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UPDATES

This banner will be updated if we receive important new vendor info!
* CLARIFICATION* : If you are vending for all 3 days in the vendor hall, you will NOT get a table and chairs!
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  • Vendors may not play their own music at their booths.
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  • Parking at Alliant is now $10 a car. This is unfortunately venue policy & Big Gay Market does not profit from the parking fee.
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  • Material/products created using AI (artificial intelligence) is STRICTLY PROHIBITED at all Big Gay Market events. If you see a vendor selling products that you suspect contain or were created by AI, please notify TBGM staff. 

ACTION REQUIRED

Please read ALL of the info and complete the form below:

Vendor Info

Pride 2026

We're so excited to have you at The Big Gay Pride Market happening June 19th - 21st! We have some important details about the event below:

Contact Info

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Venue Info

  • To purchase Wi-Fi, table, chairs, and more, visit Alliant Energy Center's Store Page for our event

  • Click the button below to view the most updated vendor booth maps:

    • Exhibition Hall = 3-day vendors

    • Lobby = sponsors and 1-day only vendors

    • Atrium = community orgs and resources

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Load In/Out Info

  • Load in for the vendor hall, community orgs, and Friday night vendors will be happening during the day on Friday, June 19th (7am - 5pm). The Friday night market starts at 5pm.

  • To load in, drive in the main entrance, past the exhibition halls, and into the back parking lot (if you have a lot of stuff you can park in loading dock A). The large loading dock door will open when you approach

  • On Saturday, the loading dock will open at 7am for vendors entering and loading in

  • On Sunday, the loading dock will open at 8am for vendors entering and loading in

  • Optional restocking time will be offered Saturday and Sunday morning

  • All vendors must check in at the vendor welcome table by the loading dock doors, even if you are vending in the front of the building!

  • This is also where you can drop off a raffle prize if you'd like to donate one! See below for more info.

  • Each vendor hall booth is 10x10ft with curtains separating neighboring booths from each other

  • Vendor hall booths will not include a table and chairs. These can be purchased from the Alliant Energy Center office. We recommend bringing your own if you are able. Fri/Sat only vendors will receive a table and 2 chairs. 

  • If you are NOT able to load in at your assigned time, please fill out the Google Form below:

  • Please be patient during load out. We will have Alliant staff assisting with load out. There will be limited carts to use. You are welcome to leave immediately following the Sunday market. Do not pack up early!! 

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Parking Info

  • There will not be parking enforcement on Friday 

  • On Saturday, vendors MUST PAY FOR PARKING ($10 per car per day)

    • There is an early event onsite that day, and we were unable to secure parking passes for our vendors

    • This is on Alliant - we are in discussion with them to secure parking passes for future events.

  • On Sunday, vendors will have to pay $10 per car UNLESS you arrive BEFORE 8:20am!

  • Parking fees cover the ENTIRE day -- you may come and go without paying additional parking fees

  • Parking fees at Alliant are now cashless. They will only be taking cards

  • Click the button below to view the parking map:

Cars parked in a parking lot

Attendee Goodie Bags and Booklets

  • We will have 500 goodie bags available for attendees.

  • If you would like to add promotional material/items/coupons to the bags, please email us at thebiggaymarket@gmail.com.

  • You must provide 500 of whatever you would like in the bags. Items must be provided to admin by 9am on Friday, June 19th

  • If providing candy, avoid allergens such as gluten and nuts

Image by Happy Films

Market Hours

  • The market is open to the public:

    • Friday, June 19th: 5pm – 10pm (18+ only)

    • Saturday, June 20th: 10am – 5pm

      • Saturday Night Drag Show 7pm – 9pm​

    • Sunday, June 21st: 10am – 2pm*

  • *Masks will be required all day on Sunday 

  • We will have masks available

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Entertainment

  • We will be having MULTIPLE entertainment shows throughout the weekend, almost all of which will be happening DURING vending hours

    • Unless you have someone to cover your booth, you won't be able to attend :,(​

  • The only show happening OUTSIDE of vending hours is our Saturday Night Drag Show from 7pm - 9pm

    • Tickets will be sold in advance -- you WILL need to purchase a ticket to the drag pageant in order to attend

  • Here's a full list of entertainment during the weekend:

    • ​Friday, June 19th

      • Furry Fashion Show @ 5:45pm​

      • Drag Pageant @ 7pm - 9pm

    • ​Saturday, June 20th

      • Comedy Show @ 12pm - 1:30pm

      • Speaker Series @ 11am - 4pm

      • Drag Bingo @ ​3pm - 5pm

      • Drag Show @ 7pm - 9pm

    • Sunday, June 21st

      • Clothing & Trinket Swap @ 10am - 2pm

      • Beaded Bag Charm Workshop by Tori's Trinkets @ 12pm - 1:30pm

      • Trivia @ 1pm - 2:30pm

Drag queens at a previous big gay market

Venue Security

  • The vendor halls will be LOCKED overnight

  • Please leave your booths fully assembled overnight on Friday and Saturday

  • Take all valuables (cash boxes, tablets, mobile devices. etc.) with you!

