Thank you for your interest in our festival! This application is for food, craft, and produce/nursery vendors. Completing the application does not guarantee acceptance. If you have additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us and be sure to view our website at www.sweetwatertn.gov or www.bloomsbluegrassbbq.com. Also, our facebook page, Sweetwater Merchants and Property Owners Association Inc will have event information.

The festival strives to provide its Guests with the most variety, uniqueness, and value in the southeast throughout the festival. Our Food Vendor selections reflect this goal as well. We also give consideration to factors that will maximize your potential for profits including limiting the number of vendors selling like products, matching your price points to our audience, and others. We encourage nurseries and those selling agriculture products to apply. We will not limit the number of agricultural products in order to promote the theme of the festival. The first 5 nurseries or herb/flower vendors will be given a discounted space in a prime spot for $10. We will not accept home improvement direct sale or information only/political party or candidates with information only type vendors.

Vendors who have participated in prior festivals and meet all festival criteria will be given priority consideration. The remaining spaces will be filled based on a variety of criteria including variety and uniqueness of menu, quality of presentation and food, experience with large events, and value. The Vendor Coordinator will determine which vendors best meet the needs of the festival, which may include the behavior and attitude of the vendor. Decisions of the Vendor Coordinator are final, but feedback may be submitted to smpoatn@gmail.com.

Each vendor space will be in downtown Sweetwater, along Main Street, Depot, Main Street Marketplace (BBQ Vendors only), or other open spaces in the downtown area.

You will be notified of the area you have been selected for in your acceptance letter.

The Fee is $100.00 per space. Artisans and crafters fee is $75 per space. Non-profit groups with a 501 (c) 3 status or local presence of at least 3 years have a free space inside the Exhibitor building if they choose to be in the designated Non-profit area. If they request a space outside of the non-profit area, the full fee will be required. Agricultural products (Apples, flowers, herbs, etc) have booth fees available at $25.00. Non-power spaces are available for $75. Space is limited, and a limited number of non-profit and agricultural booths will be allowed. The fee for each space includes the following:

• Vendor space
• Electricity (except non-power spaces)
• Trash Fee
• Sweetwater City Vendor Fee (Does not include health department certification)

No refunds will be issued unless the festival is cancelled. Your space will not be reserved until payment is received.

2021 :10,000

2022: 16,000

2023, 2024, 2025: 23,000

On your application, please fill out your top three menu choices (including additional items you would like to serve in case of cold weather). Please choose unique items that have less chance for duplication. We will do our best to give selected vendors their first choice, but cannot guarantee they will receive it. We do not want numerous duplications of product at the festival since it is not in the vendors best interests for profit and not in the Guests best interest for variety, but we will duplicate some items in order to meet crowd demands. Very unique items have always been the subject of special stories with our local news media. This is a great way to get the word out about your product. You are encouraged to be creative with your menu and sales items.

Once the festival has approved items, there are to be no substitutes or changes in products. Changes or substitutes may void the vendor agreement with SMPOA and violations will result in dismissal from the festival as well as forfeiture of all vendor fees.

• If you have not been a vendor at this festival previously, we ask that you send a photo of your booth set up. The look of your booth and your unique menu is important to us and is a major factor in our selection process.
• All signs must be dean, professional and in good taste.
• All prices must be marked prior to inspection and at all times during the event.
• Uniforms, language, and gestures of staff as well as booth displays and signage must be suitable to a family-oriented event. Inappropriate content or conduct in any booth will result in dismissal.
• NO ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO PRODUCT OR THE USE OF ANY OF THESE IS PERMITTED AT ANYTIME IN YOUR BOOTH. NO SMOKING OR VAPING IS ALLOWED IN THE FESTIVAL AREA.

Vendors operating from a trailer must set up Thursday after 9 pm or between 8 and 10 am on Friday. Tent Vendors must set up between 10 am and 11:30 am on Friday and must remain open until the designated closing time for the vendor's location. Required operating hours are 12 pm to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may sell outside these hours if desired. Saturday only spaces are available in the Duck Park only and vendors must set up prior to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Activities in downtown Sweetwater will begin at noon on Friday and include live music. Your vendor fee includes Friday & Saturday if you wish to utilize all days. We would also encourage you to check out our year-round open-air market the "Main Street Marketplace" on Facebook, which hosts outdoor vendors and is available by calling city hall or registering online at sweetwatertn.gov. Rates start at $10 per day.

• Prior to opening and operating, vendors must be in compliance with the following. Any safety hazards must be resolved and corrected prior to opening.
• Each booth is required to have a 2A 10 BC fire extinguisher and comply with fire Marshal codes and regulations.
• An inspection may be done by the City Building Inspector and Fire Chief and Monroe County Health Department.
• Vendors must be in compliance with all safe operating procedures, rules and regulations prior to operating.
• Vendor must comply with State Health Department Regulations. Standard food service practices including hand-washing buckets, hair containment and plastic gloves are festival policy. The Monroe County Health Dept may be reached at 423-442-3993 regarding permits and fees. The health department will obtain a listing of our vendors and require you to register with them prior to the event
• Vendor is responsible for covering and/or taping down all electrical cords, securing awnings, etc, according to safety code and eliminating any trip hazards or other hazards to Festival Guests and staff as well as Vendor's staff.
• LP Gas containers must be anchored with chain to a post or other secure item.

