About the event
The 20th year of the annual North Carolina Whirligig Festival will be held on Saturday & Sunday, November 2 & 3, 2024.
The event started as a way to celebrate what was unique to Wilson, NC - the innovative and whimsical folk art whirligigs created by Vollis Simpson. At the heart of the festival is a park containing 30 of his original giant metal structures that spin in the wind.
The festival is the largest event in Wilson, 8 blocks of fun, that includes home-made arts and crafts, food vendors, non-profit agencies and sponsors. Entertainment is provided on several stages with live music, a free kids zone, a kids performance stage, strolling artists and art demonstrations.
The NC Whirligig Festival averages about 55,000+ visitors attend over the 2-day festival weekend in historic downtown Wilson. The festival is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and is held each year the first full weekend in November.
Dates
Nov 02, 2024 · 10:00 AM - Nov 03, 2024 · 5:00 PM(GMT-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
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Location
North Carolina, United States
301 Goldsboro Street South, Wilson, North Carolina 27893, United States
Directions
Parking instructions
Parking instructions for vendors provided closer to festival weekend.
Health & safety
The NC Whirligig Festival will follow the COVID protocols outlines by the Federal Government, NC State Health Department and Wilson Health Department at the time of the festival.
Artists, vendors & exhibitors applications
Interested in applying:
5 active applications
Deadline:
Sep 09, 2024
Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions.
Fees: $25 Application fee + Booth Fee
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity and are charged after approval.
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity and are charged after approval.
We have 3 Arts & Craft categories:
1 - Handmade art - ($150 booth fee) - all items made by the artist themselves. Proof of hand production is required.
2 - Art Services - ($150 booth fee) - for art created by the artist in person such as face painting, balloon art, caricatures, henna tattoos, fairy-hair, etc...
3 - Specialty Art - ($250 booth fee) - for any organization selling handmade items and cultural art by international people or special needs populations. The art sales must still be hand made and the profits must support the original artists.
Any vendor with commercially produced items, mass produced items, portable businesses or home-based businesses needs to apply under the Commercial Booth application.
Booth fees vary depending on vending category. Booth fee includes a single booth space. For more space or utilities, extra fees may be selected. Booth fee are charged once an application is approved.
Applications for 2024 are electronic only - no paper needed.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
Deadline:
Sep 09, 2024
Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions.
FEES: $25 application fee + Booth Fee
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity, which is charged after approval.
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity, which is charged after approval.
We have 4 Food Vendor categories:
- Food Vendor - ($500 booth fee) - a wide variety of food vendors, including American fare, International and all types of food in between. Food vending booths may be under tents, in pull trailers or in food trucks.
2. Beverages only - ($250 booth fee) - for those selling only beverages such as lemonades, coffee, fruit drinks, frozen or blended drinks, sodas and teas.
3. Non-Profit Food vendors - ($250 booth fee) - organized by a non-profit agency or organization. A 501c3 number must be provided.
4. Wilson Downtown Restaurants - ($250 booth fee) - any downtown restaurant located within the festival zone, may apply to sell curbside foods. Businesses do not need to apply to be open and operate inside as usual.
NOTE: Pre-Packaged Food - any vendor with pre-packaged food items such as candy, nuts, jellies, jams, salsas, sauces, etc... apply as a COMMERCIAL vendor, not a food vendor, as they do not need a health department inspection.
The NC Whirligig Festival receives a high level of Food Vendor applications. Each application is considered individually as they are received.
Food booths are scattered throughout the festival zone and mixed into each block along with other festival vendors.
All food vendors must display their menu and prices.
Any food vendor that uses charcoal, wood or any fuel type that can not be shut off (immediately in an emergency) will be considered as a Grilling/Cooker. All Grilling/Cookers will be assigned space within the Beer & Bones location. This is required according to the safety and fire guidelines of the Wilson Fire Department.
Applications for 2024 are electronic only - no paper needed.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
Deadline:
Sep 09, 2024
Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions.
Fees: $25 Application fee + Booth Fee
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity. Booth fees are charged upon approval.
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediately. Booth fees vary depending on category and activity. Booth fees are charged upon approval.
We have 3 commercial vendor categories:
- Commercial Vendors - ($850 booth fee) - Any business with a store front, physical location or regional and national level operation will be considered as a commercial vendor. A festival booth is a great way to connect with customers in a friendly environment. Businesses can have face-to-face interactions and demonstrate products and services.
2. Home-based businesses - ($300 booth fee) - these vendors do not have a store front, sales are made from home or portables trailers and/or mobile stores.
3. Pre-Packaged Food Vendors - ($175 booth fee) - with pre-packaged items such as candy, nuts, jelly/jams, salsa, bakery items, etc... food is not prepared on site and ready for sale in sealed packaging.
