Application deadline has passed
Application

Downtown Merchant Booth Application

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Deadline: Sep 29, 2022 11:59 pm (GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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NC Whirligig Festival 2022
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Date: Nov 05, 2022 10:00 am - Nov 06, 2022 5:00 pm (EDT)
place
Wilson, North Carolina
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$25-300

About the event

This is the 18th year of the annual North Carolina Whirligig Festival. The event started as a way to celebrate what was unique to Wilson, NC - the innovative and whimsical folk art whirligigs created by Vollis Simpson. At the heart of the festival is a park containing 30 of the giant metal structures that spin in the wind. The festival includes home-made arts and crafts, food vendors, non-profit agencies and sponsors. Entertainment is provided on several stages with live music, a free kids zone, a kids performance stage, strolling artists and art demonstrations. More than 50,000 visitors attend over the 2-day festival weekend in historic downtown Wilson. The festival is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and is held each year the first full weekend in November.
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North Carolina Whirligig Festival
North Carolina Whirligig Festival
Contact Organizer
North Carolina Whirligig Festival
North Carolina Whirligig Festival
Contact Organizer

About the application

Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through of application and let us know if you have any questions.
 
Downtown Merchants are encouraged, welcomed and desired to participate in the NC Whirligig Festival. Merchants can set up a booth, hold an outdoor sidewalk sale, create a display to attract customers inside the store and work with the festival to engage in a variety of creative ways. The Whirligig Festival is the largest event in Wilson. Businesses that embrace the opportunity to invite customers into their stores will see an increase in revenue during the festival weekend and beyond.
 
Downtown Merchants have several festival application options:
 
1. Store Open Listing only - ($0 fee)  for merchants that will have their business open during the festival, but do are not interested in a booth or outdoor display. The festival will promote their store as open. However this option does not guarantee the space in front of your store will remain open, a vendor may be assigned if space is needed by the festival.

2. Downtown Merchant Booth -  ($25 fee) reserved for businesses within the designated “in the festival zone”. To be “in the zone” means that the street in front of your store is closed, barricaded from traffic flow and festival activities are established directly in front of your store.   To assure you that no other vendor will be set up in front of your store, apply for this booth.
 
3. Downtown Restaurant Booth - ($225 fee) reserved for food businesses within the festival zone. As food vendors require separate considerations and health inspections, any food businesses wanting to have vending spot outside their restaurant must apply separately to be considered as a Food Vendor. Downtown food vendors and restaurants within the festival zone receive a 50% discount off the Food Vendor application fee. 

4. Downtown MSD Merchant Booth -  ($125 fee) reserved for businesses in the downtown area that pay the additional MSD taxes. MSD Merchants will receive a 2022 discount to test drive the interest of local area merchants. The regular Commercial booth fee is $850. For 2022, MSD Merchants will receive a $725 discount. This will allow merchants to test out festival participation. Apply for a booth assignments within the festival zone. MSD food businesses will be considered after “in the zone” vendors are reviewed.   
 
Wilson businesses not located in the downtown area are encouraged to participate and can apply using the Commercial Vendor application. Consider becoming a Sponsor to increase your return on investment. 
 
Fees: $25 Application + Booth Fee
All vendors pay an $25 application fee. Booth fees vary depending on vending category and size of booth. Booth fee are charged once application is approved.
 
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically.
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Terms & Conditions

Refer to the NC Whirligig Festival Vendor Policies and Guidelines.
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Related files

2022 NC Whirligig Festival Vendor Guidelines.pdf
2022 Downtown Merchant Booth Information.pdf

Prices

Store Open Listing - Inside the festival Zone, NO booth & NO display on the street $0 Non-refundable This category lets the Whirligig Festival know that your business will be open during the festival weekend, but you are not interested in having a booth space or display on the street. The Downtown Merchant Association will promote you are open and ready for customers. However, if you would like to assure the space in front of your store is open (no vendor assigned) so that your store front is visible to festival attendees, this is NOT the category you need to select. Please select one of the paid booth options.
Downtown Merchant Application fee $25 Non-refundable There is a $25 non-refundable application fee which is charged upon application. Should you select a "In Festival Zone" booth space, you will have no additional fees.
In the Festival Zone Single Booth - Business located within the CLOSED festival streets (10 x 15ft) $0 Non-refundable This selection is reserved for the Downtown Merchants located on a closed street with the festival zone. No additional fee will be charged. This assures you the space in front of your store will be open with no vendor assigned. The space is for you to set up a display and promote your business. We advise that you do not leave it empty, as it will simply appear as if a vendor is missing.
Downtown MSD Merchant - Single booth space $125 Non-refundable
10x30 ft Downtown/Commerical Double Booth space $175 Non-refundable Downtown Merchant booths are reserved only for businesses located within the designated festival zone. The double booth space is 10 ft deep and 30 ft wide. This provided two single booth spaces side-by-side for larger displays. A limited number of double booth spaces are available.
10x45 ft Downtown/Commerical Triple Booth space $275 Non-refundable Downtown Merchant booths are reserved only for business located within the designated festival zone. The triple booth space is the largest booth space allowed. The space is 10 ft deep and 45 feet wide. This is 3-single booth spaces side-by-side. We offer a limited number of triple booth spaces.
110 v Electrical Outlet $20 Non-refundable Approximately half of the vendor booth spaces have ONE electrical outlet available. Vendors requesting electricity are strategically placed to provide utilities and a variety of vendors within each block of the festival. Electrical requests will be considered on a first come, first served basis.
Water access $20 Non-refundable Access to water is limited and typically reserved for food vendors. However, requests will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Water access will at a corner fire hydrant. Vendors should bring 100 ft hose to reach booth.

Questions on the application

Business information

  • Business name
  • Legal business name
  • Contact name
  • Address
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Website (Optional)
  • Logo (Optional)

Additional information

  • Have you been a vendor with the Whirligig Festival before?
  • List the other festivals and events in which you have participated:
  • Please provide a description of your business, items or services for sale and price range.
  • What is your Facebook or other internet website address?
  • Insurance
  • NC Sales Tax ID Number
  • Do you want to participate in the Virtual Marketplace after the festival?
  • How did you learn about the NC Whirligig Festival?
  • COVID Guidelines
  • By signing your name, you agree to our terms and conditions.

Picture requirements

  • Minimum pictures required: 5
  • Upload a minimum of 5 photos: (2) of your booth display or store front and (3 or more) of the items or services that will be for sale in your booth.
Downtown Merchant Booth Application
Downtown Merchant Booth Application
NC Whirligig Festival 2022
Application deadline has passed