Food Truck and Food Tent Vendors

Thank you for your interest in participating in A Dickens Holiday 2026 in Historic Downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina. This application is for vendors seeking placement in the Hay Street Arts & Crafts Marketplace, featuring artists, makers, craftspeople, and creators offering handmade, handcrafted, original, and artisan goods. Early bird applications for returning vendors may receive a discount.

A Dickens Holiday will take place on Friday, November 27, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM and welcomes thousands of visitors to Downtown Fayetteville for a day of holiday shopping, entertainment, family activities, and seasonal traditions.

Applicants must submit:

*Photos of products they create or make
*A price list or price range for items offered
*Photos or a description of their booth display

*Plan for removal of waste and trash

This category is for Food Trucks and Large Food Tents where food is cooked to order on site. Most food truck and trailers will be designated in a food court area that is located at Green and Gillespie Street venue sites and on Maxwell and Franklin streets. Exceptions may occur depending on the need of the event. Event managers may open more than one food court area as the event requires.

Applications are reviewed by the Vendor Committee. Early applications may receive earlier review, but submission does not guarantee acceptance. Vendor decisions will be issued in rounds as applications are reviewed.
 

Please review all application materials carefully. Accepted vendors will receive the Vendor Handbook containing detailed setup, breakdown, parking, safety, and operational requirements.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

By applying to and participating in A Dickens Holiday 2026, the applicant agrees to the following:

Event Organizer
A Dickens Holiday 2026 is organized by Downtown Creative Works, Inc., dba A Dickens Holiday, in collaboration with the Downtown Alliance and partner organizations and permitted by the City of Fayetteville.

Application & Acceptance
Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

All applications are reviewed by the Vendor Committee.

Incomplete applications or applications missing required photographs, menu information, pricing information, permit information, insurance information, power/generator information, trash/grease/waste plan, or other requested materials may be declined.

Vendors may only sell items approved through the application process.

Food truck and trailer assignments are determined by the event organizer and are not guaranteed. Acceptance in previous years does not guarantee acceptance in future years.

Applications will be reviewed by the Vendor Committee after submission. Decisions may be issued on a rolling basis or after application deadlines, depending on category, space availability, food service needs, event layout, safety requirements, and event planning needs. Submission does not guarantee acceptance or placement.

Food Truck / Trailer Vendor Requirements
This application is for vendors preparing and serving food or beverages from an approved food truck, food trailer, or similar permitted mobile food unit.

Vendors must accurately represent their menu, food service operations, truck or trailer size, serving side, line setup, signage, generator/power needs, permits, licenses, inspections, insurance, trash/grease/waste plan, and any additional equipment.

All menu items must be approved through the application process before being sold at the event.

The Vendor Committee reserves the right to determine whether a food truck, trailer, menu, setup, or operation is appropriate for A Dickens Holiday.

This category does not include prepackaged food tent vendors, arts and crafts vendors, hobby vendors, or vendors selling only sealed retail food products from a 10' x 10' tent. The event organizer reserves the right to remove unapproved menu items, signage, equipment, or merchandise from sale or use.

A Dickens Holiday is a family-friendly event. The Vendor Committee reserves the right to decline food items, displays, signage, decorations, music, generators, equipment, or vendor operations deemed inconsistent with the event’s family-friendly atmosphere, holiday theme, event standards, or the overall character of the event.

Permits, Licenses, Insurance & Food Safety
Food Truck / Trailer Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, licenses, inspections, food safety rules, health department requirements, fire safety requirements, sales tax requirements, and other legal requirements.

Vendors must provide proof of required permits, licenses, inspections, insurance, and approvals upon request.

Vendors must maintain safe food handling, preparation, service, sanitation, and storage practices throughout the event.

Vendors are responsible for any required fire suppression systems, fire extinguishers, propane safety requirements, electrical safety requirements, and health department compliance applicable to their unit and operations.

Certificate of Insurance Required - All vendors are required to carry general liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence. A certificate of insurance must be provided prior to the event and must name Downtown Creative Works, the Downtown Alliance, and the City of Fayetteville, including its officers, officials, employees, and agents, as additional insureds. Coverage must be valid for the event date. Vendors may obtain coverage through Eventeny (eCoverage) or provide their own policy that meets these requirements.
 

Placement & Space Requirements
Food truck and trailer placement will be assigned by the Vendor Committee based on event layout, safety needs, pedestrian flow, procession route planning, access requirements, generator/power needs, emergency access, and overall event operations.

Placement requests may be considered but are not guaranteed.

Vendors must provide accurate dimensions for the full truck, trailer, hitch, service window, doors, awnings, tables, tents, signage, generators, cords, coolers, and any additional equipment.

All service areas, equipment, signage, trash containers, coolers, tables, tents, lines, and supplies must remain within the assigned area unless otherwise approved by the event organizer.

Vendors may not extend into sidewalks, pedestrian areas, neighboring vendor areas, emergency access routes, procession routes, streets, driveways, or other restricted event spaces unless specifically approved.

Vendors arriving with a footprint larger than disclosed or approved may be required to reduce their setup, relocate if space is available, or may be denied setup.

Generators & Power — Note: Event Has Day & Night Time Hours Vendors must disclose all generator and power needs during the application process.

Generator use is not automatically approved.