Applications for 2024 are electronic only - no paper needed.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
Deadline:
Sep 09, 2024
Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through our application and let us know if you have any questions.
Fees: $25 Application fee + Booth Fee
All vendors pay the same application fee, which is charged immediatley. The booth fees vary depending on category and activity. They are charged upon approval.
We have 4 Non-Profit categories:
1. Display only - ($50 booth fee) - for organizations and agencies sharing educational and/or awareness information. No sales of any kind, however a donation bucket is allowed. Donations are accepted with nothing in return except a thank you and a smile.
2. Fundraising - ($100 booth fee) - for organizations and agencies that are selling items, merchandise, holding a raffle, selling tickets, donation bucket or raising funds in any manner. Fundraising is an exchange of money for something, such as an item, service, merchandise or ticket.
3. Political Party - ($750 booth fee) - for any political party or political candidate running for office. This includes democrats, republicans, independents and political organizations supporting election campaigns.
4. USA Military - ($25 booth fee) - displays for recruitment, awareness and education of active military service branches including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard. Veterans groups and military support groups fall under category #1 or #2 depending on their booth activites.
Note: Any non-profit organization that is wanting to sell food or beverages must apply under the Food Vendor category. Pre-Packaged food sales such as nuts & candy are under the Commercial vendor category.
The NC Whirligig Festival supports local and regional Non Profit agencies. Non Profit organizations have an increased potential for outreach during the largest annual event in Wilson.
Non-Profit organizations may use the festival environment to raise awareness, share information, fund raise, sell hand made arts and crafts, products, services, event tickets, hold a raffle or drawing, collect donations or use a wide variety of creative fundraising.
Booth fees vary depending on vending category and size of booth. Booth fee are charged once application is approved.
Applications for 2024 are electronic only - no paper needed.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
Deadline:
Sep 13, 2024
Welcome to the North Carolina Whirligig Festival! Browse through of application and let us know if you have any questions.
The Wilson Downtown Merchants are encouraged, welcomed and desired to participate in the Whirligig Festival. Merchants can set up a display, sidewalk sale or create an attractive display to draw in customers. The NC Whirligig Festival is the largest annual event in Wilson. Businesses that embrace opportunities to invite customers into their stores will seen an increase in revenue during the festival weekend and beyond.
Wilson Businesss around town are also encouraged to participate in the largest community event in Wilson. Apply to be a Commercial Vendor or consider becoming a Sponsor to increase your return on investment.
Fees: $25 Application fee + Booth Fee
All vendors pay the same application fee, charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and acitvity, and are charged after approval.
All vendors pay the same application fee, charged immediatley. Booth fees vary depending on category and acitvity, and are charged after approval.
We have 4 downtown merchant categories:
1. Store Open Listing only - (no application) - this is for the merchants that will have their business open during the festival, but are not interested in a booth or outdoor display. The business operator will need to contact the Downtown Development Office to provide your name to be included in their promotions during the festival. The festival will include the Downtown Merchant Association campaign as part of the festival PR. Keep in mind, this category does not guarantee the space in front of your store will remain unassigned to another vendor.
2. Downtown Merchant Booth - ($50 booth fee) - reserved for businesses within the designated festival zone. This means that the street in front of your store is closed, barricaded from traffic flow and festival activities are established on your street. This category assures you a booth space in front of your store will be open and that no other vendor will be set up in front of your store. Note: Booth spaces are 15 ft wide. The measurements start at the corner intersection. Your booth space may not be directly at your store's front door, but will be in front of your store.
3. Downtown Perimeter Booth - ($100 booth fee) - available for businesses within the 1 block perimeter of the festival zone. In the perimeter, the traffic flow may be affected, but is not blocked. You may have lots of festival attendees walking by your store coming and going to the festival. We offer a discounted booth rate to have a single booth space within the festival zone.
4. Downtown MSD Merchant Booth - ($425 fee) - available for businesses in the downtown area that pay the additional MSD taxes. We invite all downtown businesses to participate in the festival. This is 50% off the regular Commercial booth fee of $850.
Note: Any downtown restaurant that would like to have a food selling booth on the street/sidewalk/curb within the festival zone must apply under the Food Vendor category. Downtown food vendors and restaurants within the festival zone receive a 50% discount.
Applications for 2024 are electronic only - no paper needed.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
This is an electronic agreement and by applying for the booth, you are validating and approving this agreement electronically. By submitting the application you are confirming that you have read the NCWF Vendor policies and agree to abide by them as stated in the guidelines below.
Sponsors
Interested in applying:
1 active application
Deadline:
Oct 01, 2024
Meet our Sponsors!
Hosted by Test by Theresa
Joined Eventeny in August 2020
6 events
Wilson, North Carolina, United States 
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