2025 Booth Vendor - Pride Festival

Thank you for applying to become a vendor at the 2025 Twin Cities Pride Festival. 

Please expand the Show More below to see more details.

Please read all below information before beginning your application to make the process easier for you.

The festival will be held June 27-29, 2025.

Vendor registration opens on January 15, 2025, and will remain open until all booth spaces are filled.

Resources to assist in successfully completing an application

If you have questions or would like further details, please refer to the Vendor FAQ page at https://tcpride.org/2025vendorinfo/ or contact festival@tcpride.org. The Vendor FAQ page also includes recordings of the informational sessions that were held on January 5th and 9th 2025.

If you encounter errors while completing or submitting your application, please contact support@eventeny.com, or use the contact form at https://help.eventeny.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. 

Vendor registration opens on January 15, 2025, and will remain open until all booth spaces are filled. Prospective vendors will have the opportunity to complete an application and join the waitlist after booth spaces are sold out if they wish to secure a potential booth space in the event that one becomes available. A notice will be added to this information section to inform those planning to apply when the application availability changes to “waitlist only”.

An updating map that shows the remaining booth spaces can be viewed at the bottom of the application, or by following this link: https://www.eventeny.com/events/map/?id=14806&mid=11760.  

Please verify your booth placement requests compared to this updating map. Specific booth numbers may not be in the same placement as previous years due to changes in the map’s layout. As such, vendors who request the same booth number as 2024 may not have the same booth space.

About Twin Cities Pride

Twin Cities Pride is the 501c3 charitable nonprofit organization that produces the annual LGBTQ+ Pride Festival, March, and other events. In addition, Pride sponsors other LGBTQ+ nonprofits including but not limited to MN Deaf Queers, MN POC Pride, and other Prides around the state.

Twin Cities Pride is run primarily with volunteers and a few full-time employees.

The goal of Twin Cities Pride is always to create a safe and welcoming place for the LGBTQ+ community to gather and celebrate together. If you are part of a company, group, or organization that has actively worked against or physically harmed ANY members of the LGBTQ+ community then Pride is not the space for you.  

We welcome vending businesses and organizations who affirm and support our mission. Twin Cities Pride wishes to create an environment that celebrates the gathering of a community, while remembering our history and all who have gathered before us:   

• Twin Cities Pride seeks to empower every LGBTQ+ person to live as their true self and to create a future where all LGBTQ+ people are valued and celebrated for who they are.
• The Pride celebration commemorates and continues the fight against discrimination and ongoing struggle for equality faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons and their families.  

While we would like to encourage and support all organizations to create a more inclusive and diverse space, merely having members of the LGBTQ+ community employed does not qualify an organization or person as being supportive or an ally. Twin Cities Pride recognizes that it is our actions that show the world our values and will keep this in mind when considering what vendors will be approved for the upcoming festival and other events throughout the year. As such, if you are involved in any way with a group, company, or organization that has engaged in missions or activities that sought to harm or restrict the LGBTQ+ community in any way during the last 5 years but are taking steps to become more inclusive and supporting, please reach out to Andi Otto, Executive Director, before completing an application to discuss the best steps for you and your organization to take to become better allies to the LGBTQ+ community. 

What will you need to provide while completing an application?

All vendors are required to submit a completed ST-19 at the time of completing their application, or it will be automatically waitlisted until the document is provided. An ST-19 is required from ALL vendors, whether they intend to sell any merchandise during the festival or not. Please note that requested booth spaces will not be held while awaiting properly completed documentation being provided.

Photographs of your intended booth setup.

Images and description lists of the products you intend to sell during the festival, including prices. (If selling)

A description of how you plan to engage and interact with festival attendees.

ALL exhibitors and food vendors are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance that meets the listed requirements within two weeks of their application being approved or their approval may be withdrawn, with no refund of any fees provided. Certificates of Insurance must prove General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 or more. Certificates of Insurance must list Twin Cities Pride as an additional insured, including its current legal business address.

Upon submitting a vendor application, a $50 application fee and a 6.5% processing fee will be charged via credit card or ACH. These fees are non-refundable and will be the only fees charged at this time. Additional fees that are based upon the business or organization’s annual revenue, a selling surcharge (if applicable), and any additional rental requests made during the application process will be charged to the same payment method upon the application’s approval. 

What costs are involved in becoming a vendor?

