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Operating Guidelines

Revised May, 2001

The Village of Yesteryear is not a "craft show". It is a "group" of "individuals" coming together once a year at the North Carolina State Fair for the main purpose of educating the public about handcrafts. We are one unit made up of many parts. As members of this group it is our duty to be unified not only in our mission but also in our appearance and our relationship with one another. It is our duty to help our fellow members when needed, pitch in when help is needed and accept duties when asked for the betterment of the whole group. We should not have to be asked to take out the trash when it is full, clean up a spill on the floor or consider it a burden to watch our neighbor's booth. It is our duty as members to help each other look and be the very best craftspeople we can be. Each of us reflects on our neighbor and on the Village as a whole. When one of us looks bad, we all look bad so let each of us help each other look and perform our very best!

The following guidelines and operating standards have been put together by the board of directors to help each member maintain the highest standards for the Village. Please read them and if you have any questions, please ask one of the board members or the director.

The Village of Yesteryear is an educational extension of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and the North Carolina State Fair. As juried members of this group, we will support our established goal which is to encourage the development and perpetuation of heritage crafts by the display of our products and the demonstration of the skills required for their production. We will share what we have learned and developed with all who may be interested, providing hands-on experiences whenever possible.

We will maintain a cordial and friendly environment for our guests and ourselves.

Exhibit requirements:

1. Only original crafts made by the exhibitor may be displayed or sold. Molded or reproduction items are not acceptable. No kits. Limited edition prints of your own work are permitted with permission from the director. Only items falling into the category and medium with which you have been juried may be displayed or sold. Anyone wishing to change their line or medium must submit it to the selection committee for approval prior to the fair at a time set by the committee chairperson. Try to keep in mind that too many different items of differing mediums can make your booth look cluttered and may be confusing to the public. Try to keep it to one craft.

2. All items must be identified with the maker's name or a card of identification supplied with the sale.

3. A sign of professional quality must be displayed showing your name, city and state. Business names are not allowed. The minimum size should be 12" high by 20" wide.

4. Exhibit space will be allocated on the basis of need and availability. The average booth will be 8 feet by 8 feet.

Eight foot tables will be provided. A "Village" table cover must be used. There will be a $25.00 deposit  for  the cover which you keep and maintain as long as you are a member.

Some booths will be given a 6 foot table to allow exit space for the crafters. Every effort will be made to not give these tables to the same crafters every year however, be prepared for this to be your year. We realize this can be an inconvenience but it is necessary and your cooperation is appreciated and expected.

Four booths on the outer wall have vents for the air handling units. These may not be blocked. A loose weave fabric like burlap may be used to cover them as long as air can flow freely. The booth numbers are: 4, 15, 24 & 35.

The front table cover must be 1" from the floor and the top table cover must drape over 12" from the table top. You may use other coverings on the table top but it cannot overhang the front.

The background of all exhibits located on the perimeter of the building is covered with pegboard seven feet high. The center section is also covered with pegboard but is 8 feet high. You may not exceed these heights with your display. Lights and your sign may be displayed above this height but may not exceed 12" above the wall or block the windows on the perimeter. All backgrounds should be covered with fabric or other material. This includes the block wall under the pegboard on the perimeter of the building to the floor.

The eight floor booths are "pie slice" shaped and there are two in each quadrant. Solid backdrops on the separating walls may not exceed 5 feet high and shelves or signs may not exceed 8 feet high. There must be good visibility through your booth above 5 feet so as not to obscure the booths in the center section. We don't want our guests to miss anyone.

No solid projections from the rear of your exhibit may extend more than 31 inches into the booth or exceed the height of 8 feet in the center sections or 7 feet on the perimeter.

Displays or other structures used in front must not obscure the view of your booth or your neighbors.

Display cases used in front must not exceed a height of 4 feet. The director must approve use of anything other than the tables.

A walk space of 24 inches must be maintained behind the tables on each side of your exhibit to allow your neighbors to walk through to the nearest exit.

Lights. Power supply in the building is limited. Please use low wattage bulbs and try to limit any other power tools, fans etc. Be prepared to turn off lights, fans, etc. at the request of the directors if circuits become over loaded.

All power chords must be hidden behind your backdrop or under your table. If you must run a chord across the walk space, be sure it is taped to the floor securely.

5. Dress must be colonial, frontier or Native American with standard, comfortable dark shoes. (No sports shoes please). Dress code applies to anyone helping you in your booth also, not just members. Name tags must be worn at all times. Helper tags are available for non-members helping you during the fair.

