Fall Festival Vendor Application

The City of Gastonia's Fall Festival is taking place on October 17 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Rotary Pavilion and downtown Gastonia. The event features food trucks, vendors, 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. Application deadline: September 13, 2026.

This is an electronic agreement and by signing, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. Payment will be charged to card after application is approved.  Vendor spots are limited.  Once all vendor spots are filled, waitlisted applicants will still be accepted through the deadline date. If you apply and more spots become available or another vendor cancels, the event organizer will contact waitlisted applications in the order they were received to confirm availability and then approve the application. 

Vendor fees:

• Downtown Gastonia businesses: free (contact event organizer for discount code)
• Marketplace vendors: $30 vendor fee
• Unfortunately, no power is available this year for vendors. 
• No food truck, food cart, or food trailer vendors are accepted under this application. Please view Fall Festival Food Truck/Trailer Application to apply as a food truck or food trailer. 

Vendor Guidelines and Information:

• All vendors will be allowed to display their goods on 10/18/26 from 3:00PM to 7:00PM.
• Booth set up/break down information:
  • Individual vendor booth area is 10ft x 10ft.
  • Vendors will be set up on Main Ave. between 321 and Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd. in downtown Gastonia. 
    • You will be able to pull one vehicle up to your spot at a time and unload. As soon as you unload, you need to move your car to a parking lot nearby (parking lot on 321 or lot between S. South St. and 321.)
    • Vendors are responsible for providing their own table(s), chair(s), and tent.
      • Tents must not exceed 10ft x 10ft and they must be secured with tent weights or sandbags. 
  • Only space is provided. Power is not available this year.
  • Do not block private drives, entrances, or doors. Be respectful of private property.
  • No generators allowed.
  • Booth set up will be around 1:00 PM. A final, confirmed time will be sent out at least two weeks prior to the event.
  • Booth breakdown is no earlier than 7:00PM and must be completed no later than 8:00PM.
    • You will not be able to bring any vehicles onto Main Ave. until the crowds have cleared.
  • 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.
• Vendor booths serving food:
  • Vendor booths may not grill or smoke any food. 
  • Vendors serving food out of their booths will have to fill out a Temporary Food Establishment permit with Gaston County. This will be sent to the applicant upon approval. 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.
  • 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.
• All vendor activities must be suitable for a family event. Offensive materials, ads, or public displays will be removed and participation refused.
• A final packet going over these regulations and procedures will be sent via Eventeny messaging within two weeks of the event. The packet will also include a site map, timeline, and set up and breakdown information.

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.