# What to do if it rains at an outdoor market.

Decide your weather plan before you open applications. Say whether the market runs rain or shine, who calls it off and when, what vendors must bring (tents and weights), and what refund or credit applies if you cancel. Then tell vendors and shoppers early, in the same place every time.

_Updated 2026-10-10._

## Set the rain plan before anyone pays.

A weather policy is easier to write on a clear day. Put it in your application and agreement so vendors have accepted it before they pay.

- Rain or shine: the market runs in ordinary rain, and vendors expect to set up in it.
- Call-off conditions: name the conditions that make you cancel, such as lightning, high wind, flooding or an official warning.
- Who decides and when: one person calls it, by a set time, and tells everyone at once.
- A backup: an indoor space or a rain date, if you have one.

## Tell vendors what to bring.

- A tent or canopy for every booth, with weights on every leg. Wind can matter more than rain.
- Tarps or covers for tables, product and signs, and a plan to protect paper goods and anything electric.
- Ask the venue what they allow for stakes and tie-downs, and say so to vendors.
- Keep aisles and entrances clear of puddles where you can, with mats or gravel if the ground is soft.

## Decide the refund or credit before you need it.

Vendors will ask what happens if you cancel for weather. Decide the answer in advance: a refund, a credit toward another date, or a rain date they can attend. A vendor who cancels because they don't like the forecast is a different case from an event you cancel, so spell out both.

Write the rule in your refund policy and apply it to everyone. If you're unsure what your agreement and local rules allow, ask a lawyer.

## Decide early and say it everywhere.

1. Pick the cutoff time for the decision and tell vendors what it is.
2. Check the forecast a few days out and warn vendors if it looks bad.
3. Send the final call to all vendors at once, then post on your page, social and the event listing.
4. If you cancel, tell vendors what refund or credit applies in the same message.
5. Afterward, thank the vendors who stayed and say what you'll do differently next time.

## Reach every vendor at once.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by city and venue, so confirm the details with the agency or a lawyer.

- Send an announcement to all vendors, or message one to one.
- Set up automatic emails to vendors before the event, such as a weather and load-in reminder.

## Questions

**What should I do if it rains at an outdoor vendor market?**

Follow the weather policy you published: run rain or shine if conditions are safe, cancel for lightning or high wind, and tell vendors and shoppers the decision early.

**Do I owe vendors a refund if the market is canceled for weather?**

It depends on your agreement and local rules. Decide whether you refund, give a credit or offer a rain date, write it down before vendors pay, and apply it to everyone. Ask a lawyer if unsure.

**What contingency plan do I need for rain or weather?**

A written rain-or-shine policy, a call-off time and person, tent and weight rules, an indoor backup or rain date if you have one, and a way to reach every vendor quickly.

**How do I communicate weather and cancellation policy to vendors?**

Put it in the application and agreement, remind vendors by email a few days out, and send the final decision to everyone at once.

**Should vendors bring tent weights?**

Yes. Ask every vendor with a tent to weight each leg, and check venue rules on stakes. Wind can knock over an unweighted tent.

## Related

- [Vendor rules and refund policy](https://bzar.app/templates/vendor-rules-and-refund-policy)
- [Vendor load-in and setup](https://bzar.app/guides/vendor-load-in-and-setup)
- [Vendor event checklist](https://bzar.app/templates/vendor-event-checklist)
- [Vendor no-shows and cancellations](https://bzar.app/guides/vendor-no-shows-and-cancellations)