  • We encourage sheets to cover booths overnight

  • If you see ANY suspicious activity during the day, such as people actively stealing from your booth, notify Ashley and Ollie IMMEDIATELY

Security cameras

Mask Requirement

  • The Sunday market will be masked all day (10am - 2pm) for those who are more comfortable shopping at masked events

  • We will provide surgical masks for shoppers and vendors that don't have their own mask/s

Person loading a box of masks into a vehicle

Promo Materials

  • Please begin promoting the event if you haven't yet!

  • The more we share the event, the more people will come and the more money you'll make :)

  • Share the link to the Facebook event here:

  • Please click the button below for our media packet:

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Raffle Information

  • We will be having a raffle supporting our lovely featured nonprofit: OutReach!

  • If you would like to donate an item to the raffle, please bring it with you to the market

  • It can be dropped off at the vendor welcome table where you will check in

  • Like previous markets, we will have business cards for vendors to sign when customers make purchases :)

  • When a customer makes 3 purchases from 3 different vendors, they may turn in the card for a free raffle ticket at the OutReach table in the lobby!

  • Raffles (aside from Outreach's raffle) are not allowed without prior authorization by the event organizers.

Outreach logo

Take Care of Yourself!

  • Stay hydrated and drink lots of water!

  • There are plenty of water fountains to refill bottles

  • Don't forget to eat -- it can be easy to forget when you're busy chatting and vending!

  • Market officials and volunteers will do their best to provide breaks for vendors to run to the restroom or grab food

  • A vendor break room will be available for vendors who need a break from the crowd or want a snack/drink. Please see the map for its location

  • Feel free to hang out in this room as much and as long as you'd like! This room is NOT SECURE so do not leave any valuables in it 

  • Please email thebiggaymarket@gmail.com for disability accommodations if you haven't already!

  • We can't wait to see you there! :)

PRIDE 2024 (1).HEIC

Tips for Vendors

ACTION REQUIRED

Please complete the form below:

Vendor Info Form

After reviewing ALL of the info above, please fill out this form:

Vendor Info Form

This form is REQUIRED for you to vend at our market. Please fill it out at your earliest convenience. We can't wait to see you soon! :)

Community Expectations:

  • I agree to refrain from intentionally promoting, stocking, selling, gifting, or otherwise disbursing goods or materials, or speaking or acting in a manner, which may be perceived as discriminatory, bigoted, or otherwise harmful to the inclusivity of the market, toward any persons, on the basis of sex; race; color; disability; sexual orientation; religion; national origin; marital status; family status; status as a victim of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or stalking; lawful source of income; age; or ancestry ("Discrimination" or "Discriminating"). I understand that whether anything associated with me qualifies as Discrimination shall be determined by a member or agent of The Big Gay Market, LLC, ("TBGM") at their sole discretion. If TBGM determines that I am Discriminating, I understand that they may ask me to cease such behavior or remove such goods or materials from my booth. I understand that if I fail to comply with TBGM's instructions after a verbal or written notice from TBGM, I may be ejected from the market without a refund of any fee or deposit I may have paid, at the sole discretion of TBGM.

  • I agree that I will assume that all other persons attending the market intend to avoid Discriminating or otherwise causing harm to anyone else at the market. I agree that I will first ask the designated members or agents of TBGM, Ashley or Ollie for this market, about any item or behavior which causes me concern, discomfort, or fear but which does not threaten my life or safety or the life or safety of anyone else. I will only call emergency services to the market in situations when I reasonably believe emergency services are necessary, such as imminent danger to someone's physical well-being, and I do not believe the situation could be resolved by the intervention of an agent of TBGM. I understand that marginalized members of the community who TBGM intends to provide an open and welcoming space for at the market may face additional challenges if emergency services are present at the market, and I understand that TBGM intends to limit such presence of emergency services to the fullest extent possible.

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