How Teens Can Apply for the New Youth Booths at Thursdays Downtown

News is starting to flow in about the 2026 Thursdays Downtown, and I'm getting excited! Thursdays Downtown is a huge music, art, and food street festival that happens every Thursday during the summer in downtown Rochester, MN.

For 2026, they've announced something new and exciting: Youth Booths.

We always write a ton about Thursdays Downtown, including an article I wrote in 2025 when they had to move the location of a portion of Thursdays Downtown. FYI, the plan is to have Thursdays Downtown back in its usual place at 1st Ave SW and the Peace Plaza this year.

ALSO READ: Your Complete Guide to Rochester Resale and Thrift Stores

Thursdays Downtown Youth Booths

The Rochester Downtown Alliance announced today that they are giving young entrepreneurs the opportunity to have booths at Thursdays Downtown this year with Youth Booths.

Here are more specific details and qualifications for the Youth Booths:

• Open to youth ages 12–18
• All items must be handmade by the applicant (artists, crafters, makers, and creators of all kinds are welcome)
• Youth vendors will be provided with a tent, a table, and two chairs
• Available shifts: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. or 4–8 p.m.

So if your teen likes to paint, make bracelets, crochet, whatever, they could get their very own booth at Thursdays. How cool would that be?!

There doesn't appear to be any fees to have a Youth Booth, but your child needs to apply in advance.

How to Apply for the Thursdays Downtown Youth Booths

If you have a child who is interested in a Youth Booth, they need to send an email describing their work, along with photos of their work, to thursdays@downtownrochestermn.com.

Applications are open now through April 6th, 2026. If your child is selected as a vendor, they will be notified by May 1st, 2026.

Also, mark your calendars, the first Thursdays Downtown of 2026 is June 11th.