2024 Food Vendor Application

Welcome to the Food Vendor application process! This is an electronic agreement and by submission, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically.The Annual National Shrimp Festival is produced by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber (CABC).

 

Vendor selection is a JURIED process. No vendor is guaranteed booth location or # of booths requested, despite previous participation in the Annual National Shrimp Festival.A signed application constitutes a contract to follow and be bound by all Annual National Shrimp Festival Rules & Regulations and is a commitment to participate personally if accepted. The application deadline is April 26 and notifications of acceptance will be sent in early June. Violation of rules & regulations prior to, during, or at the festival will result in loss of vendor space without refund.Applicant verifies that photos submitted accurately depict booth set-up & products to be sold. Applicant will not be considered if this application is incomplete, unsigned, or received after the deadline or received without correct fees.

● Vendors must furnish their own tent & tent weights. Tent must be secured/weighted properly. Anchoring to any City property is strictly prohibited. Staking in to the ground is prohibited without prior consent. Damages caused by vendor to City/Private property are the responsibility of the vendor. If you need to rent a tent please contact the CABC so we can provide you with contact information for authorized tent vendors.
● Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, LED lighting & extension cords. (No longer than 25 feet and no smaller than 12 gauge)
● Vendors are required to obtain a City of Gulf Shores & Baldwin County/State of AL Business License to participate in the festival.
● Vendors are responsible for collecting and paying sales taxes. Tax forms will be included in vendor packets and tax collectors will be on site on Sunday, for your convenience, to pay sales taxes. It is the vendor’s responsibility to pay taxes. Any vendor that does not pay will not be issued license for the next year and will NOT be eligible to participate
● All displays should be designed and constructed in good taste. Displays must not cause concern for the safety of festival attendees.
● Vendors may ONLY use the space provided and purchased. You MUST keep all of your stock and equipment within your designated area.
● Parking is extremely limited. A parking pass will be provided for each vendor. Vendor must display tag and contact information. It must be displayed correctly in windshield of vehicle.  We also need to know if you will be bringing a trailer and its length. We will try to establish parking areas but will likely be off site. Any vehicle not displaying a parking pass will be towed at the vehicle owner’s expense. We strongly encourage the use of the Gulf Shores City School Shuttle system whenever possible.
● Vendors are responsible for securing tents and merchandise at the festival. Security is provided before and during the festival. The CABC assumes no responsibility or liability for damage or loss of property in cases of weather, theft or vandalism or any other cause. It is the responsibility of the vendor to insure and secure their own property.
● Vendors must bring enough inventory to make it through the festival. Festival hours are 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Thursday- Saturday and 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday. Vendors must stay open for the duration of the festival.
● Vendors must check in during the hours scheduled for that area, usually Monday through Wednesday. All areas of the festival have different check in times. With little exception, any vendor that does not check in during the time allocated may forfeit their booth without refund. NO VENDORS may pack up and leave early unless approved by committee. Leaving early will automatically disqualify you from the following year’s festival.
● No booth space can be sub-leased. Any vendor found subleasing space will automatically be disqualified from the festival and asked to leave without refund.
● If you send a sample of your product, the sample will not be returned.
● Electricity is provided with charge to all vendors with restrictions.
 
● VENDORS MUST PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 25' OF POWER CORD FROM YOUR TENT OR TRAILER FOR OUR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR TO CONNECT TO THE SERVICE.
● NO 208/230 PLUGS FROM ANY TENTS OR TRAILERS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR OUR ELECTRICIAN TO CONNECT. YOU MUST FURNISH AN OPEN PIGTAIL.
● If you are using too much power you will be required to reduce your number of connections. No generators are allowed on festival site.
● Active solicitation (hawking) outside of booth space is prohibited.
● Vendors may begin breaking down their booths after 5:00 pm on Sunday and NOT BEFORE!
● LOAD OUT INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES WILL BE COMMUNICATED BY YOUR COMMITTEE CHAIR. DO NOT TRY TO LINE UP OR MOVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
● NO COOKING OR GRILLING ON ANY PART OF THE SITE IS PERMITTED UNLESS YOU ARE A FOOD VENDOR.
● NO SMOKING IN OR AROUND VENDOR TENTS. SMOKING IS ONLY PERMITTED IN DESIGNATED AREAS. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CIGARETTE BUTTS ON THE GROUND.
● NO PETS ARE ALLOWED ON THE FESTIVAL SITE.
● THE SALE OF WEAPONS, TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL IS PROHIBITED.
● VENDORS MAY NOT BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR NON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DURING THE FESTIVAL.
 
READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION  CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY
The Annual National Shrimp Festival Committee will assign booth space. Booth spaces are awarded based on menu, food selection, pricing, and appearance. SPACE IS NOT GUARANTEED based on previous participation or location. Space assignments are only subject to change by the selection committee.
 Vendors are required to be open from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm Thursday-Saturday and 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Sunday. NO LATER!
Vendors are required to display a menu with pricing, in plain view and large enough for patrons to see at all times during the festival.
Electricity is provided to all food booths with charge based on load. A 220v circuit breaker will be provided upon request. Vendors are responsible for providing a 220v pigtail AT LEAST 25 FEET IN LENGTH to connect to breaker. YOU MUST SELECT 60 AMPS OR 60-100 AMPS ON YOUR APPLICATION. VENDORS MAY NOT EXCEED 100 AMPS.
No extension cords smaller than 12 gauge will be permitted. All tent and signage lighting must be LED.
Food vendor setup is Monday and Tuesday before the festival. All food vendors must be in and set up by 5:00 pm on Tuesday. Any vendors not setup may be replaced without refund.
A self contained food booth is required and is defined as an enclosed structure with three compartment sink, hand washing sink, hot and cold water, waste and fresh water hookup, screened serving window and dry/cold storage. ALL FOOD VENDORS MUST MEET HEALTH DEPT REQUIREMENTS TO OPEN AND SERVE THERE WILL BE AN INSPECTION.
All water and sewer connections will be inspected prior to use. All Connections must be acceptable by City representative and ONLY gray water can be disposed of through sewer connection. Sinks should be connected so they drain or have electric pumps where necessary to ensure proper draining.
Baldwin County Health Department will be teaching a mandatory temporary food vendor class on Wednesday before the festival opens. Time and locations will be communicated at check-in. ALL VENDORS MUST HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS MEETING.
Use of electric fryers is highly discouraged and can be a cause for your application to be rejected based on electrical load plan. Vendors should use gas fryers. Fryers must be covered overhead with hard surface roofing, i.e. metal, fiberglass, etc. All equipment must be safe and compliant with manufacturers standards and complete (not missing covers and safety controls).
No vendor propane tanks allowed on site! NO EXCEPTIONS! Propane and tanks are provided by an on site propane provider.
Amplification devices, boom boxes and walking vendors are prohibited.
Vendors are subject to inspection at any time by the local electrical inspector, Fire Marshal and Health Department.
The Annual National Shrimp Festival does not have accommodations nor have space in vendor parking for motorhomes/RV’s for any vendors.
Vendors may only sell products that are listed on your application and menu and approved by the Food Committee.
NO Lemonade or lemonade derivative may be sold by any food vendor.
Coca Cola is a sponsor of the Annual National Shrimp Festival. If you wish to sell drinks, you MUST purchase them on-site from the Coca Cola vendor.
All accepted food vendors are required to submit an insurance certificate with a minimum one million dollar liability coverage, naming the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber as additional insured. Policy must be current during festival dates.
If you request a propane tank you must secure it outside your tent or trailer. Please make sure you buy enough space to accommodate all of your stock, propane tanks and grease barrel if you need one.
Grease barrels are provided for those that need them. It is your responsibility to ensure the safe disposal of grease. Spills and overflow clean up will be the responsibility of the vendor that made the mess.
When calculating your space, YOU MUST ACCOUNT FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS, AWNINGS, WATER BARRELS, SIGNS, GREASE BARREL, PROPANE TANKS, BACK STOCK TRAILER TONGUES ETC. YOU WILL NOT GET MORE SPACE THAN YOU PAID FOR.
Vendors are REQUIRED to use and sell DOMESTIC SHRIMP ONLY! Local seafood is available and a list of vendors can be provided with notice by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. There will be a $ 500.00 fine assessed for any vendor caught with Imported Shrimp - 2nd offense $ 750.00 - 3rd offense - Dismissed from the Festival.

                                                         FIRE MARSHAL REQUIREMENTS

• Written documentation on fire rating and wind load is required for any tents you will be raising. Manufacturer testing and approval certification for flame propagation shall be provided for each tent (should be on tag). You must provide this documentation in order to be approved to open for business.
• Stamped written documentation from an Alabama licensed professional engineer regarding the wind loading requirements for all stages, signs, or structures fabricated or constructed and utilized at the event.
• Structures/Tents in excess of 400 square feet require approval and a permit.
•  A fire code inspection shall be required before and during the event.
• All food vendors are required to have at least one (1) class ABC fire extinguisher. If creating grease laden vapors (fryers, griddles, etc. you are also required to have a class K fire extinguisher. The Fire Marshal and Shrimp Festival Food Chairman will be checking certification and compliance.
• Use of electric fryers shall be approved by the Shrimp Festival Electric Contractor and Food Chairman for the electrical load plan. All equipment shall be safe and compliant with manufacturer’s standards and complete (not missing covers and safety controls).