The Wilson Whirligig Festival

Booth Application
The Wilson Whirligig Festival is an excellent way to connect with more than 20,000 members of the Wilson greater community. It is the perfect opportunity to sell art, crafts or food, distribute information, recruit members and educate the community. We have approximately 150 booth spaces. Please read the following carefully to insure a pleasant experience at our festival.

How to Apply -
• Complete the Booth Application and submit to the Whirligig Festival no later than Friday, September
26, 2008.
• Submit fee payment along with booth display photos and additional information in the application.
• Select booth size.
• You will receive a confirmation letter via mail. All other communications will be via email or website postings.

Key Dates –
• Early Bird – Any application received prior to July 1, 2008 receives a $10 discount.
• Late Fee – Any application received after September 26, 2008 receives a $25 additional fee.
• Wilson Artist – Any application from a Wilson Artist, with proof of Wilson residency, receives a $25 discount.

About the Space -
• Booths are simply open space. There are no tables, chairs or equipment supplied by the festival.
• Utilities are limited. Top priority for water and electricity are for food vendors. If utilities are made available for you, you must provide electrical cords and hoses to reach the connection. (100 feet of cords/hose is recommended.)
• Tents set up by the vendor are allowed, but must fit completely within the booth space.
• All supplies, storage, signage, etc… must fit within the booth space. Sidewalk space can not be blocked for storage.
• Due to the musical nature of the Whirligig Festival, generators are strongly discouraged. If your booth requires the use of a generator your booth will be located where noise can be buffered and will not interfere with stage performances.
• Free parking will be available for RVs, vehicles and trailers behind a downtown bank.
• Booth set up is 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
• Breakdown at the end of the day begins at 5:00 p.m., no sooner. If you leave or break down sooner than 5 p.m. your application will not be considered for future festivals.

The Booth Rules -
• Not withstanding any other portion of the application, the festival coordinators reserve the right to make any and all decisions regarding the participation of vendors.
• The total amount of the application fee is due at the time of application. Deposits or portions of fees will not be accepted.
• Refunds will only be issued if the application is not accepted.
• The Whirligig Festival will be held rain or shine.
• Only registered booth participants will be permitted to conduct business during the Whirligig Festival.
• All arts and crafts must be hand made items. No manufactured products can be included for sale. The festival coordinators reserve the right to refuse products from sale deemed manufactured or mass produced.
• Booths must be manned at all times. The festival is open Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. Civic/Non-profit/Faith booths are expected to be open on Saturday and may return on Sunday, but not required. Vendors found leaving their booth unmanned or not returning for a portion of the festival will not be considered for future festivals.
• The Whirligig Festival will be the exclusive vendor of carbonated soft drinks and bottle water.
• If your booth is selling food, of any kind, you must complete the Food Vendor Information. Ex: A school, church or non-profit organization selling baked goods as a fundraiser is considered a Food booth, not a Civic/Non-Profit booth.
• Civic / Non-profit / Faith booths are for dissemination of information only. Any activity that includes sales will be considered as an Artist/Crafter booth or Food booth and must submit information and fees accordingly.
• Vendors are encouraged to bring garbage containers for work areas. City of Wilson workers will assist with paper disposal through out the day.
• Booth structures may remain in place on Saturday night, for Sunday usage. However, it is recommended all merchandise, products and items of worth are stored in a locked vehicle or trailer overnight. Wilson Police will patrol the area and traffic will not be allowed to pass thru the streets over night, but security can not be provided for individual booths.
• Booth locations can not be guaranteed. Assignments are made to allow for variety and ease of accessibility by the festival participants. If you need a specific location, please communicate in person with the festival coordinator.
• Do not pour grease, oil, soapy water or food debris on the ground, down storm water drains or in public trash containers. Each vendor is responsible for handling grease, oil, soapy water and food debris in the proper manner as described by the Health Department, and for removing it from the festival site at the end of the day.
• Preparing food outside requires strict preparation and storage procedures. All Wilson County Department of Public Health state regulations regarding food preparation and procedures must be followed. Health Department staff will inspect booths/areas during the established set up time. If vendors do not meet standards, the vendor will not be allowed to serve at the festival. For more information concerning food preparation, permit requirements; consult the Wilson County Health Department at (252) 291-0468. NC state regulations that govern county health departments can be found at: http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/rules/t15a-18a.26.pdf
• Security for your merchandise, booth and property are your responsibility. Please be watchful.
• Illegal paraphernalia can not be sold or displayed at the festival.
• Vendors are responsible for the licenses and taxes related to their sales.

Helpful Hints
• Please remember that November can be cool in the mornings and windy in the afternoon. We recommend bringing items to weigh down your tent, products, etc… and methods to protect from moisture.
• Arrive early for set up in order to move all vehicles and trailers to the parking area ½ hour prior to the festival opening.
• Please remember that three musical/performance stages are throughout the festival, thus music or sound at your booth must not conflict with a performance.
• Bags of ice will be for sale to vendors during the festival. Bags are $1 for a 5 lb bag. Payment will be accepted in cash only.
• Each booth participant will receive a free invitation to the Friday night Whirligig Festival reception.
• Space assignments, additional information, parking instructions and maps will be e-mailed to you or made available via the festival website on or about October 24, 2008.
• Check your email and the festival website often! This will be the main form of communication once your application is approved.

Good Taste Policy
• The planning committee asks that all participants keep in mind this is a family event.
• The festival is held on Wilson’s main downtown street. At the end of the day booth participants are asked to clean your area and pack out all trash, leaving the booth area in the original clean and clear condition.
• All types of community groups, including civic organizations, non-profits, schools, artisan, crafters, commercial and faith based organizations are encouraged to apply. However, only groups that support inclusive membership and support community building will be considered.
• Solicitation throughout the festival is not allowed. We ask that you refrain from any direct solicitation, donation buckets, crews wandering throughout the crowd selling items, raffle tickets, passing out handbills or brochures. All activity must be maintained within your assigned booth location.
• For the safety and protection, all pets must be leashed and restricted behind booth to minimize interaction with festival participants.