Fluff Festival 2026 Vendor Application Form

Fluff Festival 2026 Vendor Application

Thank you for your interest in participating as a vendor at the 2026 What the Fluff? Festival:
Festival Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1-5pm (rain or shine)

*Sunday, 9/20 is reserved in the case of severe or extreme weather.

Festival Overview: "What the Fluff? A Tribute to Union Square Invention,” a nationally recognized and locally beloved street festival, returns for its 21st year. The festival is produced by Union Square Main Streets, a 501(c)3 economic empowerment nonprofit, in partnership with the Somerville Arts Council.

This year’s theme – Legally Fluff: A Toast to Union Square – invites Fluff fans from far and wide to raise a glass of their favorite bubbly bev to celebrate Somerville’s signature sweet spread in style.
- Food vendors are strongly encouraged to present food products that use Marshmallow Fluff as an ingredient. All food products must be prepared in a licensed kitchen. Upon acceptance, food vendors will receive instructions on how to apply for the City’s temporary food permit ($50, paid to the City of Somerville). Vendors must comply with all health regulations.
- Non-Food/Craft vendors are strongly encouraged to present handmade products that relate to this year’s theme and have a Fluff component.
Product Policies:
- Vendors may not engage in promotion of religious groups, political statements, campaigning, petitioning, or signature gathering. This extends to booth setup, products, and packaging.
- Any and all items sold/presented at the Festival must be original, authentic creations conceived and executed entirely by the vendor, or the vendor must have the appropriate licenses and permissions.
- What the Fluff? celebrates and honors expression of human imagination, creation, and community. Artificial Intelligence can be used as a tool, but it should not be the primary creator of your products.
- Festival organizers reserve the right as sole purveyor at the Festival of fluffernutter sandwiches.
- The Festival hires a local artist to create an artistic representation of each year’s Festival theme for use on the official What the Fluff? merchandise and promotional items. Vendors may not utilize the annual design or official “What the Fluff?” festival logo on any product for profit.
Application timeline: We will begin reviewing applications June 23, 2026. Rolling applications accepted through August 1, 2026, or until spots are full.

Application Fee: Vendor applicants are required to pay a $15 non-refundable application fee. (You will be directed to submit your payment at the end of this application form).
- Applications submitted without payment are considered incomplete, and are not eligible for acceptance.
- The application fee is waived for Union Square Main Streets member businesses.
- Upholding USMS’ economic empowerment mission, application fee waivers for low-moderate income applicants as defined by HUD are available. If you would like to be considered for a fee waiver, please complete this attestation form.
Please note that application does not guarantee acceptance to the Festival. Vendors will be selected based on quality, creativity, product variety, appropriateness to the event, and space availability.
I agree to pay the non-refundable $15 application fee. I understand my application will not be considered complete until this fee is paid or I have applied and have been approved for a fee waiver.

Vendor Fees + Insurance: Vendor fees will be due upon acceptance. Accepted vendors will receive a link to pay their vendor fee along with their acceptance notice.
- Vendor fee for Food vendors is $375
- Vendor fee for Non-Food/Craft vendors is $200
All vendors must also carry their own General Liability Coverage Policy up to $1,000,000 in order to sell goods at the What the Fluff? Festival. The certificate of insurance (COI) must have Union Square Main Streets, Inc. listed as a certificate holder and as an additionally insured party. The COI must be submitted to USMS prior to the festival.

In the unlikely event that the Festival needs to be canceled for public health reasons, vendor fees will be applied with automatic acceptance to the 2027 Fluff Festival.
I understand and agree that, if accepted as a vendor, I will provide my own General Liability Coverage Policy up to $1,000,000 in order to sell goods at the What the Fluff? Festival and that the certificate of insurance (COI) must have Union Square Main Streets, Inc. listed as a certificate holder and as an additionally insured party.
I understand and agree that in the unlikely event that the Festival needs to be canceled for public health reasons, my vendor fee will be applied with automatic acceptance to the 2027 Fluff Festival.

