The communal trauma that we experienced due to Hurricane Helene has taught us so much. Things like:

Transparency = Trust
&
Community is the real abundance.

As of 11/21/25 @2 pm -this is all the info you ever wanted to know, and probably a healthy dose more:

We want you to know what drives our mighty little holiday market, it’s you, it’s art, it’s farmers, and craftspeople, delicious food & beverages served lovingly & volunteers that are staples in our lives. The way all of it comes together for one magical weekend in the jewel of the blue ridge, Madison county, really is something spectacular.

Now then -our veteran co-director Julie Covington & I (hi, I’m Sarahbeth, your new Co-Director) want to just lay it all out there. We want you to know why we make the choices we make alongside our beautiful Marshall Handmade Market vendors & volunteers.

Volunteers are still needed!

WE NEED Y’ALL! Our volunteers make our world go round! ♡♡♡ 
Volunteers will get yellow lanyards that say “Volunteer” on them, to be turned in for use again next year.
Volunteers also receive our undying love, just ask around. ♡ 

Still Needed
Decoration volunteers on set up day! Friday 11/21 -all day! Theses creative helpers liaise with our decorations pro: Emily Patrick & this year is about to be so fun! Emily rocks!
10 now 6! parking helpers each day, Saturday the 22nd & Sunday the 23rd. You’ll have a safety vest to wear.
5 at the 8:45-1pm shift, & 5 at the a 1-5pm shift.
Booth sitters/ helpers 11/22 & 11/23: These volunteers help vendors when the vendors need a wee potty break, or to go get some tea or water, food, etc. Sometimes they run to get the water/tea/food
Floating volunteers 11/22 & 11/23: these incredible helpers check in with operations lead (that’s me again, Sarahbeth) for areas that need help.
Filled:
2 Early morning market volunteers to help with artist breakfast thank you! We have breakfast covered now!

Suggested $5/ adult entrance fee
First - this is the first year that we will be humbly asking for a suggested donation of $5 bucks per adult.

We will be able to take cash, or $ via Venmo or Paypal. There will be stations at entrances.

It’s suggested because we want you to know if you don’t have it, it’s not a hurdle to your enjoyment of this market. You are welcome, come on in.

Where will the $5/adult go?
Right off the bat a portion of the entrance fees will go to the rebuild of the Art Studio Non-Profit, Marshall High on Blannahassett Island. How much? We’re not sure because we don’t know what to expect. We will also use the money to pay market expenses.

Holding the market out of doors in November requires a lot more money than holding it at our beloved Marshall High Studios. The tents + logistics of port-a-johns, et. all the moving parts are financially burdensome and while we did raise the booth fees this year, they won’t come near to covering the monetary needs. We look forward to being back in our original home at Marshall High next year.

We do plan to institute the $5/adult entrance suggested donation moving forward with a portion of proceeds always going to a local Madison county nonprofit that has need.

A buddy I know says: Sharing with everyone means scarcity for none.

Parking!

We have a little more.

AND we still need y’all to (please!) carpool & utilize the shuttle if you can.

Two FREE Shuttles will run all day, starting at 10 am on Saturday and Sunday:
Two 15 Passenger Van Shuttles will pick up folks from the Mars Hill Ingles & drop off right in front of the barn.
Thank you Blue Heron Rafting Co!!!

On site parking: A huge thanks to our amazing neighbors: The Stevensons & the Anders, lending their fields.

Handicap parking:
We will have some designated spots. When you have your handicap window hanger in your car & holler at our incredible parking volunteers, we will get you as close as possible.
If you have a driver, let our parking volunteers know.
Folks living with mobility needs can absolutely be dropped off right at the entrance.
We want ease of access for all.

Weather:
It happens. And the show will still go on!
BUT - currently as of 11/15/25 it’s looking pretty dang lovely.
Saturday, 11/22 = chances of morning rain & 59ºF.
Sunday, 11/25 = cloudy & 59ºF too.
Most of our market is under tent or barn. Communal spaces are out in the open, but if rain happens, it won’t be much of a hinderance. Dress accordingly.

Rules of engagement:
1. No dogs. We love ‘em, but our insurance policy sadly does not. This is non-negotiable.
2. No Climbing the big hill alongside Joe Brown dirt road. Kids love to do this and inevitably someone will fall & traffic is below. We love our kids = NO climbing.
3. No going in creek: there’s a cattle farm upstream. E. Coli, Salmonella, etc. = no fun.
4. No parking along road. Park where our parking beauties tell ya, we don’t want the sheriff to tow you.
5. Listen to our parking attendant volunteers, they are incredible and helpful.
6. No crossing bridge to farmhouse without Odonata Farm owners permission.
7. No smoking = fire hazard, not a moral judgement.
8. MOST IMPORTANT!! Have fun!!!

Vendors:
1. You too will have lanyards this year! They will be pretty, they will say: Vendor.
2. Set up your squares accounts to be able to take $$ in case something happens and all internet fails.
3. Load in is Friday the 21st from 10am-5pm.
4. We will also be decorating on Friday. Lend a hand to our decorating team if you have a spare minute.

Accidentally Sponsored by fine folk:

In the future we will have a huge page of gratitude to all humans past and present that have helped make this magical community handmade market what it is. For now, we wanted to thank 2 groups of folks that haven’t already been named that made the Hurricane-Helene-Pivot to Odonata Farm possible:

∞ Billy & Christina Anders (we call them the mayor & mayoress in our valley); community heroes Mike & Sandy Stevenson - they are our neighbors through the field. Sandy was the Madison county tourism/visitor center ED for years & is also the ED of the Appalachian Barn Alliance. Both families are lending their fields for parking.

∞ A huge thanks to all neighbor folks that live around us or in our back yard up Joe Brown road. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to pinch hit at Odonata Farm. We see y’all & we love & appreciate you so!

∞ Implement Legal: Lastly, when we pivoted to Odonata Farm last year we received generous help from the Implement Legal team. And they didn’t just help us that one year, they are graciously helping us create framework for the longevity and sustainability of the Marshall Handmade Market.
Katherine de Vos Devine & Robert Devine are true heroes for the arts, nonprofits, and our region specifically. The hours they have given and still give towards getting WNC back on it’s feet post Helene are astounding.

They say this about who they are and why they serve:
Create. Protect. Collaborate.
We practice relational law—strategic legal counsel for creative businesses that protects both your work and the collaborative relationships your success depends on.
Creative Work Is Built In Relationship. Your Lawyers Should Understand That.
Whether you're a gallery negotiating with multiple artists, a label managing overlapping rosters, or a production company closing complex deals—you're navigating relationships that extend far beyond any single contract.

Most IP attorneys focus on protecting individual rights. We recognize that creative businesses succeed through sustained collaboration. Traditional legal counsel forces you to choose between protection and relationships. We protect both.
Thank you Katherine & Rob. You hold us, so we can hold our community. ♡