2025 Printers Row Lit Fest Exhibitor Application Logo
  • 2025 Printers Row Lit Fest

    2025 Printers Row Lit Fest

    EXHIBITOR APPLICATION
  • Festival Dates: Saturday & Sunday, September 6 & 7, 2025

    10:00AM-6:00PM DAILY

     

    EXHIBITOR APPLICATION DEADLINE


    Application submission deadline: THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2025.


    Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. Confirmation packets and exhibitor manuals will be sent by the end of August. You will be notified of your acceptance/denial to participate within 2 weeks of applying.

    Printers Row Lit Fest offers several opportunites for exhibitors to participate. Please see all details below.


    ELIGIBILITY

    In order to exhibit at Printers Row Lit Fest 2025, you must be an author, book seller, publisher, literary podcaster, sell approved book related products, or promote literacy and or educational issues. Sponsors and some long-time time exhibitors may be exempt from these criteria. Near South Planning Board reserves the right to refuse any participation by any company or organization at its sole discretion. 

    Exhibitors are allowed to share spaces and split fees; you will be required to coordinate shared participation. 

     

    CANCELLATION POLICY

    As an applicant to exhibit at Printers Row Lit Fest, please note the following  cancellation policies apply. All applications are due by Thursday, July 31, 2025. 


    If you are NOT accepted or approved to participate as an exhibitor: 


    If you apply for the festival and pay your fee but you are not accepted to participate as an exhibitor, your fee will be refunded 100%. 

    If you cancel for any reason within 7 days of applying and by July 24th:


    You will be charged a $50 cancellation fee and refunded the balance of your initial payment if you cancel within 7 days of your digital application or mailed postmark date.

    If you cancel your participation after 7 days from your digital application or mailed postmark date, the following policies apply: 


    By April 15th: 90% refund 

    April 16th - July 24th: 50% refund 

    July 24th - September 7th: You will not be issued a refund. 

    All deposits and payments made are non transferable. Near South Planning Board cannot provide refunds, transfer payments, or credit to 2026 participation outside of the policies noted above. By signing that you agree to the terms and conditions as part of the exhibitor application, you are agreeing with the cancellation policies noted above. No exceptions will be made.

     

    EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES
    More details about exhibitor opportunites are listed herein.

     

    • (1) Sidewalk Table ($400.00): 4’ x 8’ space on the sidewalk with (1) 8’ x 30” table, (2) chairs and (1) exhibitor table sign.  PLEASE NOTE EFFECTIVE JUNE 10, 2025, WE ARE HOLDING A WAIT LIST FOR SIDEWALK TABLE SPACES AS WE ARE CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY. TENT SPACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROCEED WITH THIS APPLICATION AND SELECT "WAIT LIST" IN THE CHECK PAYMENT SIDEWALK TABLE CATEGORY. 

     

    • (2) Sidewalk Tables ($710.00): 4’ x 16’ space on the sidewalk with (2) 8’ x 30” tables, (4) chairs and (2) exhibitor table signs.  PLEASE NOTE EFFECTIVE JUNE 10, 2025, WE ARE HOLDING A WAIT LIST FOR SIDEWALK TABLE SPACES AS WE ARE CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY. TENT SPACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROCEED WITH THIS APPLICATION AND SELECT "WAIT LIST" IN THE CHECK PAYMENT SIDEWALK TABLE CATEGORY. 

     

    • 1⁄4 Tent ($1,400.00): One side of a 20’ x 20’ tent (20’ x 4’ space). The remaining 3⁄4 of the tent will be occupied by other vendors. (2) 8’ x 30” tables, (4) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (1) exhibitor banner. 

     

    • 1⁄2 Tent ($2,110.00): Two sides of a 20’ x 20’ tent (2 - 20’ x 4’ spaces). The remaining 1/2 of the tent will be occupied by other vendors. (4) 8’ x 30” tables, (8) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (2) exhibitor banners.

     

    • 10’ x 20’ Tent ($2,500.00): 10’ x 20’ space (entire tent). (4) 8’ x 30” tables, (8) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (4) exhibitor banners. The back side of the tent will NOT be accessible to attendees.

     

    • 20’ x 20’ Tent ($3,500.00): 20’ x 20’ space (entire tent). (2) 8’ tables on each side (total of 8), (16) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (4) exhibitor banners (1 on each side of tent). 

     

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS 

    Please review the 2025 Printers Row Lit Fest Terms & Conditions here. By signing that you agree to the terms and conditions as part of the exhibitor application process, you are agreeing with the cancellation policies noted within. No exceptions will be made. 

     

    PLEASE NOTE, ONCE YOU TYPE YOUR NAME BELOW, THE BALANCE OF THE APPLICATION DETAILS WILL EXPAND AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT PARTICIPATING AS AN EXHIBITOR.

    • OPEN ALL QUESTIONS 
    • *All exhibitors are allowed to share their space with other exhibitors and split the participation fees. This can be split up amongst yourselves however you see fit. Please only submit ONE APPLICATION for everyone participating in your space.

      Please note, if your business/organization is hosting multiple exhibitors who will be selling product using their own Point of Sale Systems, they are required to have an IBT number, and pay a $25 City of Chicago Fee. If all exhibitors are selling under a single Point of Sale system, only one fee and IBT number is required for the application.