Gas-powered generators may be restricted, relocated, or denied depending on event layout, procession route planning, safety needs, noise concerns, fumes, nearby vendor areas, pedestrian flow, and assigned location.

Vendors using gas or propane generators are responsible for safe operation, appropriate fuel storage, noise control, ventilation, cord safety, and compliance with all applicable rules and instructions.

Battery-operated power stations are permitted and encouraged where appropriate. Vendors are responsible for providing their own lighting for nighttime event hours unless otherwise arranged in writing with the event organizer.

Trash, Grease & Waste Plan
Food Truck / Trailer Vendors must submit a Trash, Grease & Waste Plan as part of the application.

The plan must explain how the vendor will handle customer trash, food prep waste, boxes, packaging, grease or oil, gray water or wastewater, end-of-event cleanup, and removal of all trash and waste from the event area.

The Vendor Committee may consider the submitted Trash, Grease & Waste Plan when reviewing applications, assigning placement, and determining future participation.

Vendors may not use public trash cans, downtown business dumpsters, storm drains, planters, sidewalks, streets, public property, or private property for disposal unless specifically authorized in writing.

Waste, Grease, Water & Cleanliness
Food Truck / Trailer Vendors are responsible for maintaining a clean, safe, and orderly service area throughout the event.

Vendors must provide and manage their own trash containers as required for their operation.

Vendors must remove all trash, boxes, grease containers, food waste, wastewater, gray water, packaging, supplies, and equipment from the event area at the end of the event.

Dumping or leaving grease, wastewater, gray water, food waste, boxes, bags, ice, liquids, packaging, or other materials on streets, sidewalks, storm drains, planters, landscaping, public property, or private property is strictly prohibited.

Vendors are responsible for protecting streets, sidewalks, and public areas from grease, spills, stains, damage, or unsafe conditions caused by their operations.

Sanitation Deposit & Checkout Requirement
Food Truck / Trailer Vendors may be required to pay a refundable sanitation and compliance deposit in addition to the vendor fee.

This deposit is intended to protect the event area from trash, grease, food waste, wastewater, boxes, spills, and other materials left behind by food service operations. The deposit is not a penalty and will be refunded to vendors who comply with cleanup and checkout requirements.

Food Truck / Trailer Vendors must check out with event staff before leaving the event area. The assigned space must be left clean and free of trash, grease, boxes, food waste, spills, wastewater, gray water, equipment, and supplies.

Vendors who leave without checkout, leave materials behind, dump prohibited materials, or require event staff to clean their area may forfeit all or part of the sanitation and compliance deposit.

Vendors with repeated cleanup, grease, trash, or compliance issues may be denied future participation, assigned a different location, or required to pay an increased sanitation deposit for future events.

Vendors who comply with cleanup and checkout requirements may receive favorable consideration for future participation.

Setup, Breakdown & Event Operations
Vendors agree to follow all setup, breakdown, safety, parking, loading, access, and operational requirements contained in the

Vendor Handbook and event communications.

Vendors must be fully set up by the designated deadline and remain open during required event operating hours. Early breakdown or unauthorized departure may affect future participation.

Food trucks and trailers may not move into, out of, or within the event area except during approved load-in and load-out times or with specific direction from event organizers or public safety officials.

Event organizers reserve the right to make operational changes necessary for safety, weather, emergency response, construction activity, food service placement, procession route planning, street layout, or event management needs.

Fees & Refunds

Application fees are non-refundable.

Food truck / trailer vendor fees are non-refundable unless otherwise determined by the event organizer.

Sanitation and compliance deposits, if required, are refundable only as provided in these Terms & Conditions, the Vendor Handbook, and event communications.

Weather, attendance levels, vendor sales performance, location assignment, nearby vendor activity, operational changes, or circumstances beyond the event organizer’s control do not constitute grounds for refund.

Liability & Indemnification
Vendors participate at their own risk.

Vendors are responsible for their food products, beverages, menu items, equipment, generators, fuel, propane, electrical cords, displays, signage, trash, grease, waste, employees, volunteers, vehicles, trailers, and property.

Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, licenses, food safety requirements, health department requirements, fire safety requirements, labeling requirements, tax requirements, sanitation requirements, waste disposal requirements, and other legal obligations.

Vendors agree to release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Downtown Creative Works, Inc., dba A Dickens Holiday, the Downtown Alliance, the City of Fayetteville, event sponsors, participating property owners, officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and partners from claims, damages, losses, expenses, or liabilities arising from the vendor’s participation in the event, including but not limited to claims related to food products, beverages, food preparation, food service, food safety, allergic reactions, labeling, sampling, sales, setup, equipment, generators, propane, vehicles, trailers, spills, grease, waste, cleanup, sanitation, or vendor operations.

Vendor Handbook
Vendors agree to comply with the Vendor Handbook, Eventeny application requirements, event communications, and instructions issued by event organizers.

The Vendor Handbook  is incorporated into these Terms & Conditions by reference. Updated parking maps, setup times, check-in procedures, load-in routes, prohibited items, weather plans, booth appearance standards, food vendor requirements, generator rules, sanitation requirements, checkout procedures, placement instructions, and detailed operational rules will be provided in the Vendor Handbook and related event communications.

Event organizers reserve the right to interpret and enforce event policies and operational requirements in a manner that supports the safety, integrity, and successful operation of the event.