NC Whirligig Festival 2025

Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! The festival receives a high volume of Food Vendor applications. Each application is considered individually as they are received. Food booths are scattered throughout the festival zone and mixed into each block along with other festival vendors. All food vendors must display the menu and prices that were approved.

Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions. 

Food Vendor Booth Fees = $25 application fee + $200 - $500 Booth Fee
(fees remain the same as 2024) 

All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity, see below. Booth fees are charged after approval. Booth fee includes a single (1) booth space. 

We have 4 Food Vendor categories:  (same fees as 2024) 

1. Food Vendor = $525  ($25 application fee + $500 booth fee)
   For the wide variety of food vendors, including American fare, International and all types of food in between. Food vending booths may be under tents, in pull trailers or in food trucks.
   
2. Beverages only= $275  ($25 app fee + $250 booth fee)
   For those vendors selling only beverages such as lemonades, coffee, fruit drinks, frozen or blended drinks, sodas and teas.  

3. Non-Profit Food vendors = $275  ($25 app fee + $250 booth fee)
For non-profit agency or organization, that can provide a 501c3 number, raising money to support their cause by selling food items.  

4. Wilson Downtown Restaurants = $275  ($25 app fee + $250 booth fee)
Any downtown restaurant located within the festival zone, may apply to sell curbside foods. Businesses do not need to apply to be open and operate inside as usual.  

NOTE: Pre-packaged Food - any vendor with pre-packaged food items such as candy, nuts, jellies, jams, salsas, sauces, etc... apply as a COMMERCIAL vendor, not a food vendor, as they do not need a health department inspection. 

NOTE: Any food vendor that uses charcoal, wood or any fuel type that can not be immediately cut off (in an emergency) will be considered as a Grilling/Cooker. All Grilling/Cookers will be assigned booth space within the Beer & Bones area. This is required according to the safety and fire guidelines of the Wilson Fire Department.  

Applications for 2025 are electronic only - no paper needed. 
 
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.  

Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions. 

Arts and Craft Booth Fees: $25 Application fee + $150 - $250 Booth Fee

(same fees as 2024)

All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity and are charged after approval. Booth fees vary depending on vending category, see below. Booth fee includes a single booth space.    

We have 3 Arts & Craft categories: (same fees as 2024)

1. Handmade Art = $175  ($25 application fee + $150 booth fee)
For vendors with all hand made items, crafted by the artist themselves. Proof of hand production is required by submitted photos. 

2. Art Services = $175  ($25 app fee + $150 booth fee)
For art created by the artist in person such as face painting, balloon art, caricatures, henna tattoos, fairy-hair, etc...

3. Specialty Art = $275  ($25 app fee + $250 booth fee)
For any organization selling handmade items and cultural art by international people or special needs populations.  The art sales must still be hand made and the profits must support the original artists.  

Any vendor with commercially produced items, mass produced items, portable businesses or home-based businesses needs to apply under the Commercial Booth application.

For more space or utilities, extra fees may be selected. Booth fee are charged once an application is approved.  

Applications for 2025 are electronic only - no paper needed.  

This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.  

Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! A festival booth is a great way to connect with customers in a friendly environment. Businesses can have face-to-face interactions and demonstrate products and services.

Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions. 

Commercial Booth Fees: $25 Application fee + $175 - $850 Booth Fee

(same fees as 2024)

All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity. Booth fees vary, see below. Booth fees are charged upon approval. Booth fee includes a single (1) booth space. 

We have 3 commercial vendor categories: (same fees as 2024)

1. Commercial Vendors = $875  ($25 application fee + $850 booth fee)
   For any business with a store front, physical location or regional and national level operation will be considered as a commercial vendor.

2.  Home-based businesses = $325  ($25 app fee + $300 booth fee)
For vendors do not have a store front. All sales are made from home or portables trailers and/or mobile stores. 

3. Pre-Packaged Food Vendors = $200  ($25 app fee + $175 booth fee)
For vendors with pre-packaged commercial made items such as candy, nuts, jelly/jams, salsa, bakery items, etc... food is not prepared on site and ready for sale in sealed packaging.  

Applications for 2025 are electronic only - no paper needed. 
 
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below. 
 

The NC Whirligig Festival supports local and regional Non Profit agencies. Non Profit organizations have an increased potential for outreach during the largest annual event in Wilson. Non-Profit organizations may use the festival environment to raise awareness, share information, fund raise, sell hand made arts and crafts, products, services, event tickets, hold a raffle or drawing, collect donations or use a wide variety of creative fundraising.

Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions.

