festival is host to more than 150 artisans, as well as a Juried Art Competition and show, Writer's Village, Taste of Starkville restaurant competition, Pet Parade, Student Art competition, and much more. Presented by the Starkville Area Arts Council, the Cotton District Arts Festival has been named one of the top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus Association, a Top 20 Event in the Southeast, and one of the top 5 festivals in Mississippi for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and again in 2019, by Mississippi Magazine.
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FAQs
Have a question? These are just some of the questions we have received over the years. If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to contact us!
Will I get the same spot? There is no guarantee that we can offer returning vendors the same spot. Placement of the Festival is subject to City approval every year and is impacted by a wide variety of issues.
When will I hear back from my application? Decisions will be sent by email, and start going out on/after the first deadline for your particular village. Although some villages may accept late applications, priority consideration is given to those who apply before the first deadline. Check the Applications page for various deadlines.
Why wasn't I accepted? We do not provide feedback on individual submissions. Each year, submissions have become more and more competitive, particularly among arts and crafts vendors who sell similar types of products. Some general suggestions:
Is there WiFi? This varies based upon the carrier. Be prepared to make manual cash/check sales on the day of the festival, in the event that WiFi or cell service is unavailable.
Are there ATMs? There are limited ATMs in the area. Bring cash that you feel necessary to make change.
What's the crowd like? The festival opens at 9 a.m. The crowd is usually heaviest between 10:30 and 3:00 p.m. This is highly variable when the weather shifts.
If I sell out, can I leave early? No. The streets are blocked. You can enjoy the festival, but you will not be able to break down your booth until 5:00 p.m.
I have a license to sell MSU stuff - why don't you allow it? Because the Festival is geared toward artists who aren't as lucky as you to sell licensed work. Most attendees and vendors have asked that licensed work not be permitted. This is consistent with the approach of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild. Our suggestion: ask MSU (or any other university) to promote your work to their alumni and student networks, which are much bigger than CDAF. Anyone who violates this the day of the festival will be asked to leave and may not be accepted to future festivals.
Do I need to have an LLC or other business license to apply for the festival? Nope! Most artisans qualify as "sole proprietor" so your Tax ID is the same as your social security number. If you have an LLC, you will have a separate Tax ID.
Can I send you sales tax information after the festival? Absolutely not. We are required to turn over every vendor's information AND PAYMENT to the Department of Revenue with 10 days of the Festival. If you leave without paying (or submitting a form indicated zero sales), then you are unlikely to be admitted the following year.
Another vendor has copied my work! What do I do?! Contact a lawyer or the craftsman's guild in your state. We are unable to resolve this type of (rare) vendor disputes.
Will I get the same spot? There is no guarantee that we can offer returning vendors the same spot. Placement of the Festival is subject to City approval every year and is impacted by a wide variety of issues.
When will I hear back from my application? Decisions will be sent by email, and start going out on/after the first deadline for your particular village. Although some villages may accept late applications, priority consideration is given to those who apply before the first deadline. Check the Applications page for various deadlines.
Why wasn't I accepted? We do not provide feedback on individual submissions. Each year, submissions have become more and more competitive, particularly among arts and crafts vendors who sell similar types of products. Some general suggestions:
- Don't rely on old photographs.
- Show all the products you intend to sell, particularly items that are unique from other vendors.
- Describe your process if it’s not clear that your work is made by you.
Is there WiFi? This varies based upon the carrier. Be prepared to make manual cash/check sales on the day of the festival, in the event that WiFi or cell service is unavailable.
Are there ATMs? There are limited ATMs in the area. Bring cash that you feel necessary to make change.
What's the crowd like? The festival opens at 9 a.m. The crowd is usually heaviest between 10:30 and 3:00 p.m. This is highly variable when the weather shifts.
If I sell out, can I leave early? No. The streets are blocked. You can enjoy the festival, but you will not be able to break down your booth until 5:00 p.m.
I have a license to sell MSU stuff - why don't you allow it? Because the Festival is geared toward artists who aren't as lucky as you to sell licensed work. Most attendees and vendors have asked that licensed work not be permitted. This is consistent with the approach of the Mississippi Craftsmen’s Guild. Our suggestion: ask MSU (or any other university) to promote your work to their alumni and student networks, which are much bigger than CDAF. Anyone who violates this the day of the festival will be asked to leave and may not be accepted to future festivals.
Do I need to have an LLC or other business license to apply for the festival? Nope! Most artisans qualify as "sole proprietor" so your Tax ID is the same as your social security number. If you have an LLC, you will have a separate Tax ID.
Can I send you sales tax information after the festival? Absolutely not. We are required to turn over every vendor's information AND PAYMENT to the Department of Revenue with 10 days of the Festival. If you leave without paying (or submitting a form indicated zero sales), then you are unlikely to be admitted the following year.
Another vendor has copied my work! What do I do?! Contact a lawyer or the craftsman's guild in your state. We are unable to resolve this type of (rare) vendor disputes.
Contact Us
Send us a note or comment, we would love to hear from you!
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The Cotton District Arts Festival is run by the Starkville Area Arts Council. You can reach us through any of the following:
Starkville Area Arts Council 122 E Main St Starkville, Mississippi 39759 Phone: 662-268-8374 CDAF Committee: CDAF@starkvillearts.org Artisan Village: CDAFArtisans@starkvillearts.org Taste of Starkville: TasteofStarkville@starkvillearts.org SAAC ED: director@starkvillearts.org General info: arts@starkvillearts.org |
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