If you have done any research on tiny houses then you know that there are some pretty amazing things that can be done with very tiny spaces. The creativity of some of these tiny house builders is incredible!
With so many ingenious design ideas, builders and homeowners alike wanted a space to display their designs and that’s where tiny house festivals come into play.
What are Tiny House Festivals?
Tiny house festivals are special events where tiny house enthusiasts get together to exchange ideas and share their latest designs and innovations. Tiny house festivals typically span several days and are a great way for those who are part of the tiny house movement to meet and network with each other.
Tiny house festivals are not only for tiny house builders and homeowners but for anyone who is curious about tiny houses and finds them interesting. These events are a great way to explore and discover the latest trends in tiny housing.
At tiny house festivals not only will you encounter tiny houses, but many of these festivals also include displays of other dwelling units such as modular homes, container homes and portable structures.
Besides these small dwelling units, you may also find other exhibits at tiny house festivals that may include things such as tools, building equipment, supplies, real estate brokers, housing accessories, appliances, travel destinations, lists of tiny house communities, recreational products and much much more.
Several tiny house festivals also offer educational conferences and or panel discussions where you get to learn from experts in the industry regarding tiny houses.
And lastly, what kind of festival would it be if it didn’t include food, drinks and music? Yes, some of these tiny house festivals are not only for learning about tiny houses, but also about having a good time.
What you find at a tiny house festival will vary depending on which festival you attend. Make sure to review what is being offered before you attend in order to make the most out of your experience.
As the tiny house movement continues to grow in popularity, tiny festivals are becoming more and more common. There are currently dozens of tiny house festivals that take place across the United States from Iowa to California to Texas to Florida, no matter where you live there is surely a tiny house festival near you.
How to Attend a Tiny House Festival?
If you are interested in attending a tiny house festival you should be aware that they are not free. You will have to purchase a ticket and the price for such tickets typically range from $5 to $20 with discounts being given to children, seniors and those in the military.
Many of the festivals also offer early bird specials and so if you buy your tickets ahead of time you can save some money.
Entering tiny house festivals will not only give you access to the different tiny house exhibits that are on display, but your ticket will also give you access to the different vendors inside the event.
If you are interested in attending a tiny house festival then check out this page for some of the best upcoming tiny house festivals.
Tiny house festivals are great to attend, but what if you would like to display your own tiny house or sell your services to those at the tiny house festival?
How to Enter Your House into a Tiny House Festival?
To enter your tiny house into a tiny house festival is simple. All you have to do is visit the website of the tiny house festival that you wish to attend and find the section that talks about registering your tiny house for the event and apply.
The application will ask you a few questions such as your contact info, the size of your tiny house and what if any business you are associated with. Once you complete the application the organizers of the event will respond to you and let you know if you have been approved or not. Here is an example of a tiny house festival application.
One of the benefits of displaying your own tiny house at a tiny house festival is that it often grants you free access to the event. Not only will you not have to buy tickets, but you are often allowed to stay in your tiny house overnight rather than having to pay for other arrangements.
Not having to rent a place to stay is a nice benefit, especially if you are coming to the tiny house festival from out of town.
Another benefit of entering your home in a tiny house festival is that you get tons of exposure from those who attend the event. If you live in a tiny house just because it is a hobby or something that you enjoy then this may not be a major deal for you.
However, if you are a designer, a builder or someone who is looking to grow their reputation as an expert in the tiny house industry then this could be a great time for you to shine!
Over the course of the festival you will be exposed to hundreds if not thousands of people and so if you can wow people with your tiny house build then this could go a long way in growing your reputation as an expert or an innovator in the tiny house field.
Maybe you have a unique design or a clever way to maximize space inside your tiny house; either way, showing off these ideas could go a long way for you gaining recognition in the tiny house community.
If you decide to enter your tiny house into a tiny house festival there are two things you will have to consider and that is the fact that you will be asked to come early and stay late.
If you decide you want to have your tiny house design displayed at a tiny house festival then you should prepare to come to the event at least one day prior to the event starting if not sooner. This is so that the organizers can arrange the event in a way that looks nice and makes sense.
Again each event will have different arrival requirements, but it would be a bad look for both you and the event organizers if you stroll into the event one or two hours after the event has already started. Don’t be that person!
Along with coming early, you will more than likely be required to stay for the entire event. So if the event goes from Friday to Sunday then you will probably be asked to be there all three days from open until close.
This again goes back to not leaving gaps in the structure of the tiny house festival and so if you want to be on display just plan on being there for long hours and try to make the most of it.
If you are trying to grow in the tiny house industry then there is not a better opportunity than setting up a display at your local tiny house festival. You will be around many like minded individuals who already have at least some level of interest in the products that you will be providing.
Tiny house festivals are always looking for new houses and new ideas so don’t hesitate to apply!
Conclusion
Tiny house festivals are a great way for those involved in the tiny house movement to network, learn and explore different tiny houses. Even if you are not a builder or occupant of a tiny house, tiny houses are still so cool that I would encourage you to attend a tiny house festival just to see a few of them.
If you are trying to grow your reputation in the tiny house community then one of the best ways to do so is by entering your own tiny house that you have built or designed into a tiny house festival.
I hope you are able to attend a tiny house festival soon and that you are blown away by what you find!