Everything You Need to Know:

Get ready to make the most of your experience as an exhibitor at the Scottsdale Book Festival 2026. This page is your go-to resource for important event details, including booth setup requirements, arrival and load-in information, festival guidelines, and what to expect on festival day.

Please review this page carefully. Please Scroll ALL the way down to the bottom. This page contains all required exhibitor setup and day-of information. We’re excited to welcome you to a beautiful January day in downtown Scottsdale for a celebration of books, creativity, and community.

Quick facts:

• Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
• Festival Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Location: Scottsdale Civic Center
• *If unfamiliar - Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is your landmark.
• Setting: Outdoors in the Round
• 7380 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ
• Admission: Free • Family friendly • All are welcome
• Parking: Free *Surrounding areas of the venue

Getting here:

• Festival Address: 7380 E. 2nd Street, Scottsdale, AZ
• South of Indian School Rd, East of Scottsdale Rd, and West of Drinkwater Blvd.
• OUTSIDE: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Parking After Set Up:

• Public parking is available in nearby garages and surface lots throughout downtown Scottsdale.
• Accessible parking spaces are available in every parking area and lot.
• **Please refer to the maps for recommended parking areas.

Location Orientatoin (North, South, East, West)

The Scottsdale Book Festival takes place outdoors at the Scottsdale Civic Center, surrounded by the following streets:

• North: Indian School Road
• South: East 2nd Street (main public-facing entrance area)
• East: Drinkwater Boulevard
• West: North Brown Avenue

The festival grounds sit between Indian School Rd and 2nd St, with Drinkwater Blvd running along the east side of the venue and Brown Ave along the west side.

Using the Map Above for Load-in / Parking:

• Parking (P):
  The (P) symbols on the map indicate the closest recommended parking areas for exhibitor load-in. These parking areas are located on three sides of the festival grounds and have been highlighted for easy reference.
• Walking Routes (Yellow Lines):
  Once parked, please follow the yellow lines and arrows shown on the map to walk into the festival grounds. Directional signage will also be posted along these routes to help guide you.
• Check-In:
  All exhibitors should proceed to the Information Booth upon arrival to check in before setting up.

Load In/Out Times:

• Load In:
  7:00 AM – 9:30 AM
  All exhibitor booths must be fully set up by 10:00 AM
• Load Out:
  5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Important Setup Notes:

• The festival grounds are pedestrian only. Vehicles are not permitted on site at any time.
• All materials (canopies, books, tables, displays, etc.) must be carried in from your parked vehicle.
• Wagons, carts, dollies, and rolling bins are strongly recommended and commonly used by exhibitors for load in and load out.

Booth Rules & Setup Guidelines:

To ensure a safe, organized, and fair experience for all exhibitors, the following booth requirements and rules apply to all authors, publishers, and vendors participating in the Scottsdale Book Festival.

What You Need to Bring:

• 10×10 canopy or tent (required for all booths)
• Canopy weights for each leg (required for safety)
• Table (must fit entirely within your 10×10 space)
• Chairs (1–2 recommended)
• Books and merchandise you plan to sell or display
• No electricity is provided

Booth Rules:

• All booth spaces are 10×10, space only
• Exhibitors must remain entirely within their assigned booth footprint
• No displays, signage, tables, or merchandise may extend beyond your 10×10 space
• Booth sharing is permitted only with pre-approved partners
• Authors and exhibitors may not feature or promote additional authors outside of approved booth partners
• No A-frame signs, banners, or displays are allowed in walkways or common areas
• No aisle soliciting — engaging attendees outside your booth space is strictly prohibited

**These guidelines are in place to ensure consistency, safety, and a positive experience for all exhibitors and attendees.

Things to consider:

• Comfortable shoes, jackets or layers, sunscreen, and hats
• Payment options (most attendees use cards; cash is also helpful)
• Card readers or digital payment apps such as Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or GoDaddy may be useful. Many offer free or low-cost setup options.

Weather & Rain plan:

• This is a fully outdoor event. January weather in Arizona is typically beautiful, but conditions can vary.
• Plan for sun and changing temperatures
• The festival is rain or shine
• Any weather-related updates will be shared:
• Via Social Media Pages *IG / FB
• Through on-site stage announcements during the festival, if needed

Exhibitor Check-In & On-Site Support:

An Information Booth will be set up on-site for all exhibitors.
All exhibitors must check in upon arrival before setting up.

At check-in, you will receive:

• Direction to your assigned booth (space) location
• Guidance on where and how to set up on-site

Booth (space) numbers will be emailed ahead of time. On the festival grounds, aisle lines will be clearly marked with flags so you know exactly where to place your 10×10 canopy.

Vendors Wi-Fi: (for all exhibitors only)

• Use: SCA-Vendors
• Password: $C@V3nd0r

Booth Layout & Ground Markings: Area 1

Orange irrigation flags will be placed in the grass to mark booth groupings prior to exhibitor arrival.

Each flagged square represents a 20×20 area, which contains four individual 10×10 booth spaces. These grouped squares help us maintain consistent spacing, clear walkways, and an organized layout across the festival grounds.

• The orange flags mark the outer corners of each 20×20 square
• Four 10×10 booths fit inside each square, positioned directly next to one another
• Booths are arranged so that canopies touch or sit closely together, as shown in the example image
• Please do not move flags — they are placed intentionally to ensure proper spacing and alignment

Reference Image:
The images shows a before-and-after view of the festival layout:

• BEFORE
• One side displays the flagged ground layout before tents are set up
• AFTER
• The other side shows the completed setup with tents in place

This visual is meant to help you understand how your booth fits into the larger festival layout once setup is complete.

Booth Layout & Ground Markings: Area 2

Orange irrigation flags will be placed in the grass to mark booth groupings prior to exhibitor arrival.

Each flagged square represents a 10×10 area, which contains single - individual 10×10 booth spaces. These squares help us maintain consistent spacing, clear walkways, and an organized layout across the festival grounds.

• The orange flags mark the outer corners of each 10×10 square
• One 10×10 booths fit inside each square, positioned directly next to one another (Side by side along the walk way)
• Booths are arranged so that canopies touch or sit closely together, as shown in the example image
• Please do not move flags — they are placed intentionally to ensure proper spacing and alignment

Reference Image:
The images shows a before-and-after view of the festival layout:

• BEFORE
• One side displays the flagged ground layout before tents are set up
• AFTER
• The other side shows the completed setup with tents in place

This visual is meant to help you understand how your booth fits into the larger festival layout once setup is complete.

Festival Grounds Layout & Booth Locations:

• This map shows the final booth layout for the Scottsdale Book Festival, including walkable aisles, stage areas, food courts, and public gathering spaces.
• All booths are located along high-traffic pedestrian paths with clear sightlines from festival entrances and exits.
• The festival is designed so there is no front or back—every booth sits along an active path and benefits from foot traffic in all directions.
• The layout supports smooth circulation and ensures every exhibitor is visible and easily accessible.
• Booth placements and assigned booth numbers are final

Fairness & Consistency:

• To ensure a smooth and equitable experience for all participants, the same rules and standards apply to every exhibitor. Special accommodations, expanded spaces, or custom advertising are not available, as these guidelines help maintain a balanced, professional, and enjoyable festival environment for everyone involved.

Exhibitor HandBook:

• Linked Festival Handbook - HANDBOOK

Contact and Support:

Primary Contact (Day of Festival):
Michael + Volunteers wearing Logo Shirts