Employment | Merchant Application | Sherwood Forest Faire

Participation

Over 150 Live Performances Per Day | Over 170 Artisans

Over 150 Shows Per Day
Over 170 Artisan Booths

Join Sherwood Forest Faire

If you're interested in becoming a participant in the Faire, there are several ways to join.

Seasonal Jobs

Sherwood Forest Faire has a number of seasonal jobs to offer each year to hardworking, enthusiastic individuals. These include but are not limited to the following:

Ticket sellers
Ticket takers
Groundskeepers
Parking lot attendants
Hawkers

When we are ready to begin hiring employees for the Faire (usually in December before a given season) we will post the application here.

Working for a Merchant

If you are looking to work not directly with the Faire, but rather with one of our merchants, please consider attending the Job Fair at the January Gathering.

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Cast and Stage Acts

At Sherwood Forest Faire, our entertainers are members of The Sherwood Players (our performance company) or independent stage acts.

Performance Company — The Sherwood Players

Sherwood Forest Faire’s cast of characters are known as the Sherwood Players. They are the core performance company who spend the months of January and February creating and practicing cast shows, games and spectacles. During the Faire, they perform these shows for our patrons, and interact with them in the lanes and forests of the village, giving clues about the day’s storyline, and helping patrons find their way around Sherwood Forest Faire.

If you are interested in joining our cast, we would love to hear from you. We are constantly seeking volunteer actors to help fill our faire with vibrant characters, such as Nobles, Knights, Peasants, Lords and Ladies, Sheriff’s Deputies, and Merry Men and Women to join Robin Hood’s band. We also seek Gypsies, Fairies, Elves, Trolls, Ogres, and other creatures of fantasy, Roving Musicians, Wenches, Lunatics, Pirates, and more! To inquire about joining the Sherwood Players, please get in touch with Zane Baker, our Director of Entertainment, via the Contact Us page.

The Sherwood Players meet every weekend before faire opens, starting in mid January at the fairegrounds to learn songs, practice stage combat, write and rehearse scenes, read from old books, and find our inner Robin Hoods and Maid Marians. All levels of Performers are required to attend all auditions, practices, and days the Faire is open. We also enlist the help of cast members in distributing fliers at events, parades, and high traffic areas. We attend to events like Conventions, Parades, County Faires, Pub Crawls, etc. in character and dressed in Medieval garb, to spread the word about Sherwood Forest Faire by bringing some of our fun, fantastic energy to the people who need us most – EVERYBODY!

Independent Stage Acts

We are always excited to hear from acts interested in performing at Sherwood Forest Faire, too. If you’d like to submit a proposal, please reach out via the Contact Us page.

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Merchants

Thanks for your interest in becoming a artisans at our events! We have the following upcoming opportunities:

Sherwood Forest Faire: Weekends in March and April Plus Spring Break Friday

Application deadline: October 31

8-weekend medieval themed show
Set in the late twelfth century in the era of Robin Hood
Strict rules and regulations about period authenticity are applied to all goods and their presentation
No further imports allowed

Sherwood Celtic Gathering and Highland Games: one Saturday in early September
Application deadline: July 31

Annual one-day event (with a pre-show the night before) celebrating Irish & Scottish music, art, sports, and history
No historical period requirements for vending at this event
Good chance to get to know Sherwood

What are the fees for being an artisan at Sherwood Forest Faire or Sherwood Celtic Gathering?

Please refer to the fee schedule - see below!
What is Sherwood Forest Faire’s artisan acceptance methodology?

Our policy is “replace what we lose and add a few.” Since we usually lose 7-10 artisans due to attrition from year to year, we tend to add about a dozen each year. We are no longer accepting any imports. Our focus is on artisanship. Strong preference is giving to handmade goods and items that are authentic to the medieval (and to a lesser extent, renaissance) periods. We keep caps on the number of artisans per category to ensure that our crafters are successful.
If I know that an artisan, for example a soapmaker, is leaving the medieval show, does that mean you will definitely be accepting a new soapmaker?

It increases the chances, but it is not certain that we will replace each artisan who leaves with the same type of artisan. We are constantly trying to balance the marketplace and make sure everyone has a chance to do well. If we feel that a category might be slightly overpopulated, we may let it shrink, especially if that has something to do with the reason the original artisan left.
Are there certain categories that are really easy to get into?

We can’t get enough fine art – painting, sculpture, etc. We also are always in search of more stuff that is interesting to kids.
Are there certain categories that are really hard to get into?

Just about every other category is hard to get into.
When should I apply?

For the best chance, apply as soon as possible. We accept applications on a rolling basis. You have better chance of getting in if you send in your application earlier rather than later. If we just accepted a widget maker and you come along with your widgets, it is extremely unlikely we would accept your application also. We don’t usually add two of one thing in a season.
Can I apply in person / on the phone?

No. The members of the Craft Jury all live in separate locations and we often convene online to make our decisions. If you are serious about participating in our events, read the information here and send in an application via mail or email. We will happily accept and review in detail any written narratives, photos, presentations or anything else you wish to submit along with the application.
Can I send in samples?

Yes. If you include return postage, they can be mailed back to you, or you can pick them up at the Faire site by appointment.
Do you do “Guest Weekends” or partial seasons?

No. All booths must be open all 8 weekends.
Can I build a booth if I am accepted?

You can build a booth after you have completed one season of Sherwood Forest Faire. We think prudence is best when considering a significant investment like that. You should make sure you like working with us, and we want to be sure of the same before allowing a new structure to go up.
I have a large amount of photos to submit, but my email keeps being returned. What can I do?

Our inbox can accept attachments of 25 MB per message. You can divide your attachments so that they are less than 25 MB or use a free service such as box.com or dropbox.com to send them to us.