Question Title

 

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Calling all local vendors! Your Toronto Zoo is excited to be hosting a two-day Holiday Marketplace on Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th! Guests attending the Holiday Marketplace have the opportunity to shop locally while enjoying festive décor and photo opportunities.

Your Toronto Zoo continues to build relationships within our community and engage new and diverse audiences in our efforts to champion the work of saving and protecting people, wildlife and wild spaces.

Vendor Categories
  • Artisan - Products created by an artisan (e.g. apparel, art, candles, ceramics, crafts, glass, home decor, jewellery, metal, ornaments, soaps/skin care, stationary, wood)
  • Processor - Prepared food & beverages (e.g. chocolate, cookies, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, sweets)
  • Producer - Produce grown on or meat/other products from animals raised on the producer's land (e.g. fruits & vegetables, cheese, honey, soap, meat, yarn)
Dates:
  • Saturday, November 15, 2025
  • Sunday, November 16, 2025
Time:
Zoo Hours: 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Last admission to Toronto Zoo - one hour before Zoo closes

Marketplace Hours: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Location: Toronto Zoo - Special Events Centre (SEC) and SEC Patio

# of Vendors: Approximately forty (40)

# of Zoo Guests*: Estimated 2,500 guests per day
*weather dependent; The Toronto Zoo does not guarantee a minimum number of guests who will visit vendor booths.

Admission & Parking:
Regular Zoo admission rates apply for all Marketplace shoppers
  • The Toronto Zoo has implemented plan-ahead
    pricing to provide the opportunity to plan a visit on
    the day that best accommodates a budget and
    schedule. Ticket prices vary based on entry date. The
    further in advance you purchase tickets, the more you
    are likely to save!
  • Parking: $20.00 per vehicle
Vendor Fees

Vendor Fee*: $100.00 + HST per date
All vendors are located within the Toronto Zoo’s Special Events Centre and SEC Patio. As all tables are all within the same vicinity, no booth location is considered to be a premium location. The Toronto Zoo is responsible for assigning all vendor locations and takes vendor requirements and the distribution of vendor types into consideration.
*Vendor fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Public Liability Insurance
Vendors are required to secure, at their own expense, Public Liability Insurance that meets the following requirements:
  • Cover personal injury and property damage
  • Be in the amount of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00)
  • Name the Board of Management of the Toronto Zoo, City of Toronto, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as additional insureds
  • Contain a cross-liability (severability of interest clause)
The Toronto Zoo is not responsible for any theft, damage, claims, costs or expenses experienced by vendors and/or affiliates during the Marketplace.
Marketplace Day of Requirements
  • The Holiday Marketplace will be an indoor/outdoor event located within the climate-controlled Special Events Centre, and it's adjoining outdoor patio. The Special Events Centre is located within the Discovery Zone in close proximity to the Zoo’s Front Entrance (5 minute walking distance).
  • Outdoor vendors are responsible for bringing their own tent or canopy for weather protection. Heaters and 1lb propane tanks will be provided for outdoor vendors as required.
  • Vendor Load-in & Set-up Time: 8:00-11:00 am on both Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th, 2025.
  • Vendor Tear-down Time: 4:00-5:30 pm on both Saturday, November 15th and Sunday, November 16th, 2025.
  • Due to the Toronto Zoo’s operations and the location of the Holiday Marketplace, vendors will not have direct vehicle access to their vendor booth. Vendors must be prepared to transport their products and/or display items from their vehicle to the vendor booth.
  • The Marketplace will take place rain, snow, or shine. An inclement weather date will not be scheduled.
The Toronto Zoo will provide Vendors with:
  • An event coordinator who will work with the vendor to coordinate logistics
  • One (1) vendor booth - includes an ~7 ft x 7 ft footprint, two (2) tables (6' rectangular), two (2) folding chairs, WiFi access
  • Electrical access is limited - please indicate requirement on vendor application
  • Access to a public washrooms
  • Access to the Toronto Zoo for the vendor and up to two (2) staff
  • Access to parking
  • Early access to the vendor booth for load-in/out and set-up/tear-down
Vendors are responsible for:
  • Booths must remain open and staffed for the full duration of the Marketplace
  • Vendor signage
  • Table coverings
  • Additional display items required for your booth (e.g. shelving, wood crates). All items must be secure.
  • Additional power, table, and chair requirements beyond what the Toronto Zoo is capable of providing
  • Processing all transactions associated with the sale of the vendor's products
  • Bringing a dolly/wagon to move product or display items
  • Load-in, set-up, & tear-down

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