Salute to Freedom Market Days

2025 Rules & Regulations

Host: Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, P.O. Box 1708, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864

Contact Information: Mt. Vernon Tourism: (618) 242-3151 or tourism@mtvernon.com

Products sold at Market Days:

Market Days is committed to creating a diverse market with a wide variety of products from rummage items to antiques to handmade products. All vendors are welcome, but a list of prohibited items is listed below.

·         Market Days will not be bound by a specific set of criteria for all instances and reserves the right to accept or refuse anyone as a vendor.

·         Vendors from the previous season whose continued presence at the market successfully aligns with market’s mission will be given priority.

·         Prohibited items: fireworks, pornography, offensive pictures, illegal items, firearms, confederate flags, items that infringe upon registered trademarks, or anything that would harm the property or reputation of Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. or the City of Mt. Vernon.

·         Food vendors must adhere to the Jefferson County Health Department rules and regulations.

·         All food vendors must hold a Food Handlers Certificate.

·         Food Vendors must list Mt. Vernon Festivals Inc., City of Mt. Vernon and Mt. Vernon Airport as additional insured on their insurance certificates to cover all events.

Booth Spaces

Booth assignments are made by the market manager based on the following criteria:

·        ·         All non-food booth spaces are available first come, first serve on Market Day morning.

Booths:

·         Vendors are responsible for providing their own tent, tent weights, tables, chairs, and necessary equipment and supplies to conduct business. Tent weights are not required, but highly suggested due to inclement weather. 

·        Booth spaces are 12’x12’, with multiple spaces available for rent.

·        Outdoor electricity for food vendors only unless other arrangements have been made.  

·         Market Days reserves the right to disqualify the sale of any merchandise the market deems offensive or obscene.

Absence Policy

·         If a vendor is unable to attend the market and cannot find a replacement, please notify the market manager by 5 p.m. by phone call or email on the Friday before Market Days.

Inclement Weather Plans

Market Days will be held rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, Mt. Vernon Festivals, Inc. reserves the right to make cancellation decisions. Vendors will be notified via email in case of weather cancellations. If vendor cannot be reached via email, a phone call will be made.

Set up/Tear down

·         Tear down begins at 9 p.m. Absolutely no early tear downs are allowed. Vendors are required to stay until closing and until crowd has dispersed from the event. Vendors who sell out early must keep their booth set up and post a sign letting customers know they have sold out. Selling out is a great thing and is a time for you to network with your fellow vendors, take special orders, or hand out business cards and share your personal story. 

·         Vendors are expected to be courteous to each other during set-up and tear-down.

Vehicles and Parking

·         Vendors need to quickly unload vehicles then move vehicle to designated parking location before completing booth setup as communicated by market management. After closing of the market, vendors should break down their booth first and then move their vehicle closer to the market grounds.

Clean-up and Garbage

Vendors are required to clean up after themselves. Vendor booths must be maintained in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner. Vendors are responsible for taking trash to designated dumpster as directed by Market Manager.

Permits, licenses and insurance

It is the responsibility of the food vendor to obtain and have on-person all licenses, insurance certificates and permits required for the sale of the vendor’s products at all markets. Food Vendors must name Mt. Vernon Festivals and City of Mt. Vernon listed on their insurance as additional insured to cover all events.

Questions/concerns regarding food product regulations and/or licensing should be directed to the Jefferson County Health Department – Bryan McGill at (618) 244-7134 or bmcgill@jchdil.org.