20th Annual NC Hot Sauce Contest & Festival

This application is for Food Trucks and Trailers only. 

• Vendors must indicate the full length of space needed on the street for mapping. 
• Electricity will not be provided. 

Early Bird Pricing (March - April 30th, 2026): $200

Regular Pricing (May 1st - June 30th, 2026): $250

Required Application Materials:

• Online Application Submittal
• Application Fee
  • If your application is not accepted, you will be refunded.
  • If you are accepted, and withdraw after June 1st, no refund will be issued. 
• Signature on Responsibility Agreement
• At least four photos of your setup and products to be sold
• A Copy of Certificate of Insurance (COI)

This application is for Food Tents only. 

• Standard food tent vendor space is 10x10 - no additional space for storage.
• Electricity will not be provided. 
• Tent, tables, and chairs will not be provided. 

Early Bird Pricing (March - April 30th, 2026): $125

Regular Pricing (May 1st - June 30th, 2026): $145

Required Application Materials:

• Online Application Submittal
• Application Fee
  • If your application is not accepted, you will be refunded.
  • If you are accepted, and withdraw after June 1st, no refund will be issued. 
• Signature on Health & Responsibility Agreement
• At least four photos of your setup and products to be sold

This application is for Beer & Wine Vendors only.

• Beverage trailers must indicate the full length of space needed on the street for mapping
• Standard tent vendor space is 10x10 - no additional space for storage.
• Electricity will not be provided. 
• Tent, tables, and chairs will not be provided. 

Early Bird Pricing (March - April 30th, 2026): $200

Regular Pricing (May 1st - June 30th, 2026): $250

Required Application Materials:

• Online Application Submittal
• Application Fee
  • If your application is not accepted, you will be refunded.
  • If you are accepted, and withdraw after June 1st, no refund will be issued. 
• Signature on Health & Responsibility Agreement
• At least four photos of your setup and products to be sold

This application is for Retail & Craft Vendors only.

• Standard food tent vendor space is 10x10 - no additional space for storage.
• Electricity will not be provided. 
• Tent, tables, and chairs will not be provided. 

Early Bird Pricing (March - April 30th, 2026): $105

Regular Pricing (May 1st - June 30th, 2026): $125

Required Application Materials:

• Online Application Submittal
• Application Fee
  • If your application is not accepted, you will be refunded.
  • If you are accepted, and withdraw after June 1st, no refund will be issued. 
• Signature on Health & Responsibility Agreement
• At least four photos of your setup and products to be sold

This application is for Non-Profit Vendors only.

• Standard tent vendor space is 10x10 - no additional space for storage.
• Electricity will not be provided. 
• Tent, tables, and chairs will not be provided. 

Early Bird Pricing (March - April 30th, 2026)

Regular Pricing (May 1st - June 30th, 2026)

Required Application Materials:

• Online Application Submittal
• Application Fee
  • If your application is not accepted, you will be refunded.
  • If you are accepted, and withdraw after June 1st, no refund will be issued. 
• Signature on Health & Responsibility Agreement
• At least four photos of your setup and products to be sold
• Proof of 501(c)(3)

CONTEST JUDGING PROCESS: 

• All entries MUST be produced in North Carolina
• All entries MUST have a professionally labeled bottle (ready for retail)
• Each entry MUST be mailed in and submit their sauces, including the category sheet BEFORE July 31, 2026
• No entry will be accepted if "pepper extracts" are used in the ingredients
• The Entry Form should NOT be written on except when checking the correct category (any writing on entry form will lead to disqualification)

*All sauce samplings will be conducted under the strictest standards of using fair, impartial, and blind judging. All judging is done by the Vance-Granville Culinary Team and local Chefs. 

SAUCE ENTRY PROCESS:

• Print & fill out the entry form (attached) for EACH bottled sauce, listing the category that sauce is to be judged
• Mail one (1) bottle of each sauce to be judged to the NC Hot Sauce Office, 300 Williamsboro St., Oxford, NC 27565 by July 31, 2026. 
• A cash prize of $500 will be given to each category Champion and medals will be awarded to the runner ups in each category
• Champions will receive a jpg "winner" seal in recognition of the sauce as a 2025 NC Sauce Contest Winner

In partnership with 

This application is for Downtown Business owners within the festival street layout (crossroads from the intersection of Hillsboro Street/Broad Street to 129 Williamsboro Street, Main Street/Spring Street, College Street, McClanahan Street).

Merchants of the City of Oxford who have a storefront located inside the festival grounds (please see Streets above) will have ONE 10x10 space in front of their store available to them at no charge. You can set up a tent, tables, chairs, etc within your allotted space. If you would like an additional space you must purchase at the "additional booth" price of $60.00. Downtown merchants wishing to participate must submit their application and payment (if applicable) by June 30th, 2026. If you have questions or concerns please contact Giovanni Ford at 919-603-1101 or "giovanni.ford@oxfordnc.org".