Non Profit Booth Fees: $25 Application fee + $50 - $750 Booth Fee

(same fees as 2024)

All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. The booth fees vary depending on category and activity, see below. Booth fees are charged upon approval. Booth fee includes a single (1) booth space. 

We have 4 Non-Profit Booth categories:  (same fees as 2024)
 
1. Display only = $75  ($25 application fee + $50 booth fee)
For organizations and agencies sharing educational and/or awareness information. No sales of any kind, however a donation bucket is allowed. Donations are accepted with nothing in return except a thank you and a smile. 
 
2. Fundraising Booth = $125  ($25 app fee + $100 booth fee)
For organizations and agencies that are selling items, merchandise, holding a raffle, selling tickets, donation bucket or raising funds in any manner. Fundraising is an exchange of money for something, such as an item, service, merchandise or ticket.

3. Political Party = $775  ($25 app fee + $750 booth fee)
For any political party or political candidate running for office. This includes democrats, republicans, independents and political organizations supporting election campaigns. 

4. USA Military = $50  ($25 app fee + $25 booth fee)
For displays of recruitment, awareness and education of active military service branches including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. Veterans groups and military support groups fall under category #1 or #2 depending on their booth activities. 

Note: Any non-profit organization that is wanting to sell food or beverages must apply under the Food Vendor category. Pre-Packaged food sales such as nuts & candy are under the Commercial vendor category. 
 
Applications for 2025 are electronic only - no paper needed. 
 
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below. 
 

Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through of application and let us know if you have any questions. 

The Wilson Downtown Merchants are encouraged, welcomed and desired to participate in the Whirligig Festival. Merchants can set up a display, sidewalk sale or create an attractive display to draw in customers. The NC Whirligig Festival is the largest annual event in Wilson. Businesses that embrace opportunities to invite customers into their stores will seen an increase in revenue during the festival weekend and beyond.  Wilson Businesses around town are also encouraged to participate in the largest community event in Wilson. Apply to be a Commercial Vendor or consider becoming a Sponsor to increase your return on investment. 

Deadline: August 1, 2025 -  Downtown business applications are due 1 month early so that the organizers may reserve your spot before assigning locations to other vendors. Any late applications can not be guaranteed a location preference. 

Downtown Booth Fees: $25 Application fee + $50 - $425 Booth Fee

(same fees as 2024)

All vendors pay the same application fee, charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity (see below) and are charged after approval.  Booth fee includes a single (1) booth space.  

We have 4 downtown merchant categories:  (same fees as 2024)

1. Store Open Listing only = $0  (no booth, no application, no fee)
This is for the merchants that will have their business open during the festival, but are not interested in a booth or outdoor display.  The business operator will need to contact the Downtown Development Office to provide your name to be included in their promotions during the festival. The festival will include the Downtown Merchant Association campaign as part of the festival PR. Keep in mind, this category means the space in front of your store will most likely be occupied by a  paid vendor and may obstruct the view of your store. 

2. Downtown Merchant Booth = $75   ($25 application fee + $50 booth fee)
This option guarantees one (1) space in front of your store will be reserved for your use. Our goal is to identify the space closest to your store door. This is only for businesses within the festival zone. "In Zone" means the street in front of your store will be closed, barricaded from traffic flow and festival activities are established on your street.  Note: Booth spaces are 15 ft wide. The measurements start at the corner intersection. Your booth space may not be directly at your store's front door, but will be as close to your front door as possible.You can apply for a double or triple booth to have more space.   

3. Downtown Perimeter Booth = $125   ($25 app fee + $100 booth fee)
This options is available for businesses within the 1 block perimeter of the festival zone. In the perimeter, the traffic flow may be affected, but is not blocked. You may have lots of festival attendees walking by your store coming and going to the festival. We offer a discounted booth rate to have a single booth space inside the festival zone. You can apply for a double or triple booth to have more space.   

4. Downtown MSD Merchant Booth = $525   ($25 app fee + $500 fee)
This option is available for businesses in the downtown area that pay the additional MSD taxes. We invite all downtown businesses to participate in the festival. This is discounted from the regular Commercial booth fee of $875. One (1) booth space would be reserved within the festival footprint. You can apply for a double or triple booth to have more space.   

Note: Any downtown restaurant that would like to have a food selling booth on the street/sidewalk/curb within the festival zone must apply under the Food Vendor category.  Downtown food vendors and restaurants within the festival zone receive a 50% discount. Restaurants outside the festival footprint will need to apply as a regular food vendor.

Applications for 2025 are electronic only - no paper needed. 
 
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.