Is the EarthFair right for your group or organization? To be an exhibitor, you must have a message, cause, product or service that addresses the environment or our quality of life. The intent of the event is education: a visitor who visits your exhibit should come away knowing something that will inform their future actions, and further their commitment to a clean, healthy environment.

    The following answers some basic questions that may help you decide whether being an exhibitor at EarthFair is right for you.

Where Does EarthFair Take Place?

    EarthFair takes place in Balboa Park, and occupies almost the entire central mesa area (click here to see a sample map); there are only minor variations in layout from year to year. All of the exhibit areas are outside, adjacent to the historical Park buildings. Some exhibit spaces are on grass, others on asphalt parking lots or paved sidewalks.

Where Will My Exhibit at EarthFair Be Located?

    EarthFair exhibits are divided into 11 separate areas, as indicated in the above map. When you register as an exhibitor, you are asked to choose your top 3 exhibit area choices. With the exception of exhibitors who register and pay late (when some areas are full), virtually all exhibitors will be placed in their first or second area choice.

    Exhibitors who want more control over their exhibit locaiton may pay a $100 Site Selection fee. Exhibitors who pay this fee will be able to select their exact exhibit site from a detailed area map, provided about 3 weeks before EarthFair.

Who Attends EarthFair?

    The Balboa Park staff and San Diego Police estimate that between 50,000 and 60,000 individuals attend EarthFair in an average year. At EarthFair, you’ll see a broad cross-section of the county’s residents. The following is a demographic breakdown of 927 randomly selected EarthFair attendees in 2017 and 2018:

    In the sample years, 26% of the attendees were attending EarthFair for the first time; 74% had been to prior events. A total of 41% had attended three or more prior EarthFairs. Homeowners represented 41% of the total attending, with the other 59% renting.

Who Can Participate?

All EarthFair exhibitors must have a cause, product or service that addresses our environment and quality of life.

    The goal is that an EarthFair visitor who visits an exhibitor at the fair will learn some way that they can take action to create a clean, healthy, prosperous future. In cases where environmental issues are not the primary focus of an exhibitor's organization, the aspects of their organization that DO address the environment must be forefront in their presentation.

    EarthFair exhibiting is open to all types of organizations: non-profit, for-profit, government departments and agencies, individuals, clubs, schools, churches, etc.

    San Diego EarthWorks reserves the right to decline any exhibitor application for any reason whatsoever.

Can I Sell at EarthFair?

    The EarthFair is NOT a flea market or street fair; sales are controlled. All items to be sold must be pre-approved by San Diego EarthWorks. Organizations may sell only environmentally-relevant goods and services (e.g., products that have significant recycled content, or promote energy or water efficiency and conservation).

    Non-profit groups are free to sell for their own fund-raising purposes. For-profit organizations and all food vendors must donate ten-percent of their gross margin to San Diego EarthWorks, where the gross margin is defined as their total sales minus the exhibitor fees paid to EarthWorks.

    All organizations that sell must file a sales report wihin one week following EarthFair. For-profit organizations must submit their sales fee, if any, at that time. 

If I Decide to Exhibit, How Will the Day Go?

    EarthFair exhibitor setup takes place from 8am - 9am. The fair formally starts at 10am. All exhibitors must remain from setup through the end of the fair at 5pm (there is no vehicular traffic allowed through the park during the fair).

    The fair ends promptly at 5pm, and breakdown and cleanup begins. Based on how quickly the crowds depart (and the police let cars into the park), you should be able to leave by about 6pm.

What does it Cost to Exhibit?

    EarthFair exhibitor fees are graduated, to allow all types and sizes of organizations to participate – and still allow us to pay our bills. The cost of an exhibit space at EarthFair depends on the type and size of your organization, the type of exhibit materials you want EarthWorks to provide (table, booth, etc.), and what you plan to exhibit:

• eARTh Gallery Exhibitors. Individuals may exhibit and sell their earth-friendly art and craft works at the eARTh Gallery. This low-cost area is intended to support individuals for whom the standard exhibitor fees are prohibitive. Only individuals may participate in this area.
  For more information about the eARTh Gallery, click here.
  

• Cleaner Car Concourse Exhibitors. The Cleaner Car Concourse (CCC) is intended to show vehicles that are more environmentally friendly than standard gas-powered cars and trucks. This area hosts both individual and clubs (free participation), as well as dealers (there is a fee for each vehicle shown).
  For more information about the CCC, click here.
   
• Green Business, Government and Non-profit Exhibitors. This category includes most EarthFair exhibitors: those that are not showing a vehicle, or their arts or crafts, or serving food. Costs range from $289 – for a 10' x 10' table space for a small non-profit – to $3,655 – for a 10' x 20' double-booth for a very large corporation. EarthFair 2022 pricing for this category can be found here.
   
• Reuse and Repair Area Exhibitors. In the spirit of "Zero Waste," EarthFair Reuse and Repair Area - Area R - is reserved for organizations and businesses that focus on repairing and reusing materials and manufactured items instead consigning them to the landfill. Interested exhibitors should simply register are a "regular" business and specify Area R as the exhibit area choice. Sponsorships may be available for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
   
• Cannabis Row Exhibitors. The ComiCon Museum Building lawn is the home for hemp, “CBD” and related cannabis companies and non-profits at EarthFair. The passage of Prop 64 has led to the blossoming of a wide variety of state- and locally-regulated cannabis-related products. Cannabis Row is an area where people can learn about the status of the plant cannabis and the wide range of products available. Our intent is to promote professionalism within the industry and education for the public, while making a positive impact on the community.
  For more information about Cannabis Row, click here.
  

• Food vendors. EarthFair's food courts have an international flavor, and are open to vendors who will serve good, healthy vegetarian fare. For more information about becoming a food vendor, click here.
   

Will EarthFair Work for Me?

    That largely depends on you. If you have an interesting display, a clear message, and active, engaging staff at your exhibit space, you may hardly have time to catch a bite to eat or take a bathroom break.

    What EarthWorks is able to deliver is a well-organized venue, and typically between 50,000 - 60,000 attendees (a low of 40,000 – the year it rained – and recently a high of 75,000 – which completely filled the park all day).

     One can get some measure of exhibitor success from our repeat exhibitor statistics. At EarthFair 2018, 55% of the exhibitors returned from 2017. Sixty-three exhibitors have attended every year since 2012.

Click here for more information

Questions? Send email to ef22exh@earthdayweb.org 
or call the office at 858-272-7370