POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING, SIGNATURE GATHERING, and DEMONSTRATIONS POLICY
Adopted June 2026
The Maple Valley Farmers’ Market serves the greater Maple Valley community by supporting local and regional farms and farmers, providing an economic platform for small and independent businesses, and by creating a vibrant, welcoming community gathering place.
As a community gathering place, the Market welcomes political campaigning, signature gathering, and other civic engagement, subject to the content-neutral time, place, and manner rules set forth below, which apply equally to all participants regardless of the content or viewpoint of their activity.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING and SIGNATURE GATHERING
As a matter of neutrality, the Market does not rent booth space to political candidates, campaigns, or ballot measures. Petitioners gathering signatures, and candidates or campaigns are welcome to visit the Market, distribute literature, and engage with the Market community, as long as these activities do not interfere with regular Market operations:
- Activities cannot use any form of amplification, PA system, bullhorn, etc.
- Activities must be freestanding; i.e. no outside tables, canopies, or other equipment
- Activities cannot use Market tables, chairs, or other equipment
- Activities cannot interrupt vendors’ interactions with shoppers or impede vendors from conducting sales
- Activities cannot block or impede pedestrian traffic within the Market
- To manage pedestrian flow and space, no more than 2 individuals may simultaneously gather signatures for the same petition within the Market at one time (limit applies to all petitions)
DEMONSTRATIONS
For purposes of this policy, a ‘demonstration’ means a coordinated activity whose primary purpose is public expression on a political, social, or civic issue, including marches, rallies, vigils, or picketing. To protect public safety and ensure the Market’s vendors’ operations are not disrupted, demonstrations at the Market are subject to the following rules, which apply equally to all participants regardless of the content or viewpoint of their activity:
- Activities cannot use any form of amplification, PA system, bullhorn, etc.
- Activities must remain within Market-designated free expression areas (diagram below)
- Activities must be freestanding; i.e. no outside tables, canopies, or other equipment
- Activities cannot use Market tables, chairs, or other equipment
- Activities cannot block or impede pedestrian traffic into the Market
Free Expression Areas
The Market designates the following free expression areas, shown in the accompanying diagram. Area A (Primary): The paved area north of the French drain, east of the Parks sign, west of the South Lot access road — located along the primary pedestrian approach to the Market. Area B (Alternate): The public sidewalk south of the Main entrance, east of the South Lot access road, available when Area A is unavailable due to Market operational needs. The designated area in use on any given Market day will be posted at the Pavilion. Free expression areas are located to provide demonstrators with visibility and a meaningful opportunity to communicate with Market visitors.
