Vendor Agreement and Application

Vendor Applications are currently closed for the 2025 festival!

Please note this is a one day event, Saturday May 3, 2025!

FOOD VENDOR APPLICATION FEE

$275 for 12×12 space

**Columbus County Environmental Health Department Temporary Food Service Applications are available at https://www2.columbusco.org//health/Environmental/TFEapplication.pdf and there is a $75.00 fee which is payable to Columbus County Health Department.

**You are responsible for submitting the application and fee to the Health Department. The festival is not responsible for any inability to serve food by vendor if vendor fails to complete application with fee, if necessary to the Columbus County Health Department.

**If you have questions concerning the Temporary Food Service Permit Application, please contact the Columbus County Health Department, PO Box 810, Whiteville, NC 28472 or by phone at 910-640-6617.

VENDOR APPLICATION FEE for those WITHOUT FOOD SERVICE PERMIT

$150 for 10×10 space

** This includes all food items that are made ahead and brought to the festival grounds, for example, baked goods. This also includes stands such as lemonade, cotton candy, shaved ice, specialty coffees, etc.

THE NC STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL HAS ESTABLISHED RULES & POLICIES TO ENSURE ALL VENDORS ARE CONSIDERED EQUALLY AND TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL. BY SUBMITTING YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION, YOU AGREE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES AND POLICIES. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY. YOUR COMPLIANCE IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

The Festival Organizers reserve the sole right to select any and all participants.
Applications will be processed in the order of date received and must include required information. An incomplete application will be removed from consideration.
It is the sole responsibility of each food vendor to meet all NC Department of Revenue, NC Department of Health, and the Fire Department regulations.
Vendor set-up begins at 7:00 a.m. on Festival Day(Saturday May 3rd). Friday night early check-in is available only if pre-arranged and your unit can be secured overnight. No additional security will be provided for vendors who choose to check in on Friday night.
All vendors must be set up no later than 9:00 a.m. on Saturday; food vendors must be ready to sell by 10:30 a.m.
Vendors must remain open and sales-ready until 7:00 p.m. Vendors are NOT ALLOWED vehicular access into the festival grounds until 7:00 p.m. Vendors are advised to bring dollies should they need to leave early to transport goods to their vehicles. This also applies to vendors parked in festival ground lots.
Vendors are responsible for their initial water supply. Water to refill hand-washing tanks will be available on-site.
All food vendors must serve from a self-contained unit or from under a tent. Tents, tables, and chairs must be provided by the vendor.
Sales are limited to assigned spaces. No distribution, canvassing, flyers, nor vending of any kind may be done by strolling through the festival.
No refunds will be issued due to any disruption or interruption of the festival because of weather or any cause beyond the control of the Strawberry Festival Committee. No refunds will be available due to your inability to attend the festival.
Payments returned by the bank for any reason will incur a $30.00 fee and the application will be voided until suitable payment is received.
Electrical access is NOT available. Generators must be provided by the vendor. Whisper quiet generators are preferred.
Vendors are responsible for leaving the space in the same condition as when the vendor arrived. Oil spills and/or damage to the space must be reported immediately to the vendor coordinator.
No amplified music or speakers are allowed at vendor booths.
If a vendor is rude or disrespectful to the public, event staff, or other vendors, they will be asked to leave, no refunds will be given, and the vendor can be disqualified from future events.
Vendors are responsible for paying all associated vendor fees before their application will be considered complete and ready for processing. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Vendors or their authorized designee are responsible for signing in at vendor check-in the day of the festival.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email ncstrawberryfestival@gmail.com and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Arts & Crafts $125 for 10×10 space

Retail Vendors $175 for 10×10 space

Non-profits $50 (no sales; informational only)

Acceptance into the NC Strawberry Festival is at the discretion of the NC Strawberry Festival Committee and submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. Applications are due by April 4, 2025. Applications received after April 5th will be considered only if there is still space available.

The Festival Organizers reserve the sole right to select any and all participants. In addition to the criteria listed below, applicants will be approved based on prior participation, product duplication, utility requirements, product appropriateness, and spirit of cooperation.
Submission of this application does not guarantee acceptance into the NC Strawberry Festival.
Applications will be processed in the order received and must include requested photos, and other information that may be required for the application to be considered. An incomplete application will be removed from consideration.
All Arts & Crafts vendors must certify that items they are planning to sell are handmade. All vendors must submit a list of sample items that they intend to sell, with photos emailed to ncstrawberryfestival@gmail.com if possible. Only approved items will be allowed to be sold at the vendor booth.
Vendor set-up begins at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday May 3, 2025.
All vendors must be set up by 9:00 a.m. and all vehicles must be moved off the event field no later than 8:30 a.m. on festival day. Driving through crowds is strictly not allowed. Vendors must be ready to sell by 10:30 a.m.
Vendors must remain open and sales-ready until 7:00 pm. Vendors are not allowed vehicular access onto the festival grounds until 7:30 p.m. Vendors are advised to bring dollies should they need to leave early to transport goods to their vehicles. This also applies to vendors parked within the festival parking area.
Vendors must provide all display props including chairs, tables, electrical cords, etc. All tables should be covered to the ground, with boxes and materials hidden from sight ) Plan for inclement weather by using a tent or canopy. Sandbags or similar materials must be used to hold tents in place.
Sales are limited to assigned spaces. No distribution, canvassing, flyers, nor vending of any kind may be done by strolling through the festival.
No refunds will be issued due to any disruption or interruption of the festival because of weather or any cause beyond the control of the NC Strawberry Festival Committee. No refunds will be available due to your inability to attend the festival.
Each exhibitor is responsible for collecting North Carolina Sales Tax.
Generators are permitted but must be whisper quiet and provided by the vendor. *Loud generators at the 2024 festival were a huge hindrance. After your application is approved, you will be required to show proof of your generator before payment will be accepted.
Payments returned by the bank for any reason will incur a $30.00 fee and the application will be removed from further consideration. In addition, you will not be considered for future events.
Vendors are responsible for leaving the space in the same condition as when the vendor arrived. All boxes and/or excess merchandise must be stored neatly at your booth without blocking pathways. Damage to the space must be reported immediately to the vendor coordinator.
No amplified music or speakers are allowed at vendor booths.
If a vendor is rude or disrespectful to the public, event staff, or other vendors, they will be asked to leave the festival, no refunds will be given, and they will not be considered for future events.
Vendors or their authorized designee are responsible for signing in at vendor check-in the day of the festival.

APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Applicant understands the NC Strawberry Festival Committee (hereafter “Festival Organizers”) reserves the right to reject any and all applications. Applicant understands that he/she is responsible for reading and adhering to all vendor rules and regulations as may be established by the Festival Organizers, as well as any and all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. Applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and release the City of Chadbourn, and the Festival Organizers and any or all sponsors or agents from any loss, liability, damage, or costs (including attorney fees and court costs) and any and all claims of injury or damages resulting from and/or arising out of his/her participation in the NC Strawberry Festival, whether caused by negligence or willful act of the Applicant or any other person. Applicant further understands that there will be no refunds in the event of rain. By his/her signature below, Applicant agrees to consider this application a commitment to abide by any and all rules and regulations that may be set forth by the Festival organizers and that it is solely responsible for obtaining any and all liability insurance coverage for his/her business/organization. Applicant understands that only items and information included in this application and approved by Festival Organizers may be sold and/or given away during the NC Strawberry Festival. Applicant also consents to the NC Strawberry Festival using its photograph, image, and/or sound in promotional materials, including print, broadcast, and online internet media.