Welcome! Hometown Happenings is excited to bring you the Hometown Market, a unique artisan market experience at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Crown Point, IN. All Markets are under roof, have unique themes and include a variety of entertainment to keep guests longer without distracting them from shopping.
Our Goal: To support small, local businesses while giving our guests a unique shopping experience.
TOP Reasons to Choose the Hometown Markets
Market Guidelines (Please Read) Vendor Application
Our next Market will be the Hometown Happenings Mother’s Day 
Market. On Sunday, May 10th (Mother’s Day) from 9 am – 2 pm in the Industrial Building at the Lake Co. Fairgrounds. Please join us as we head back to the 1980’s with karaoke, trivia contests and an old school DJ spinning 80’s hits!
What is the Hometown Market? An artisan experience featuring small, locally owned artisan businesses offering handmade & unique items. Adding to the experience is live music from top-rated musicians, great food and craft drinks. Kids can meet their favorite characters, enjoy bounce houses & take part in free craft projects.
What we Offer – Unique & FUN! Along with amazing artisan
vendors, the markets feature the following:
- Canine Corner: features adoptable fur friends from Big Dogs Don’t Cry & the Humane Society of Hobart looking for their forever home. You may also be greeted by a wolf dog from Timber Mountain Training Services.
- Kids Corner! The Hometown Market is for everyone… including the kids! Kids can meet their favorite
characters, enjoy kids crafts with Buddy bags or bounce to their hearts content in the bounce houses. - Don’t Forget the Guys! We have many dude-related vendors including cigars, hot sauces, woodworking and whiskey! We also have barber services available where you can relax in the chair getting a shave or haircut.
Our mission is to support small, local businesses while giving our guests a unique shopping experience. The Market also connects guests to their community by partnering with local non-profit groups like Buddy Bags, St. Jude House & the Humane Society of Hobart to name a few.
To apply, we offer a few options:
Multi-Event Savings of 10% when you 4 or more Markets saving 10%.
OR, individual markets priced as listed.
Our vendors are curated and chosen based on a number of factors. These include overall market balance, category limits, and ensuring a diverse mix of offerings for our shoppers. If accepted, you will receive an invoice via the email address you provide. Booths will not be held until the invoice is paid. See the fee section of the vendor guidelines for additional details.
⚠️ VENDOR PROTECTION WARNING: We will NEVER collect vendor fees through comments or personal messages. We will NEVER ask for fees to be sent via Zelle, Venmo, or any other cash app. All requests for payment will ONLY be sent via email, and ONLY from Hometown Happenings. All vendor communication happens ONLY through [your website link]. Do not send money to anyone claiming to represent this event.
When Are the Markets? Our 2026 Schedule includes the following markets: 
- Hometown Valentine Market – Fri, Feb. 13th, 5-9 pm & Sat, Feb.14th, 10a – 4p
- Hometown Shamrock Market – Fri, Mar 13th, 5-9 pm & Sat, Mar. 14th, 10–4p
- Hometown Mother’s Day Market – (1 Day). Sunday, May 10th, 9 am – 2 pm
- Hometown Nite Market, – (1 Day) Saturday, June 13th, 5-9 pm, Show Pavilion
- Hometown Hocus Pocus Market,- Fri, Oct. 30th, 5-9 pm & Sat, Oct. 31st , 9a–2p.
- Hometown Flying Turkey Market – (1 Day) Thurs (Thanksgiving), Nov. 26th, 7–10a
- Hometown Santa Market, Fri, Dec. 4th, 5-9 pm & Saturday, Dec. 5th, 10am –4pm
- Hometown New Year’s Bash – (1 Day) Thursday, Dec. 31st, 5 – 9 pm
How do I apply?:
Please click the buttons below to review the Market guidelines and then complete the online application. We review applications each week and will email to let you know if you have been accepted. We only accept so many vendors per market category in an effort to keep a wide variety of items at the Market as well as help ensure our vendors have better sales.
Market Guidelines (Please Read) 2026 Vendor Application
If accepted, you will receive an invoice via the email address you provide. The invoice is due within 2 business days & your 10×10 space will not be held until the invoice is paid. See the fee section of the vendor guidelines for additional details.
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What are vendors saying?
+ “Thank you, Tim, for another awesome event. I’m glad we were a part of this event.” – Noemi Elizalde, Bean Me Up Roastery
+ “I just love Hometown Happenings! You guys do such a great job at advertising and so far I’ve had nothing but good luck at your markets. And the customers are great too that come to it! – – Emily Jahn, Emjay Designs
+ “This was Such A Great Market! We were so busy, it just gets better and better every year! We love all of your markets, and will continue to talk them up and tell everyone!” Betty & Mary, Naturally Jack’s
Meet Your Hometown Market Manager, Tim! Tim has hosted over 300 events through Hometown Happenings, now in it’s 14th year. While best known for fitness related events, Tim established the Hometown Markets in 2021 as a way of helping local businesses and our community thrive & prosper while provided a fun experience for family and friends to enjoy themselves.