Event finding works better as a system than as a spring scramble. Build a list once, keep it current, and reuse the same saved materials for every application.

Where events are listed

ZAPPlication (ZAPP) runs many juried art and craft fairs.
Eventeny runs a growing share of festivals and markets.
FestivalNet lists fairs, festivals, and craft shows nationally, with vendor details.
State and regional book festivals and library author fairs. Search your state name with “book festival” and “author fair.”
State and county fair vendor marketplaces, holiday markets, and chamber of commerce expos.
Facebook vendor groups. Search “[your state] vendor events.” Organizers recruit there, and vendors report back on which shows were worth the fee.

Timing

Juried shows commonly open applications 6 to 9 months out and close quickly. Open-call markets tend to fill 2 to 4 months out. Put application dates on your calendar the way you would put event dates.

Keep an application folder

Save these in one folder in January and reuse them all year:

A photo of your booth
A 25 word and a 100 word description
Your tax ID and insurance documents
Three product photos

Score each event before you apply

Rate each candidate from 1 to 5 on four things:

Audience match. Are these your readers, in person?
Buying context. Are people there to spend, or to browse?
Cost ratio. Booth fee against the copies you would need to break even.
Friction. Drive time, days required, load-in, and the insurance and tax setup for that state.

Apply at a total of 14 or more until your calendar is full.

Red flags

No clear description of the audience
Hundreds of vendors and no book track
A high table fee with no attendance history
An organizer who cannot explain load-in, tax, or insurance rules
You would be the only book table among jewelry and snacks

Next step

The Author Events Field Guide ($34) has the scoring sheet, the break-even formula, and the planning list in one place.

See the Author Events Field Guide

Not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Confirm current rules with your state and your carrier.

How to Find Book Festivals, Craft Fairs, and Markets Where Authors Can Sell