A one-day storytellers’ market designed to spotlight local authors and bookish vendors. It is a curated, family-friendly event focused on connecting storytellers with readers while fostering community, creativity, and professional growth.

Food merchants who are licensed to serve and sell food in the state of Ohio and Butler County. All licenses must be on display during the event at all times.

Please follow your requirements as set forth in your licensing. It is found that lists of ingredients help buyers make informed decisions for those who have food allergies.

Please note: We take food allergies very seriously as one of our co-founders has severe food allergies.

Food merchant registration opens on February 27, 2026. Last call will be July 10, 2026 with registration closing on July 17, 2026.

Please note: Dates are subject to change without notice when capacity is reached. There will be a wait list created for those who didn’t make it in.

We aim to curate a balanced and diverse market. Each application is thoroughly reviewed to reach these perimeters:

• Maintain food diversity

• Prevent excessive duplication within one food type

• Ensure alignment with our boundaries and standards

• Proven setup displays

• Ohio Operations and Vendors License to sell and serve food

• Day of general liability insurance coverage

• Ability to display ingredients list

To ensure a great event for all in attendance, the following are our author requirements:

• Food Merchant

  • Beverages (non-alcoholic)

  • Snacks & Food

  • Food Truck

• Proven setup displays (photos)

• Ohio Operations and Vendors License to sell and serve food

• Day of general liability insurance coverage

• Ability to display ingredients list

While not required, promotion is strongly encouraged. The more we all can work together as a united community, the larger our reach will be collectively.

Please note: There will be graphics available for your use.

Due to county and state laws, operational licenses are a requirement. Please have them on display in your truck and/or booth.

If you sell goods that require sales tax to be collected:

It is state law to have an Ohio Vendor’s License for the sale of goods. Each author and merchant is responsible for collecting and reporting their own sales tax collected. This will be monitored and proof of license is required. If you do not have yours yet, we recommend obtaining a transient vendor license which can be used at events throughout the state.

Learn more at: https://ohio.gov/business/resources/vendors-license

Full details are provided in your author agreement. This helps protect you, your products, and your guests. You will need to have a minimum of $1Million and include Lilian Grace Designs, LLC (Shonda Ramsey) on your certificate of insurance for the day of the event only. A copy of this certificate is required to be permitted on site.

A reputable company is Act Insurance. Learn more: https://www.actinsurance.com/general-liability-insurance

Setup is the day of the event. Indoor Food Merchants will be permitted inside the venue at 8:30 am on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Booths must be fully open by 10:15 am in preparation for the doors to open to the public at 10:30 am.

Food trucks can begin arriving at 9:00 am. If you need more time for setup, please let us know.

Breakdown is the day of the event immediately following the close of the event at 4:30 pm. All food merchants must be off the premises by 6:30 pm at the latest. Food trucks will be permitted to close down and leave starting at 4:00 pm. We will do a last call for food at 3:30 pm.

No early breakdown is permitted for the safety of our guests. If you are found to be breaking down early, you will not be permitted at any future events. To be respectful of all in attendance, your cooperation is appreciated.

Detailed instructions will be emailed two weeks prior to the event.

If we cancel the event: A full refund will be given.

If you cancel: No refunds for booth fees will be paid unless there are special circumstances. This is up to our discretion.

This event is rain or shine. As an author, you will be indoors.

Attendance projections will be updated as the event approaches. As a growing storytellers’ market, we are actively marketing throughout Ohio and surrounding areas to attract readers, families, and book lovers. We have no control over how many attends, but we will do our due diligence to help drive traffic.