VENDOR CHECK-IN: Please report to the Raeford-Hoke Chamber of Commerce Office, 101 North Main Street, Raeford, beginning at 5:30 am for setup information. Vendor Packets may be picked up beginning on Friday, September 18th at 4:00 pm for early set up. You may also be met in person by a Vendor Committee representative depending upon your arrival time.
FESTIVAL HOURS: The 2009 festival will operate from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, September 19th. All booths are required to stay open on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. You will be allowed to shut down your booth during festival hours if necessary; HOWEVER no vendors will be allowed to breakdown and physically leave the festival area prior to the 4 pm closing time. Due to safety concerns the park will remain closed to vehicle access from the 8:30 am to 4:00 pm festival period. Exhibitors are responsible for setting up and dismantling their own booths in the designated area during the designated time frame. The Festival will go as scheduled RAIN OR SHINE.
SETUP TIMES: Saturday, September 19th, 5:30 to 8:00 a.m. Food Vendors must be unloaded and in place no later than 7 am. You will be directed to your designated area by a representative from the Vendor Committee during these setup periods.
SAFETY: Festival safety is critical to all of us! It is important that we all work together to have a SAFE and fun North Carolina Turkey Festival. The City of Raeford Fire Inspector may inspect all vendor booths for compliance with the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code. Please review the Fire Code Requirements included with your vendor information package. No vendors will be allowed to sell knives, mock guns, pop rocks, play cigarettes, inappropriate adult materials, etc. The NCTF reserves the right to ask a vendor to discontinue the sale of an inappropriate item on festival day. Food Vendors will be inspected on festival morning by a representative of the Hoke County Health Department and must comply with all requirements to receive a Food Handling Permit. The North Carolina Turkey Festival is not responsible or liable for the failure of any vendor to comply with these requirements and fees WILL NOT be refunded for failure to pass these inspections.
UNLOADING: Unload your vehicle at your space and immediately park your vehicle in designated areas. Then return to your booth for set up. Do not leave your vehicle parked in the street while you set up, as unattended vehicles in non-designated areas will be towed. Bring as few vehicles as possible into the festival area to help keep down congestion and NO EXCEPTIONS will be made for vehicles to be left in the park area. This is always a challenge on festival morning with these situations and your cooperation is appreciated in advance.
PARTICIPANTS: Only those individuals who complete a Vendor Application, pay their fees and receive approval by the NCTF Committee will be allowed to display and sell. Additionally, Food Vendors must receive the Health Department Permit and pay any fees required prior to Festival date. These items can be returned with application. All Vendors may be inspected by the Fire Department and are required to have a fire extinguisher. See the Fire Code Requirements for specific information.
BOOTH SPACE: Booth spaces are 15x15 for Food Vendors and 12x12 for all other Vendors (note on Vendor Application amount of spaces required). No tables, chairs, electrical cords, etc. will be provided. Exhibitors will arrange their booths so as to not interfere or obstruct view of other booths. NO OPEN FLAME AT BOOTH AREA. Booth spaces are assigned by the NCTF Vendor Committee. There is no guarantee of receiving a particular or requested booth location.
POWER: Power is not supplied by the NCTF. Generators are allowed but it must be noted on Registration Form.
DISPOSAL OF COOKING MATERIALS: All food vendors are responsible for taking their cooking waste with them for proper disposal. Anyone caught dumping cooking oils, grease, etc., will be asked to leave, not allowed to return to the NCTF in future years and may be assessed a clean up fee up to but not to exceed $1000.00.
VENDOR CONDUCT: It is the desire of the North Carolina Turkey Festival Planning Committee for all festival vendors and participants to have an enjoyable day. All vendors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and courteous manner when interacting with festival goers and fellow vendors. Aggressive and inappropriate conduct and/or contact with festival goers will be addressed by representatives of the NCTF Planning Committee and the City of Raeford Police Department if necessary. Vendors failing to modify their conduct or behavior accordingly will be asked to shut down booth operations and may return at the end of the festival to pack their belongings and will forfeit all entry fees.
FOOD VENDORS: Must display identification card provided by the festival committee. They must also display prices of all items for sale. If prices are not displayed the Vendor Committee reserves the right to close the vendor until prices are displayed. Temporary Food Permit must be completed and returned to the Hoke County Health Department. DO NOT RETURN TEMPORARY FOOD PERMIT TO NCTF MAIL DIRECTLY TO ADDRESS ON APPLICATION.
ITEMS NOT PERMITTED FOR SALE: Unfortunately there are some items that can not be sold by food or craft vendors. These items include: any carbonated drinks, water, hot dogs, or alcoholic beverages. Hazardous materials, firecrackers, fire poppers, carnival type items to include silly string, hair paint, etc. and no screen printed items to include t-shirts and sweatshirts. Food items can not be sold in craft booths, commercial/craft items can not be sold in food booths.
APPLICATION DEADLINES: The deadline for all applications is July 31, 2009. Those applications postmarked after July 31st must add a $25.00 late fee. Fees are non-refundable, as the Festival is RAIN OR SHINE.
The NCTF Vendor Committee and the Board of Directors for the NCTF are not liable for damages, injury or loss to any person or goods from any cause whatsoever. The NCTF Vendor Committee or the Board of Directors cannot be held responsible for any claims for damage, injury or loss arising out of or in connection with use of space or grounds in the festival. The NCTF Vendor Committee reserves the right to approve all foods and will limit the number and type of foods and vendor offerings at the festival. All decisions of the NCTF Vendor Committee will be final.
Be sure to review the checklist at the bottom of the Vendor letter before mailing. Make check or money order to NCTF, 101 North Main Street, Raeford, NC 28376 (Cash payments accepted in offices only). Deadline for application is July 31, 2009. Check will serve as receipt. If applying for Food Vendor payment for Temporary Food Stand Inspection should be made payable to Hoke County Health Department for that amount and included with application at time of registration.
Only those who have completed the requirements will be allowed to participate in the North Carolina Turkey Festival. You will receive a confirmation packet with instructions about how to enter the festival area.