Logo for 'Off the Rails Makers Market' featuring a stylized train engine and smoke, with the text 'Off the Rails Makers Market' below.
Stylized handwritten text that says 'About the Market'

The Off the Rails Market is our semi-annual market event held at the historic Northern Pacific Center. This market brings together talented makers, artisans, and over 8,000 shoppers a year to celebrate creativity and community. Discover a diverse selection of handmade, handcrafted, and unique gifts. This is a prime opportunity for vendors to showcase their work, connect with a large and engaged audience, and thrive alongside fellow artisans.

Our market is more than just a shopping destination; it's a welcoming and fun atmosphere where shoppers can discover unique treasures and experience the Northern Pacific Center.

Join us for the Off the Rails Market and be a part of this cherished tradition!

  • Load in & Set Up:

    Thursday December 10th | 8am-4pm

    Event Times:

    Friday December 11th 2026 (VIP Night/Ticket to entry) 6pm-9pm

    Saturday December 12th 2026 ( General Admission) 9am-3pm

    Load Out & Tear Down:

    Saturday December 12th 2026 | 3pm-5pm

  • 10’x10x - $375.00

    12’x20’ - $1,500.00

  • “Off the Rails Makers Market was an exceptional experience for JP Creates and stands out as one of the most well-executed artisan events we’ve participated in

    From the start, the event coordinators set the tone for success. Communication was clear, direct, and easy to follow, which made planning seamless. Any questions we had were answered quickly, and that level of responsiveness made a noticeable difference. One of the biggest advantages was the full day allotted for vendor setup. That extra time removed a lot of the typical stress and allowed us to thoughtfully design and elevate our booth to match the high-end rustic and retro vibe of the venue. 

    The atmosphere of the market itself was fantastic. With a full bar, live music, and a dedicated kids play area, the event created an experience that went beyond shopping—it gave attendees a reason to stay, relax, and truly engage. That translated directly into strong vendor opportunities. 

    From a sales perspective, the event delivered. Foot traffic started immediately when the doors opened and remained steady throughout the day. The crowd came ready to shop and enjoy themselves, which speaks volumes about the event’s marketing and promotion. For JP Creates, sales were very strong, and we also received multiple custom orders—something we always see as a key indicator of meaningful customer connection and brand interest. 

    Overall, Off the Rails Makers Market is a top-tier event that clearly prioritizes both vendor success and customer experience. We highly recommend it to any artisan or small business looking to grow brand awareness, connect with engaged shoppers, and be part of a well-organized, high-quality market.”

    - JP Creates LLC

    “Our first experience as vendors at the Spring Off the Rails Market was amazing! We had done the Christmas market in December, which was a great experience, so we were excited to sign up for this event as well.  We really love the venue because it's so clean, well-decorated, and inviting.  It has such a cozy feel to it!  Having games set up, along with food & drinks, is something we really appreciate. It's a great way to get people to come to the event, and to get them to stick around longer. 

    People started arriving right when the event began, and traffic was consistent throughout the day. Normally, the traffic dies off after about 1:00 in the afternoon, but that was not the case with this event. In fact, it was our highest single day of sales ever! 

    The other vendors and shoppers were all really friendly and everybody made us feel very welcome.  

    After the event, we received a few custom orders and gained several new social media followers.  We will definitely be at any future Off the Rails markets - it has quickly become one of our favorites! 

    - Cuddlebugs Yarnworks

    “The event as a whole was fantastic.  Better then we could have expected.  The people kept coming in all day and were excited about the event.  We exceeded our expectations for the day and could not have been happier with the results and the people we met.  We were able to make connections for future orders and get feedback for the Christmas show.  Most of the people were ecstatic about knowing we are coming to the Christmas show and getting excited to buy for Christmas.  We as a business are looking forward to that show.   

    A side note to this is also the work, preparation and advertisement done by Sydney to make this such a wonderful spring event.  She is so friendly and easy to work with that we will help her out at her events anytime.  She makes you feel welcome and appreciated.  She goes out of her way to make you feel special. 

    We were also able to meet other vendors and community members to help develop our niche and work with the community.  By being in the first booth people were amazed and eager to come and look at our products.  The event helped us pass out business cards along with selling products to customers and potential customers.  The feedback from the people there was outstanding.  

    We had heard stories about the previous year being down but did not experience that ourselves.  With Sydney promoting the event and the backing of the owner we knew that this could be and was an awesome event. If anyone did not have a good day for that show, I would look at how you present yourself and did you engage with customers. 

    The show was a great family event and people were smiling and having fun all day.  The music and the play place for kids was also a big hit and helped parents stay longer and shop. The bar and food were also a great enhancement to the day.  As someone who has taught and worked events like this one it could not have gone on any better.

    - S&K Creations

    “Overall, the event was a very positive experience for our business. From the vendor perspective, everything felt smooth and well thought out—from load-in to setup, communication throughout the event, and overall coordination. It made a big difference knowing what to expect and having clear direction from start to finish. 

    One of the biggest highlights for us was the amount of foot traffic. There was a steady flow of people throughout the event, which created great energy in the space and gave us consistent opportunities to engage with customers. We were able to connect with a wide variety of attendees, have meaningful conversations about our work, and introduce many new people to our brand. 

    The market was also a strong opportunity for building awareness. We had a lot of visitors who hadn’t seen our products before, and even those who didn’t purchase right away took business cards or asked about custom work. That kind of exposure is incredibly valuable for a small business like ours and will continue to benefit us beyond just the day of the event. 

    Another thing that stood out was the overall atmosphere. The venue itself is unique and inviting, and it really enhances the experience for both vendors and customers. It felt like more than just a market—it felt like an event people wanted to spend time at, which naturally leads to better engagement and stronger connections. 

    For future vendors, we would absolutely recommend participating. It’s a well-run event with strong attendance, a supportive environment, and a great opportunity to both sell products and grow your brand presence. 

    We are already planning to return for future events, including the Christmas Market, and are excited to continue being part of Off the Rails as it grows. 

    Thank you again for the opportunity and for supporting small businesses like ours—it truly shows in the way the event is run.”

    - Chain of Lakes Woodworking

    Our first experience at the Northern Pacific Center for the Off the Rails market was an incredible success for our business. We sold out of bread, croissants, and cookies, and moved over half of our pickled dilly beans. The steady flow of customers throughout the event was remarkable—so much so that we were continually working to restock our table as quickly as possible. 

    We established our business in 2023 and have experienced steady, gradual growth through the Cuyuna Farmers Market. Participating in Off the Rails introduced our products to hundreds of new customers, the majority of whom had never heard of us before. That level of exposure is invaluable for a small, growing business like ours. 

    We also greatly appreciated the opportunity to set up the day before. This made a significant difference in reducing stress and allowed us to arrive prepared and focused, especially since we brought nearly double our usual market inventory. 

    Overall, this event exceeded our expectations in every way. We are genuinely excited for the upcoming Cuyuna Farmers Market season and anticipate continued growth thanks to the visibility Off the Rails provides. We are already making plans to participate in the Christmas Off the Rails market and look forward to future opportunities. 

    Thank you for hosting such a well-organized and impactful event—it truly makes a difference for small businesses like ours. 

    - Good Neighbors Homestead LLC

Off the Rails Market Application

CURRENTLY CLOSED - COMING SOON - Opens 7/15/2026

Thank you for your interest in participating in our Off the Rails Market! To apply, please complete the following application.

info@northernpacificcenter.com
(218) 270.8113

1511 Northern Pacific Road
Brainerd, MN 56401