    • SPACE ASSIGNMENT REQUEST

      Although the Lit Fest management cannot guarantee your placement within the festival, the Lit Fest will make every effort to honor requests by exhibitors to have specific assignments. All space allocations will be made on a first-come, first- served basis with preference given to long-time participants and sponsors.

      ***Please note that the map shown is from 2024. The exact placement of tables and tents is subject to change based on the qty and type of exhibitors that participate in 2025. We will try our best to get you as close to your requested space as possible. 

    • LOAD-IN for PRLF exhibitors is available:

      Friday, September 5th after *5:30 pm (limited availability) and Saturday, September 6th (6:30-9:30am).

       

      *This time is approximate; we will solidify the time as we get closer to the event (no earlier than 5pm).

       

      While we will try and accommodate everyone’s request, our main goal is to make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible. Please mark your top choice below and our team will be in touch in August to confirm your assigned time (returning exhibitors will be given priority for time slots).

    • Credit card payments are processed through PayPal. You may pay using an existing PayPal account, or any major credit card / debit card.

      PLEASE NOTE, if paying by credit card, the charge description on your credit card will appear as NEAR SOUTH or NEAR SOUTH PLANNING BOARD. 

       
    • OPEN EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES 
    • EXHIBITOR OPPORTUNITIES

      There are various opportunities for an exhibitor to participate at Printers Row Lit Fest (tables vs tents). Please see a list of options below and apply for what is most suitable.
    • OPEN CHECK PAYMENT PACKAGE 
    • Make check payable to: Near South Planning Board, Mail to: 2600 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite LL-C, Chicago, IL 60616

    • CLOSED CHECK PAYMENT PACKAGE 
    • OPEN PAYPAL PRODUCTS 
    • prevnext( X )
                            WAIT LIST ALERT (AS OF JUNE 10TH) - PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT FOR A SIDEWALK TABLE SPACE UNTIL YOU ARE CONFIRMED TO PARTICIPATE. GO BACK UP TO THE CHECK PAYMENT SECTION TO SELECT "WAIT LIST" PAYMENT OPTION. WE ARE HOLDING A WAIT LIST AS OF JUNE 10TH AND YOU WILL BE CONTACTED IF YOU ARE ACCEPTED. (1) Sidewalk Table ($400.00): 4’ x 8’ space on the sidewalk with (1) 8’ x 30” table, (2) chairs and (1) exhibitor sign.
                            $400.00
                              
                            WAIT LIST ALERT (AS OF JUNE 10TH) - PLEASE DO NOT MAKE A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT FOR A SIDEWALK TABLE SPACE UNTIL YOU ARE CONFIRMED TO PARTICIPATE. GO BACK UP TO THE CHECK PAYMENT SECTION TO SELECT "WAIT LIST" PAYMENT OPTION. WE ARE HOLDING A WAIT LIST AS OF JUNE 10TH AND YOU WILL BE CONTACTED IF YOU ARE ACCEPTED. (2) Sidewalk Tables ($710.00): 4’ x 16’ space on the sidewalk with (2) 8’ x 30” tables, (4) chairsand (2) exhibitor signs.
                            $710.00
                              
                            1⁄4 Tent ($1,400.00): One side of a 20’ x 20’ tent (20’ x 4’ space). The remaining 3⁄4 of the tent will be occupied by other vendors. (2) 8’ x 30” tables, (4) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (1) exhibitor banner.
                            $1,400.00
                              
                            1⁄2 Tent ($2,110.00): Two sides of a 20’ x 20’ tent (2 - 20’ x 4’ spaces). The remaining 1/2 of the tent will be occupied by other vendors. (4) 8’ x 30” tables, (8) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (2) exhibitor banners.
                            $2,110.00
                              
                            10’ x 20’ Tent ($2,500.00): 10’ x 20’ space (entire tent). (4) 8’ x 30” tables, (8) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (3) exhibitor banners. The back side of the tent will NOT be accessible to attendees.
                            $2,500.00
                              
                            20’ x 20’ Tent ($3,500.00): 20’ x 20’ space (entire tent). (2) 8’ tables on each side (total of 8), (16) chairs (unless otherwise noted) and (4) exhibitor banners (1 on each side of tent).
                            $3,500.00
                              
                            City of Chicago Merchant FeeEvery exhibitor is required to pay a $25 "City of Chicago Merchant fee" to be able to sell at PRLF. This refers to each exhibitor with its own POS (point of sale) system.
                            $25.00
                              
                            (1) Linen Rental (8'x30" Black Table Linen)
                            $50.00
                              
                            110 V Electrical OutletPower is only available in certain areas throughout the PRLF footprint. If you require power, your Exhibitor space will be assigned accordingly. NOT available for sidewalk tables.  (Optional Equipment Rental)
                            $275.00
                              
                            Chairs(1) Extra Chair (this fee is required for chairs you need above and beyond what's already allocated in your space)
                            $5.00
                              
                            8' Table (1) Extra Table (this fee is required for chairs you need above and beyond what's already allocated in your space : this option is only for full tents)
                            $25.00
                              
                            Subtotal
                            $0.00
                            Tax
                            $0.00
                            Total
                            $0.00
                          • CLOSED PAYPAL PRODUCTS 
                          • Choose from one of the PayPal options to make your payment.

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