Pre-Packaged Food Tent - Procession Area - Hay Street and Market circle

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 as a Prepackaged Food Tent Vendor.

This category is for vendors selling approved food items that are packaged, labeled, and intended for retail sale, such as jams, jellies, sauces, seasonings, baked goods, candies, nuts, teas, coffees, cocoa mixes, pickles, relishes, and similar specialty food items.

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 for sale
A price list or price range for items offered
Photos or a description of  booth display
Information about product labeling, packaging, sampling, and any required food permits or approvals

Prepackaged Food Tent Vendors are priced according to the vendor area or street where they are assigned. This application category has separate food-related requirements, but booth pricing follows the approved pricing for the assigned location.

All food items must be approved through the application process before being sold at the event. Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable food safety, labeling, sampling, permitting, sales tax, and legal requirements.

This category does not include food trucks, trailers, on-site cooking, frying, grilling, hot food service, or open food preparation unless specifically approved by the Vendor Committee under a separate food vendor category.

Booth spaces are sold in 10' x 10' increments and are assigned by the Vendor Committee. Vendors must keep all tents, displays, merchandise, inventory, signage, storage, and equipment within their assigned space. Additional space requires the purchase of additional booth space. A maximum of three (3) contiguous booth spaces may be purchased, subject to availability and approval.

Applications are reviewed by the Vendor Committee. Review of applications will begin on July 15, 2026. Regular applications submitted on or before the applicable street or area deadline will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis as space allows.

By submitting an application, the applicant agrees to follow all

Terms & Conditions and the official Vendor Handbook, which is attached to and incorporated into this application. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance or placement. All applications and space assignments are reviewed and approved by the Vendor Committee.

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, pricing information, food labeling information, permit information, or other requested materials may be declined.

Vendors may only sell items approved through the application process.

Booth 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, and event planning needs. Submission does not guarantee acceptance or placement.

Prepackaged Food Tent Vendor Requirements
This application is for vendors selling approved prepackaged food items intended for retail sale. Examples may include jams, jellies, sauces, seasonings, baked goods, candies, nuts, teas, coffees, cocoa mixes, pickles, relishes, and similar specialty food products.

All food items must be packaged, labeled, and approved through the application process before being sold at the event.

Vendors must accurately represent the products they sell, including product type, packaging, labeling, ingredients, allergen information, sampling plans, and any required permits or approvals.

Prepackaged Food Tent Vendors are priced according to the vendor area or street where they are assigned. This application category has separate food-related requirements, but booth pricing follows the approved pricing for the assigned location.

This category does not include food trucks, trailers, on-site cooking, frying, grilling, hot food service, or open food preparation unless specifically approved by the Vendor Committee under a separate food vendor category.

Sampling is not automatically permitted. Any sampling must be disclosed in the application and approved by the Vendor Committee. Vendors offering samples are responsible for complying with all applicable health, food safety, sanitation, and permitting requirements.

Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, licenses, food safety rules, labeling requirements, sales tax requirements, and other legal requirements.

The Vendor Committee reserves the right to determine whether products are appropriate for the Prepackaged Food Tent Vendor category.

The event organizer reserves the right to remove unapproved merchandise or food products from sale.

A Dickens Holiday is a family-friendly event. The Vendor Committee reserves the right to decline products, displays, signage, decorations, or merchandise deemed inconsistent with the event’s family-friendly atmosphere, holiday theme, event standards, or the overall character of the event.

Vendor application fees are non-refundable. Booth fees are non-refundable once a vendor is accepted; however, cancellations submitted in writing at least 30 days prior to the event may be considered for a partial refund at the discretion of the event organizer. This is a rain-or-shine event, and no refunds will be issued due to weather or within 30 days of the event.

Booth Space Requirements
Booth spaces are sold in 10' x 10' increments.

Assigned booth dimensions are firm.

All tents, displays, merchandise, inventory, tables, signs, storage, coolers, equipment, and supplies must remain entirely within the assigned booth space.

Vendors requiring additional space must purchase additional booth space.

A maximum of three (3) contiguous booth spaces may be purchased, subject to availability and approval.

Vendors may not extend into neighboring booths, sidewalks, pedestrian areas, emergency access routes, or other event spaces.

Vendors arriving with a booth footprint larger than the space purchased may be required to reduce their setup, purchase additional space if available, or may be denied setup.

Generators & Power — Note: Event Has Day & Night Time Hours
Battery-operated power stations are permitted and encouraged.

Vendors are responsible for providing their own lighting for nighttime event hours.

Gas-powered generators will generally not be permitted within tent vendor areas.

Any request for a gas-powered generator must be disclosed during the application process and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed.

If approved, generators may be required to be placed in a designated location separate from the vendor’s booth space.

Vendors requiring power must disclose those needs in their application.

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.

Vendors must abide by the law that requires sales tax to be collected and paid to the NC Department of Revenue. Neither the event committee or the City of Fayetteville will collect or pay vendor sales taxes.

Generators & Power - Note: event has Day & Night Time Hours Battery-operated power stations are permitted and encouraged.

Gas-powered generators are permitted for food trucks and approved cooking vendors in designated areas only. Generally, craft and beverage vendors must operate without generators and be fully self-contained, as power is not provided within the event footprint. Battery-powered equipment is permitted and encouraged. Vendors must plan accordingly prior to the event; battery-powered lighting and equipment are strongly recommended, particularly as sunset occurs at approximately 5:15 PM. In limited cases, generators for craft and beverage equipment may be allowed but will be required to be relocated to a designated area to ensure safety and minimize impact. The event organizer reserves the right to prohibit or relocate any equipment that creates noise, fumes, or safety concerns.

Any request for a gas-powered or propane generator must be disclosed during the application process and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed. 

Setup, Breakdown & Event Operations
Vendors agree to follow all setup, breakdown, safety, parking, loading, 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.

Event organizers reserve the right to make operational changes necessary for safety, weather, emergency response, construction activity, or event management needs.

Fees & Refunds
Application fees are non-refundable. Booth fees are non-refundable unless otherwise determined by the event organizer.

Weather, attendance levels, vendor sales performance, 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 products, equipment, displays, employees, volunteers, and property. Vendors are responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, permits, licenses, and tax requirements.

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.

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

The Vendor Handbook will be sent upon acceptance to the festival. The rules and regulations in the Handbook will incorporate the Terms & Conditions in the application by reference. Updated information to include parking maps, setup times, check-in procedures, load-in routes, weather plans, booth appearance standards, and detailed operational rules will be provided in an updated 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.