Fall Festival Food Truck/Trailer Application

No additional Mexican, lemonade, and dessert (including italian ice, ice cream, donuts, funnel cakes, etc.) food trucks/trailers will be accepted. All applications with these cuisines will be waitlisted. 

The City of Gastonia's Fall Festival is taking place on October 18 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Rotary Pavilion and downtown Gastonia. The event features food trucks, vendors, a beer garden, free entertainment, live music, free carnival rides and games and more.

We are looking for family-friendly vendors for the event. If you are interested in becoming a vendor for the marketplace, please fill out the below application.

• Food vendor fee: $35 

Application deadline: September 1, 2025. This is an electronic agreement and by selecting the booths, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. Payment will be charged to card after application is approved. Food truck/trailer spots are extremely limited. Filling out an application does not guarantee approval due to space limitations, cuisine limitations, etc. Once all food truck spots are filled, waitlisted applications will be approved in the order in which they were received and by type of cuisine needed in the case any vendor space becomes available.  

Food Vendor Information:

• At this time, only food trucks and trailers are accepted.
• Food Truck set up/break down information:
  • Food trucks must supply their own generator. 
  • Food trucks may either be set up in one of the Rotary Pavilion parking lots, or on Main Ave. 
  • Food truck set up will be around 1:00 PM. A final, confirmed time will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the event.
  • Food truck breakdown is no earlier than 7:00PM and must be completed no later than 8:00PM.
    • You will not be able to bring any additional vehicles onto Main Ave. or the Rotary Pavilion parking lots or have the food truck leave Main Ave. or the pavilion parking lots until the crowds have cleared.
    • Food vendors must provide properly rated fire extinguishers.
    • It is the responsibility of the vendor to keep the booth and surrounding area clean. Each vendor shall leave the area in the same condition as it was found.
    • A final packet going over these regulations and procedures will be sent to the point of contact listed on the application within two weeks before the event.  The packet will also include a site map, timeline, and set up and breakdown information.
  • Health/Permit information:
    • Food vendors must adhere to the regulations set by the Health Department.
    • If applicable, a copy of the Gaston County Health Department permit must be uploaded in this application.
      • Vendors are required to adhere to all applicable laws and provisions established by North Carolina, Gaston County Health Department, and the City of Gastonia Police and Fire Departments. Vendors shall adhere to all federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations applicable to its business.
      • Upon approval, the City Event Planner will send the applicant a Gaston County Temporary Food Establishment permit to fill out. If the applicant has filled out this permit in the past, or has exempt food, the application still needs to be completed but the applicant will not have to pay Gaston County the $75 fee. If a permit is needed, the applicant will need to pay Gaston County $75 for the permit.
    • All vendor activities must be suitable for a family event. Offensive materials, ads, or public displays will be removed and participation refused.
    • The site map, set up information and timeline will be sent via Eventeny at least two weeks prior to the event.

• By signing the vendor application, you agree to all rules and regulations outlined in the Event Policy document and on the vendor application. 

   

  Hold Harmless Clause and Insurance

  All authorized vendors participating in the Event shall be individually and severally responsible to the City of Gastonia for any loss, bodily or personal injury, deaths, and/or property damage that may occur as a result of the vendor's negligence or that of its servants, agents, and employees. All vendors hereby agree to indemnify and save the City of Gastonia, its officers, and employees harmless from any loss, cost, damages, and other expenses, including attorney's fees, suffered or incurred by reason of the vendors' negligence or that of its servants, agents and employees; provided that the vendors shall not be responsible nor required to indemnify the City of Gastonia for negligence of its officers or employees. No insurance is provided by the City of Gastonia to participants in the Event. Participating vendors will be required to provide a signature in acknowledgement of this clause on the vendor application.