“Understanding the Entrepreneurial Motivations, Dynamics, and Outcomes of First Fridays, Festivals, Farmer’s Markets and other Community Events”

Call for Papers – Virtual Special Issue (VSI): “Understanding the Entrepreneurial Motivations, Dynamics, and Outcomes of First Fridays, Festivals, Farmer’s Markets and other Community Events”

Journal: Journal of Business Venturing Insights
Publisher: Elsevier
Submission deadline: 31 December 2026

Overview

This virtual special issue—published by Elsevier—seeks to explore the unique, often under-researched world of community-based entrepreneurial events. From "First Friday" art walks and historic main street festivals to global traditions like night markets and farmers’ markets, these gatherings serve as critical, lightly formalized spaces for entrepreneurs to test products, build brand awareness, and engage local markets. Unlike traditional, well-funded incubators, these community-based venues operate at the intersection of social and economic development. The editors invite diverse scholarly perspectives to analyze the "magic" and "myths" of these events, focusing on their role in local ecosystems.

Key Research Themes

• Entrepreneurial Motivations: Who participates in these markets? What are their primary drivers (economic vs. social), and what opportunities or services are most successful in these settings?

• Dynamics & Challenges: Barriers to entry, the role of environmental/social/legal factors in event viability, and the unique challenges faced by small business owners and hobbyists in informal settings.

• Value Creation & Outcomes: Financial and non-financial benefits for entrepreneurs, how consumer perception shifts through event participation, and the long-term impact on the surrounding community.

• The "Dark Side": Risks of exploitation, potential for "shameless merchandising" over genuine community building, risks of perpetuating bias, and critical skepticism regarding the "buy local" narrative.

Submission Details

• Submission deadline: 31 December 2026.

• Submission portal: https://www2.cloud.editorialmanager.com/jbvi/default2.aspx

• Special Instructions: You must select the article type “VSI: community markets” during the submission process.

• Virtual Special Issue (VSI) Format: This issue operates on an open, rolling deadline. Papers are published in the first available regular issue as soon as they are accepted, while simultaneously appearing in a dedicated online section. The journal aims for an expedited timeline, targeting a <3-month window from submission to online publication.

• Submission Standards: The journal encourages all submission types (empirical, conceptual, creative approaches) that fit the JBVI scope. All manuscripts must adhere to the JBVI Guide for Authors.

Guest Editor Team

• Jeffrey Chandler, University of North Texas

• Jeremy Short, University of North Texas

• Marcus Wolfe, University of North Texas

Why This Issue Matters

While formal entrepreneurship programs are heavily documented, these grassroots community gatherings are the backbone of many local economies and are critical to the entrepreneurial journey of thousands of hobbyists and small business owners. This VSI offers an agile, high-impact venue for researchers to shed light on these emerging phenomena, helping to formalize our understanding of how social-economic spaces contribute to individual and regional prosperity.

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