Gardner Winter Music Festival 2026

Instrument Exchange

Musical instruments find new homes during festivals. We are adding an Instrument Exchange to the 2026 Gardner Winter Music Festival (GWMF). All festival attendees are invited to participate, subject to the following guidelines.

• Seller assumes all risks for instruments and other items displayed. The GWMF staff will supervise the area, but can not guarantee security.
• All instruments must be related to “traditional music.” Tin whistles and hand percussion are OK; electric guitars, piccolos, tubas and drum sets are not welcome. Related items such as sheet music, books, CDs, and strings, are welcome.
• The Instrument Exchange will open on Saturday at 11 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. You are free to set up or take down displays at any time during this period. We encourage you to use your display as a means of starting conversations with other attendees, and to let others play instruments for sale.
• We can not predict what tables will be available at the school. Please bring a folding table, poster stand or other furnishings you may require.
• If you must leave your display for a performance or other extended period, please leave a prominent note indicating when you expect to return and preferably including your cell phone number. You might prefer to leave instruments in closed cases at such a time.
• To assist in planning you must register for space by February 24th, 2026. Registration is free. Fill out the short form on the GWMF website.
• GWMF will not be a party to business transactions. Specifically this means we will not collect payments for sales.
• GWMF expects a donation of 10% of the selling price to help cover our school rental and other expenses. This should be paid in our Registration area. Cash and checks are acceptable — we can not accept credit cards. Checks should be made payable to PattyFest, Inc, the corporate sponsor of GWMF.

If you would like to register for the instrument exchange, please fill out the form found here.