I take both. Most are set up to take plastic. But if time is precious, cash is a much faster transaction. Sometimes the "process" time for credit cards is just too slow, and there is so much to see and do other than stand and wait.
The vendor pays a fee to the credit card company , so they make a bit more money if you use cash.
I will tell you to use a "fanny pack" a purse just gets to be a real pain/nusance. It gets to hard to keep track of your purse when you have other packages in your hand. You want to keep you hands free.

Fanny packs are great! Hands free shopping !!! I don't have a purse to set down and have to worry about it constantly. Then there is the smacking people with it in those tight little booths that have lots of great stuff.

Take both.

if you are on a budget for the quilt show, i reccomend cash. that way when it is gone there is no way to spend more. well unless you break out the plastic.

Check the exchange rate and if it is a lot I would use cash or check. But as many have said before, credit card protection can't be beat.

And a Camera. Don't forget the Camera.

I wish they all took PayPal!

I would definitely take both. If it is a large show most vendors will take cash, debit, credit or check, but if it a small show some of the vendors may take only cash. How do I know? Had to pass on some beautiful batik at a small show because I had no cash or checks with me, only debit and credit cards.

I do that same thing, mainly because I hate having to keep my checkbook up to date with a bunch of small purchases on a daily basis. It's a lot easier to just record my payroll deposits and then write a check each month to pay the CC off.

TAKE BOTH!