Vendor is responsible for all applicable state, federal, and local taxes.

Priority Deadline is August 15th. We will send an email
around August 15th to notify you of your acceptance.
You will receive a second email with setup instructions
in mid-September.
Please be sure your email is correct on your
application!

Please Include in your Package:

• Application (signed and dated)
• A copy of your Menu and Pricing for the event (your specialty items)
• Photos of your display including signage and any additional information
• A copy of your Certificate of Insurance
• A copy of your Health Department Certificate or mobile food permit (if applicable)
• Fees

All vendors are responsible for their own set up, break down, and all needed supplies (for example: tables, chairs, extension
cords and fire extinguishers will not be provided by the festival.)

Food Vendors are required to have a garbage can and supply their own garbage bags. All vendors will be responsible for site
clean up and removal of surplus products, equipment, oil etc.

Vendors are responsible for maintaining a clean, appealing site. Behind the booth is a festival area and should be kept in
proper order. Trash should be moved to receptacles and should not be left behind booth space or stacked around the booth.

Vendor is responsible for the security of their booths. Police will patrol the area, but there is no guarantee of stationed overnight
security.

All extension cords should be of 12-gauge copper with no splices. There will be no hard tail hookups allowed. All plugs must
have OSHA approved ends. All electrical outlets are of the GFCI type. Due to limited power availability, we cannot allow the
use of heaters.

Due to concerns regarding overloading circuits as well as limited available power, you will be asked to choose power
requirements on the application. If your power requirements exceed these options, please indicate on the application so that
we can determine if accommodations can be made.

If you wish to enter the BBQ competition and vend, please select the Marketplace for your location. The judges will come
through as a regular customer on Friday between 12 and 2 pm and purchase a pork BBQ sandwich, side, and a dessert.
You will not know who the judges are. Prizes will be awarded as follows: $500- 1^st Place Pork, $300- 2^nd Place Pork, and
$200- 3^rd Place Pork; $250 Best Side; $250 Best Dessert.

The undersigned hereby releases and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sweetwater Merchants and Property Owners(SMPOA), Sweetwater Main Street, Sweetwater Valley Citizens for the Arts (SVCA), the Vendor Coordinator, and the City of Sweetwater, its employees, agents and assigns, and the volunteers for the same regarding any and all liability for damages or injuries to persons or property which the undersigned, his or her agents or employees may sustain while participating in the Festival or any events leading up to the Festival or related to the Festival or related to the Festival. Such indemnification shall include reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

I have read the application and agree to abide the rules or regulations of the Festival as set forth herein and to be subject to the penalties provided for failure to comply. I understand that the Festival, SMPOA, Sweetwater Main Street, SVCA, the Vendor Coordinator, and the City of Sweetwater reserves all rights to refuse participation based on Event guidelines. If these guidelines are not upheld and if I fail to comply timely with any of these rules or regulations I may be barred from participating in the Festivals both this year and for future years and that I may be subject to any fines or penalties set forth in this document, I also hereby consent and authorize the Festival, SMPOA, SVCA, the Vendor Coordinator, and the City of Sweetwater to use film, video, sound recordings, and or photography and written or verbal information supplied by me for the purpose of publicity and or promotion and or advertising. No claim of any nature arising out of, or connected with, said photography, publicity, promotion or advertising will be made by me, my survivors, or assigns.

I understand that all promotion of my items by me must take place within the confines of my booth. I further understand that there are no refunds or rain checks. The duplication or use of any trademarks or logos belonging to the festival is strictly prohibited.

I have read and agree to all the regulations stated above and in consideration of applying for the Festival agree to be contractually bound to the same. I understand that if litigation is necessary to enforce the terms of this contract that the Festival, SMPOA, SVCA and the City of Sweetwater shall be entitled to recover from me their reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs.

This application, fees and supplemental materials should be submitted to: SMPOA, PO Box 123, Sweetwater, TN 37874

(Some Non power spots are highly visible if you can use a generator or battery powered device, you may get a better spot.)

If additional power hookups are available, vendors will be able to rent an additional 20 AMP for $25.

Please submit along with this application and hold harmless agreement:

• Application Fee
• A copy of your Menu and Pricing for the event (your specialty items)
• Photos of your display including signage and any additional information (if available)
• A copy of your Certificate of Insurance

You will receive a confirmation email if registering online and paying through Paypal. Around August 15th, we will send a vendor acceptance email. We reserve the right to reject any and all vendors without providing a reason. But the #1 Rule is – Don't be rude! If you can't work well with others, please do NOT register for this event.