Christmas in the Park 2026

The City of Litchfield Park hosts its annual Christmas in the Park event on the second Saturday in December each year. Now in its 39th year, it is a hometown favorite! Christmas in the Park is a family-focused community event that is free and open to the public from 9am until 3pm on Saturday, December 12, 2026. Be part of this year's event and showcase your artwork, crafts or wares to an estimated 8,000 attendees. You have the opportunity to sell your unique items to those who come to our event specifically to shop for holiday gifts!

While interacting with shoppers, you will be able to enjoy the hometown parade that runs along Old Litchfield Road right through the heart of the festival grounds. The parade starts at 10am and typically has more than 1,500 participants with lively marching bands, local dignitaries, kids groups, and decorated floats. In addition to artist booths and food vendors, there will be stage acts, Pictures with Santa, and a variety of children's activities, including free "make & take" Christmas crafts in Santa's Workshop. All of these elements keep families entertained throughout the day. Attendees are filled with the holiday spirit and you will be too!

General information

Event Day: Saturday, December 12, 2026 Event Hours: 9:00AM - 3:00PM Admission and Parking: FREE

Details for designated artist and vendor parking will be provided directly to those accepted and paid in full. RV and handicap parking available. For specific accommodation requests or related questions, please call 623-935-9040.

Rules and regulations

• All artwork categories must undergo jury review prior to acceptance. Any media not approved through the jury process is not permitted.
• For those artists who collaborate to produce original work, please submit your application under one artist who will serve as the primary contact. You will be prompted in the application to list the name of the artist you collaborate with.
• Payment in full is required before the festival. If you are paying by check, your check will not be deposited until after acceptance into the show. A $35 fee will be charged for all returned checks.
• Artists' festival displays must be in keeping with the photos submitted with their applications. Misrepresentation will result in expulsion without a refund. Handwritten signs, sale signs, advertisements, and political or religious materials are not allowed in booths.
• Artists/vendors must provide their own canopies and displays which must be weighted, sturdy, safe, clean, and organized. Artists/vendors are responsible for their displays in case of loss or damage.
• All artwork, displays, and storage must remain within the designated space. No extensions are allowed without prior approval from the event coordinators.
• No staking on grass unless it has been approved by event coordinators.
• Artists/vendors may not solicit patrons outside their booth space.
• Artists with pets must keep them leashed and clean up after them. Artists must clean up after pets in parking areas too or face expulsion without a refund.
• Food vendors must provide event coordinators with their County Health Permit and Certificate of Insurance for $1,000,000 naming the City of Litchfield Park as an additional insured after acceptance.
• All rules will be strictly enforced. Intoxication or verbal abuse will not be tolerated by an artist/vendor or their assistants and will result in immediate expulsion from the current show and disqualification from future events.

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt of the $25 Application Fee and accepted terms and conditions.

Jury details: Viewed by City of Litchfield Park staff and jury committee. The jury process is closed to public viewing.

Commercial and "buy-sell" items are prohibited at artist booths. All products must be handmade.

Booth information and fees

ARTIST BOOTH FEES

• $25 Application Fee
• $100 10'x10'
• $150 10'x20'
• $35 Electricity per plug

TENT SPECIFICATIONS

• Each artist must supply their own clean, white tent that matches the size selected when applying.
• Each artist tent will have 5' of space on sides of the tent to provide up to 3-sided customer access. Displays are not allowed to expand into this space.
• Artists/vendors must provide a minimum of 50 lbs. of weights for each booth leg.

Refund and cancellation policy

Except as otherwise stated, payment refunds or credits will not be issued after October 31, 2026. Exceptions include if the event is cancelled by the City, or if a participant has a medical condition preventing participation (with written documentation). A $10 administrative fee will be deducted from all approved refund requests.

Jury details

• Average number of applications submitted each year: 150
• Average number of artists selected from the jury to participate: 100
• Five jurors score applications using a Yes, No, or Maybe scale.
• Jurors view images on a computer monitor.
• Applications within a medium category are sorted by date received.
• Jury process is closed to public observation.