HOLIDAY PARTY FOR WILDLIFE AND OUTDOOR MARKET

Hello everyone!

Thank you for signing up to be a vendor at our market. I wanted to thank you for all being so enthusiastic and for sharing, sharing, sharing the event. I wanted to give you some background information if you’ve never been to the center before. Sweetbriar is a 501c3 non-profit that does wildlife rehabilitation at no cost to the public and educational programs. We are home to over 100 permanent non-releasable animals and throughout the last year we’ve cared for over 2000 animals.

We are a staff of 3 and are only surviving at the moment because of all our wonderful volunteers, donations, and these fundraising events. We do NOT get any funding from the state, county, or town. Usually our funding comes from the 100’s of schools that we do programs for. Last year with Covid, all school field trips and visits were off. It has started to pick back up recently and we are grateful for that. Please know that we are extremely thankful that you’re joining us for the event this year. Your vendor spot is helping to keep us open.

The Holiday Party for wildlife has grown from being a small animal presentation & wishlist event 4 years ago, to an event with vendors, photo opportunities, presentations, and special guests.

Last year, we had an unbelievable turn out. We ran out of parking over and over again. Vendors sold out of their goods, everyone had a blast. We are expecting a good turn out, I don’t know if anything will compare to last year. I think we were the only ones having a craft market last year. This is why it is important that you share, ask family and friends to come by and have them share the event as well.

Please know that this year many hours of volunteer time, and 12 hour days have gone into setting up the lights, getting vendors, cleaning up the fields, and more will be going into this event on the day of. Volunteers will be doing animal presentations, directing traffic, emptying garbage, and collecting donations. With that said, if you see something that needs immediate attention or anything you need to ask about, please send Veronica a text at 978 317-5425, you can also call the center at 631-979-6344. All of our visitors are usually wonderful so their shouldn’t be much to worry about. While the event is going on, we will still be an operational wildlife rehab center. I may disappear for a bit to take in a patient or help with animal care. Just make sure while setting up your spot that you’re not blocking the entrance to an animal enclosure and that volunteers can still get behind your space to care for our animals.

Important information for you-

Certain cell carriers are spotty at the nature center. Some of you will be able to connect to the WiFi but it’s not the best. You may have to go “old school” and manually process credit transactions if all else fails. Last year most vendors had service but it was slow. Wifi is Sweetbriar Nature Center and password is smithtown

Lights - It’s best to bring some battery powered lights. We will have some outlets available if you’d like to bring an extension cord and a set of sting lights or low powered lights. This is where LED lights come in handy. Our houses old electric set up can not take high powered lights all plugged in at once.

Indoor bathrooms are only available for vendors and volunteers. There are outdoor port-a-potties and sanitization areas for the public. You should use the back door of the house to enter, use the bathroom across from the front desk and exit the house. There will be signs on the door for the public not to enter. Please wear a mask the whole time you’re in the house. Keep the bathroom as clean as possible. Please let me know if anything is running low (soap and TP).

When driving into the center to set up. Please follow the signs the best you can. You will be driving on gravel roads and through fields. Look for the first vendor signs at the end of the driveway. Just follow the signs to the location to drive on to the field. TAKE IT VERY SLOW. Sweetbriar is open to the public, usually there are people all over. We will assign you a space when you arrive. You may drive your car to the spot to unload, some spots I will allow the cars to stay behind certain spaces and the rest need to go back into the parking field. All cars must be off the main field by 2:30pm. If you arrive later then that to set up, you’ll have to walk your items to your spot. If you have to leave early you can not drive your car on the field while the event is going on. Please don’t arrive any earlier then 12pm for set up. As the day get closer, I may number the spots on the field. I’ll keep you updated.

Any other questions, please contact me ASAP. I will check emails till about 11am on Friday and then you should text after.

Thank you again everyone!