Setup & Breakdown:
- On the day of the event, setup will begin at 11:30am.
- All vendors must be ready for the Festival to start at 1pm.
- Breakdown begins promptly at 5pm.
- The premises MUST be cleared by 6pm.
Vendor Booth Space Specifics:
- Only the 10'x10' space is provided.
- Vendors must provide their own tent (with weights) and any other equipment used in the space (tables, chairs, etc.)
- Tents must be properly weighted (40 lbs per leg) at all times.
- All materials must fit within the confines of the 10'x10' space reserved.
- If vendor does not have a tent and/or proper weights, the vendor will not be cleared to open for business.
Electricity: Electricity is NOT available for vendors. Please plan your booth accordingly or provide your own sternos, SILENT generators (approved by USMS in advance) or power banks, if needed.

No gas generators are allowed at the festival.

Additionally, no vehicles are allowed within the festival footprint during the festival hours.

Vendors will be provided in advance with a map of the event layout, booth placement, and clear instructions for setup and breakdown.
I understand that only the 10'x10' space is provided. Tents, tables, chairs, and any other equipment needed must be provided by the vendor.
I understand that tents and tent weights of 40lbs per leg are required to participate. Failure to provide proper equipment will result in dismissal from the Festival and no refund.
I understand that electricity is NOT available and that gas generators are NOT allowed at the festival.
I understand that vehicles are NOT allowed within the festival footprint during festival hours.
I understand that breakdown begins promptly at 5pm and that the premises must be cleared by 6pm. I also understand that not abiding by this schedule will impact my ability to participate in future Fluff Festivals.

Vendor Application
Vendor Type
Business Name
Contact Name

First NameLast Name
E-mail
example@example.com
Phone Number:
Mailing Address:

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Business Website or Social Media:
Product Information: Please list and describe all the products you plan to sell at your booth (including Fluff-related elements) on separate lines. Include approximate pricing for each item. It is important to ensure all products are included here, otherwise they will not be permitted to be sold.
Attach 3 photos of your products here: (To maximize our ability to promote your business, including photos with your application is preferred, but you may also email them to vending@unionsquaremain.org if needed.) **Please note your application will be considered incomplete until photos have been submitted.
Accepted file formats: GIF, JPG and PNG
Cancelof
I certify that the artwork or products listed in this application and that I intend to sell are all original, authentic creations conceived and executed entirely by me or that I have the appropriate license and permission to use the art and characters not created by me.
I attest that any use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is solely as a support tool and that any sourcework used with these tools is permissible and licensed. The art is created primarily by a human artist without the use of generative AI programs.
Would you be interested in a double-booth spot, if it were available?

I hereby grant and authorize Union Square Main Streets the right to take, edit, alter, copy, exhibit, publish, distribute and make use of any and all pictures or video taken of me and my products to be used in and/or for any lawful promotional materials including, but not limited to, newsletters, flyers, posters, brochures, advertisements, fundraising letters, annual reports, press kits and submissions to journalists, websites, social networking sites and other print and digital communications, without payment or any other consideration.
I hereby grant permission to Union Square Main Streets to use and reproduce any portion of the photo images I have posted on social media channels for the purposes listed above.
I understand and agree that as a vendor, I am responsible for all requirements and licenses set by the City of Somerville, State of Massachusetts, and the Federal Government (i.e. the local board of health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, USDA, FDA, and potentially others). All processed food vendors are required to obtain a health permit from the City of Somerville, Inspectional Services Department- Health Division prior to any sale. I also understand that my Vendor Application to the Fluff Festival assumes all appropriate requirements and licenses will be obtained. If I am accepted to the Fluff Festival and confirm acceptance, I am responsible for payment of the entire vendor fee assigned regardless of ability to obtain appropriate permits or licenses.

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