Taste of Noble County — Featured Food Participant Application

Taste of Noble County is an indoor food experience celebrating local restaurants, bakeries, caterers, food trucks, and specialty food businesses from across Noble County.

2026 FEATURED FOOD PARTICIPANT SIGN UP IS FREE!

Featured Food Participants are encouraged to bring and sell their regular menu items, full-size portions, beverages, packaged products, and other approved offerings throughout the event.

VENDORS KEEP 100% OF THEIR REGULAR SALES.

In addition to regular sales, Featured Food Participants will take part in the Taste of Noble County tasting experience by offering one or more smaller tasting portions that guests can redeem using Taste of Noble County tasting tickets.

This gives guests an opportunity to try something from your business and, if they enjoy it, purchase a larger portion, full-size menu item, or other products directly from you.

General admission to Taste of Noble County is FREE beginning at 4:00 PM. Guests who wish to participate in the tasting experience may purchase tasting tickets to redeem with participating food vendors.

Optional electrical access is available for $15. Electrical availability is limited and must be requested through the application.

TASTING TICKETS

You decide what you would like to offer as your tasting portion and how many tasting tickets it will require.

We recommend keeping tasting portions between 1–3 tasting tickets whenever possible. Keeping tasting amounts within this range allows guests to use their tickets with a variety of participating businesses and experience more of what Taste of Noble County has to offer.

For example, you might offer a small tasting portion for 1 ticket, a larger or more premium tasting portion for 2 tickets, or a higher-cost tasting portion for 3 tickets.

You may offer more than one tasting option.

The tasting-ticket amount should be clearly displayed at your space so guests know how many tickets are required. Vendors may adjust the number of tickets required for a tasting portion during the event if needed.

Tasting portions redeemed with tasting tickets should not require any additional payment from the guest.

REGULAR & FULL-SIZE SALES

The tasting-ticket program does not prevent you from making regular sales during the event.

Featured Food Participants are encouraged to offer larger portions, full-size menu items, meals, beverages, packaged products, take-home items, or other approved products for purchase directly from their business.

Regular purchases are made directly between the customer and the vendor and do not use Taste of Noble County tasting tickets.

Vendors set their own regular prices and keep 100% of their regular sales.

Think of the tasting portion as an opportunity to introduce guests to what you make — and your regular menu or products as an opportunity for them to come back and purchase more.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE COMPETITION

Each participating food vendor will select a nonprofit organization to represent in the Taste of Noble County People’s Choice Competition.

Guests who purchase eligible tasting-ticket packages will receive People’s Choice voting tokens to cast for their favorite participating food vendors.

The vendor receiving the most valid People’s Choice votes will be named the Taste of Noble County People’s Choice winner.

Noble County Events, Inc. will donate 25% of gross tasting-ticket package sales to the nonprofit organization selected by the People’s Choice winning vendor.

HEALTH & PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

All applicable local health department requirements remain in effect. Participating vendors are responsible for obtaining and maintaining any permits, licenses, approvals, or other requirements applicable to their food preparation and service.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026

Location: Community Learning Center — Kendallville, IN

VIP Early Access: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Free General Admission: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Please follow all event guidelines and participant instructions for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

By submitting this application, Featured Food Participants acknowledge and agree to the following terms:

APPLICATION & APPROVAL

Participation in Taste of Noble County is subject to review and approval by Noble County Events, Inc. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. Noble County Events, Inc. reserves the right to select participants based on event needs, food variety, available space, and the overall event experience.

TASTING EXPERIENCE

Approved Featured Food Participants will participate in the Taste of Noble County tasting experience by offering one or more tasting-size portions that guests may redeem using Taste of Noble County tasting tickets.

General admission to the event is FREE. Guests who wish to participate in the tasting experience will purchase tasting tickets separately and redeem those tickets with participating food vendors.

Each participant will determine the number of tasting tickets required for each tasting offering. Noble County Events, Inc. recommends keeping tasting portions between 1–3 tasting tickets whenever possible so guests have the opportunity to experience a variety of participating businesses.

Participants may offer more than one tasting option and may adjust the number of tasting tickets required for an offering during the event if needed. Current tasting-ticket requirements must be clearly displayed for guests.

Tasting portions redeemed with the required number of tasting tickets may not require any additional payment from the guest.

REGULAR & FULL-SIZE SALES

Featured Food Participants are encouraged to sell their regular menu items, larger or full-size portions, meals, beverages, packaged products, take-home items, and other approved offerings throughout the event.

Regular sales are separate from the Taste of Noble County tasting-ticket program. Participants establish their own prices, collect payment directly from customers, and retain 100% of the proceeds from their regular sales.

Tasting tickets may not be accepted as payment for regular vendor sales unless specifically authorized by Noble County Events, Inc.

The tasting experience is intended to give guests an opportunity to try participating businesses while allowing participants to promote and sell their regular offerings throughout the event.

PEOPLE'S CHOICE COMPETITION

Each Featured Food Participant will select a nonprofit organization to represent in the Taste of Noble County People's Choice Competition.

Guests who purchase eligible tasting-ticket packages will receive People's Choice voting tokens to cast for their favorite participating food vendors.

The participating food vendor receiving the most valid People's Choice votes will be named the Taste of Noble County People's Choice winner.

Noble County Events, Inc. will donate 25% of gross eligible tasting-ticket package sales to the nonprofit organization selected by the People's Choice winning vendor.

VIP Early Access Pass sales, regular vendor sales, sponsorships, fees, and other event revenue are not included in the People's Choice donation calculation.

HEALTH & PERMITS

Participants must comply with all applicable health department regulations and obtain any permits, licenses, or approvals required for their food preparation, service, and sales.

Participants are responsible for ensuring that all food is prepared, stored, handled, packaged, labeled, and served in accordance with applicable food-safety requirements.

EQUIPMENT & STAFFING

Participants are responsible for providing their own equipment, supplies, displays, food, and staffing necessary to operate their assigned space during the event unless otherwise specifically provided by Noble County Events, Inc.

Participants must maintain their assigned space in a clean, safe, and orderly condition throughout setup, event hours, and teardown.

PARTICIPANT FEES & REFUND POLICY

There is no base participation fee for approved 2026 Featured Food Participants.

Optional add-ons or services selected by the participant, including electrical access, may require payment. Any applicable paid fees or add-ons are non-refundable unless the event is canceled by Noble County Events, Inc.

PARTICIPANT VARIETY

Noble County Events, Inc. reserves the right to limit participant categories, menu offerings, duplicate offerings, and selections to maintain a balanced variety of food options and a quality experience for attendees.

PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION

If a participant selects an optional paid add-on or service, any applicable amount may be automatically charged to the payment method provided through the application upon approval.

By submitting the application and selecting a paid option, the participant acknowledges and agrees to the applicable charge and the event's refund and cancellation policy.

EVENT COMPLIANCE

Participants agree to comply with all event rules, venue requirements, safety requirements, setup and teardown instructions, and reasonable directions provided by Noble County Events, Inc. or Community Learning Center personnel.

Noble County Events, Inc. reserves the right to require a participant to correct or discontinue any activity, display, food-service practice, or other condition that violates event requirements or creates a safety or operational concern.