FAQs

The Makers Frontyard Trail is a community event that celebrates the local handmade movement. It gives artists and small-scale makers from Sydney’s Inner West—and invited maker friends from beyond the area—the chance to showcase and sell their work directly to the public.

More than just a market, the Trail is an opportunity for neighbours, visitors and makers to come together to celebrate creativity, discover local talent, make new connections and build a stronger sense of community.

The Trail welcomes artists and makers of all skill levels and experience. Everything sold on the Trail must be handmade or upcycled by the maker themselves. To keep the focus on original, locally made work, we don’t permit the sale of mass-produced, imported or second-hand goods.

Saturday 17 October 2026

10:00am-4:00pm

The Inner West Council, Sydney Craft Week and all our advertising state the above date & times.

If you are a Host front yard and a stallholder, please commit to these times at the minimum. Be ready to trade at 10.00am and start packing down at 4.00pm at the earliest.

If in the case of an emergency, you have to “close shop” early, please notify Makers Frontyard by email at the earliest, so that we have the opportunity to let the public know. We also ask you to post to your social media channels.

If you are a maker/artist and you don’t have a front yard, you can still register and we will do our best to connect you with a Host.

Both Hosts & Makers make artworks and handmade wares that they wish to sell on Trail Day, but there some differences

Register as a Host

“Hosts” are makers/artists with Inner West front yards that they’ll trade from on Trail Day 

They can either :

1. Invite their own maker friends to register as “Makers” on our website​

2. Offer space to host other makers by indicating this during registration. We then match them up with makers who register that they’re looking for a “Host” front yard. (Being open to hosing others is a great way to gain more visitation on Trail Day + make new creative friends)

3. Trade by themselves (Perhaps they only have enough space in their front yard for their own stall)

Register as a Maker / “Sell Handmade”

“Makers” do not have a front yard they can trade from eg. (Perhaps they live in a flat or have an inaccessible front yard)

They can either :

1. Pre-arrange to trade from a Host’s front yard (If they’re friendly with someone who has already registered for example)

2. Go on our waitlist to be matched up with a Host (We keep an eye out for a suitable Host front yard)

Not a problem. You’re welcome to trade by yourself. Or if you prefer, you can register as a Maker to be connected with a Host.

Yes. You can register as a Maker & we will connect you with an Inner West Host.

Any suburb that falls within the Inner West Council Local Government Area (LGA). We welcome front yards that fall just outside the LGA boundries. These include Annandale,Ashbury,Ashfield,Balmain,Birchgrove,Camperdown,Croydon,Dulwich Hill,Enmore,Hurlstone Park,Leichhardt,Lewisham,Lilyfield Marrickville,Newtown,Petersham,Rozelle,St Peters,Stanmore,Summer Hill,Sydenham,Tempe

Second hand, imported & mass produced goods are Not Accepted.

Only handmade and upcycled goods and original artworks created by the seller are accepted, such as

• original paintings, illustrations created by the seller
• handmade ceramics
• sculptures
• photography & prints of original artworks made by the seller
• plants cultivated/grown by the seller
• furniture made by the seller
• flower arrangements  
• face painting
• hand poured candles
• fabric-based homewares
• non-fabric homewares eg. woodwork
• babies & kids handmade decor items
• handmade toys eg. crochet dolls
• wearable accessories eg. brooches, scarves, hair scrunchies
• handmade jewellery  
• knitted scarves, beanies, jumpers
• upcycled apparel
• food eg. jams, pickles, locally produced honey (Please adhere to NSW Food Authority regulations)
• music – live music/busking is welcome (Please consider your neighbours.)

• mass produced products
• products imported from overseas
• second-hand items
• anything not made by the seller

The Trail event will go ahead in light rain and mild winds. Front yard hosts will make arrangements in advance with outdoor umbrellas, tarps or marquees where possible. Please check our Instagram & Facebook channels if you’re not sure if the Trail is going ahead. @makersfrontyard

In the event of extreme weather, we will make the call to cancel the event, first thing on Trail Day. Makers & Hosts will be notified by email and our social media channels will be updated.

Please follow @makersfrontyard on Instagram & Facebook to keep up-to-date.

The safety of everyone on Trail Day is is very important. If you are Hosting, please take the time to assess your space for any possible hazards such as trip & fall, head injury hazards etc. This is the responsibility of both Host and invited stallholders on your property.

Please do not block or hinder traffic on public property such as communal footpaths and roads.

As a courtesy to your neighbours, it’s advisable to let them know of your participation in the Trail.

Please secure any valuables onsite including cash boxes, home and personal valuables.

Hosts are strongly advised to have their Home & Contents insurance policy up-to-date. The policy should cover the date of the market Trail and have a public liability component (covering people entering the property for accident, injury, theft and loss).

It is not essential however stallholders are advised to have their own current market insurance policy that includes product liability.

The sale of food in NSW is regulated by the Food Authority and the Food Act 2003 & Food Regulation 2010. If you will be preparing, storing, handling and selling food as part of Makers Frontyard Trail, it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all requirements outlined by the NSW Government Food Authority. https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/retail/home-based-mixed-businesses

Stallholders may choose to take payment in cash, card, bank transfer or PayID

Help spread the word about your participation by letting your family, friends, colleagues and community networks know you’re taking part. The more people who hear about the Trail, the better!

You’re also welcome to decorate your front yard however you like for Trail Day. We recommend setting everything up at least a week before the event so neighbours and passers-by have plenty of notice that something exciting is happening.

We’ll email you digital poster files ahead of time, which you’re welcome to print and display on your property in the lead-up to the event.

If you put up any posters in the street or other public places, please remember to remove them once the event has finished.

The 2026 Makers Frontyard Trail is proudly sponsored by Inner West Council and forms part of their Beyond the Studio pilot program. The Trail is also part of Sydney Craft Week (10–18 October 2026) and will be featured on the Sydney Craft Week website and in their event marketing.

Instagram and Facebook are our main social media platforms and the primary way we promote the Trail and keep everyone up-to-date.

Be sure to follow us and tag us in your posts & reels: @makersfrontyard

Please also follow and tag our partners:
@innerwestcouncil and @sydneycraftweek

Use these hashtags to help spread the word and connect with other participants:
#makersfrontyard #makersfrontyardtrail #innerwestcouncil #sydneycraftweek

There is no fee to participate in 2026 thanks to the support from the Inner West Council.

• Wed 12 Aug, 8-8.30pm – Online Info Session For Hosts & Makers 1

• Thu 3 Sep, 12.30-1.00pm – Online Info Session For Hosts & Makers 2

• Thu 1 Oct – Maker & Host Registrations Close at Midnight

• Sat 17 Oct, 10am-4pm – Trail Day!