6. Eating and drinking in your booth is not permitted. Smoking is not permitted in the building at all. You are encouraged to take breaks as needed. Every member in the Village should assist his or her neighbor.

7. The use of power tools is discouraged. Use of any power tool during business hours must be approved. Spray paint or other aerosol substances must not be used in the building.

8. Price tags should not be prominently displayed. We are an educational exhibit. Demonstrating and educating the public should always take priority over selling.

9. Multiples of the same or similar items should not be displayed. In this case "less is more". Our customers want "one of a kind" crafts.

10. Credit cards may be accepted but you should not advertise or leave the imprinter in a conspicuous place.

11. Telephones: Cell phones are not allowed in your booth. If you must use one, please take it outside the building. Do not leave them in your booth at night. There is a phone in the office for your use. Please limit your calls to 5 minutes.

12. Break room:

Shelves are provided in the break room for storage of back-up stock however, space is limited. Please do not dominate the space. Leave room for the rest of your fellow members.

Coffee, sodas and water are provided in the break room as a courtesy and for a small price. We use the honor system for paying. Please do not abuse this privilege. The drink machine is for water and sodas only. It is not a refrigerator to keep your personal food and drinks.

Tables and chairs are provided for eating and breaks. Please clean up after yourself and try to think of others that will be eating after you.

There is a trash can and a recycling bag for bottles and cans. Please make use of these.

13. Hours of operation:

Set-up hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Wednesday and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Thursday. Only the set-up crew and security personal will be allowed in the building before Wednesday. Please have your booth ready for inspection by 4:00 PM Thursday evening.

The Village is open each day of the fair from 10:00 AM until 9:45 PM. You should be in the building early enough to get your booth ready for business and in your booth before 10:00 AM. You may enter the building only through the side door, (between booth #29 & #30), as early as 8:00 AM. (No earlier please. See section on security). The front door will be available for exits to the restrooms only.

Church will be held in the building each Sunday morning at 9:00 AM. Attendance is voluntary.

General membership meetings will be held on Thursday night following the dinner and on the second Saturday morning at 9:00 AM. Each member is required to attend.

If you are holding merchandise for a customer, they must pick it up BEFORE 9:45 PM.

14. Security:

The Village employs it's own night time security for the safety of your product. No one is allowed in the building except security during the after hours. This is not only for theft protection but also for fire protection. At least two members will be sleeping in the building each night starting on the Wednesday before opening. In an effort to make these people more comfortable and to help them with their job, please turn off any electrical tools, lights, etc. before leaving the building each night. When sweeping, be sure to check for cigarette butts under your table covers that might be a potential fire hazard.

In order to allow the security team relief in the mornings to shower and eat, some of you may be asked to work as door watchers from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the mornings. These duties include keeping out the public until opening. always be pleasant with the public. The security team thanks you for your help.

15. Windows:

Some of the windows around the building can be opened to let out the heat. There is a window stick in the office for this. Remember, if you open a window during the day, close it at night before you leave.

16: Evening clean-up:

The Village provides it's own evening clean up. Each quadrant will be assigned a sweep leader who's job it is to assign two sweepers form their quadrant to sweep each evening. The sweep schedule is as follows:

9:30 PM - The person assigned will scatter dust-down on the floor.

9:45 PM - Lights will dim and an announcement will be given over the PA announcing that the Village is closing at which time you will first, finish with your last customer of the day, second, sweep out your own booth into the main floor. DO NOT start sweeping your booth before the lights dim. Quadrant sweepers, please allow everyone time to sweep their booths out before sweeping the main floor.

Please sweep in the following order: First sweep the inner isles out into the main circle isle. Then, starting at the front door, line up at the front door and sweep one side of the building to the back door. Then do the other half of the building. After all the trash is swept to the back door, shovel it into the dumpster or cans. Please return the brooms to the break room.

17. Emergencies:

If you are staying on the fairgrounds during the fair it is very important that security knows where to find you in case of an emergency. There are forms available to fill out for this purpose. Everyone staying on the grounds must fill this out.

18. Brochures for craft shows, galleries etc. that are advertising that event or business are not allowed to be given out even if you are exhibiting or showing there. Only material of your own business may be displayed in your booth or given out.

19. No awards or ribbons may be displayed in your booth unless given by The Village of Yesteryear and then only for that year.