All Businesses/Organizations (based on total gross annual revenue) 

•       Business Level 0: Under $150,000                                                 $350 

•       Business Level 1: Under $150,000 - $500,000                $625 

•       Business Level 2: $500,000 – $1,000,000                          $1,125 

•       Business Level 3: $1,000,000 – $5,000,000                    $1,875 

•       Business Level 4: $5,000,000 -$15,000,000                  $2,500 

•       Business Level 5: $15,000,000+                                                      $3,750 

Non-Profits / Government Agency (based on total gross annual revenue)   

•       Nonprofit Level 1: Under $100,000                                                 $190 

•       Nonprofit Level 2: $100,000 – $1,000,000                          $625 

•       Nonprofit Level 3: $1,000,000 – $5,000,000                   $1,125 

•       Nonprofit Level 4: $5,000,000+                                                       $1,875  

THC Vendor  

•       Booth Space:                                                                                                        $3750 

Table

•       6-foot Table Space:                                                                                      $200*

* Table Space is provided in shared tent space, a vendor in the small business tent is limited to a 2 year purchase and must be an organizations with annual revenue under 100k.  To support this new opportunity, Twin Cities Pride will be covering the selling surcharge for vendors at tables in the Queer Writes and Small Business tents.

All businesses and organizations that are selling during the Twin Cities Pride festival will be charged a $150 selling surcharge that will be passed through to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. 

There are a limited number of scholarships available for small nonprofit organizations and community groups that have an annual revenue under $100,000. If you wish to apply for a scholarship, there is a spot on the vendor application to do so. Approval of your application will not be processed before a scholarship has been awarded or denied. If your request for a scholarship is turned down, you will be contacted prior to your application being approved or being charged any additional fees. 

Festival Sponsorships are available, starting at $8500. Sponsorships include a booth space, as well as other benefits and additional recognition as determined by the sponsorship level. Please reach out to the festival organizers if you are interested in learning more about sponsorship opportunities. 

Submission of your application indicates your understanding that all fees are non-refundable and non-transferable unless otherwise stated in this policy. 

Potential vendors should note that their final charge placed at application approval may be increased if they opt to rent power, wi-fi, parking, extra tables, or other available items. Costs for these items and further details can be found within the application on the specified questions. 

Please note that Twin Cities Pride does not have tents for rental this year. Tents can still be rented through Après Party & Tent Rental, who will assemble and stake the tent. 

Should the 2025 Twin Cities Pride festival be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, all fees will be transferred to the new date set for the festival. Should the festival need to be cancelled due to a pandemic or other circumstances outside of Twin Cities Pride’s control, no fees will be refunded. 

What is included in being a vendor?

Each booth space is 10'×10' and includes one 8-foot table.  Chairs and tent are not provided.  Vendors are limited to a maximum of two booth locations. All materials, storage, and operations (to include prep, clean-up, and back of house) must remain within the approved booth space.

In an effort to make the Twin Cities Pride Festival more accessible to more organizations and businesses and remove barriers some prospective vendors may face, there will be a limited number of tabling spaces available. Tabling spaces will consist of a single 6-foot table in larger specialized tent spaces. Prospective vendors should note that while a decreased need for staffing and lower cost may benefit many small businesses and organizations, there will be no additional back of house or engagement space. Those who would not be able to fully engage with their intended attendees would have a better experience vending from a 10x10 booth space. To ensure that the most prospective vendors can benefit from this new opportunity, a two year limit for all businesses, organizations, and individuals will be in place for approval of tabling spaces in the Small Business Tent.

Participation in the Eventeny Online Marketplace.

Twin Cities Pride is collaborating with Lavender Magazine to create a special 2025 Twin Cities Pride section in Lavender’s June 12, 2025 issue. All Twin Cities Pride booth vendors, registered and approved before April 20th, will receive a complimentary listing in this issue. These listings will feature the name of the organization or business and will be categorized alphabetically by color-coded location within the park.   

Towards the end of the application, vendors will also have the opportunity to indicate their interest in purchasing an ad in Lavender’s May 29, 2025 and/or June 12, 2025 Pride issues. 

Both generic and customizable social media templates will be available for those vendors who wish to promote their presence at the 2025 Twin Cities Pride festival. Branded promotional banners can also be custom created if the vendor emails their logos or photos to rainbowcircle@tcpride.org. Please ensure that your email includes details regarding the ways in which you will be involved with the festival so that the correct template can be used. 

What booth spaces can you request as a preference?

The color sections have vendor grouping (type of vendor) to help festival attendees know where to find the things they are interested in. We do allow flexibility for vendors to be in a location that makes sense for you - all other areas are open placement requests.  Please see "Color Section" on the TCP vendor FAQ website for descriptions.

In an effort to make the festival accessible for all attendees, there are specified areas that vendors must meet requirements to be placed. These spaces include the Youth Pride Hideaway, Artist Alley, the Cannabis Garden, the Queer Writes Tent, and the Light Blue Zone. 

Youth Pride Hideaway: Programing in this zone will be focused towards the youth members of the LGBTQ+ community. As such, vendor approval for spaces indicated as being part of the youth zone will only be approved if they provide services or products to support youth. 

Artist Alley: All vendors approved to be in this zone must be an LGBTQ+ or BIPOC artist selling handmade items. 

Cannabis Garden: Vendors who sell or create THC products and related businesses will be located in this zone. The Cannabis Garden will be a fenced 21+ area. The charge for a daily entry wristband is $5. No THC products may be sold or consumed outside of the Cannabis Garden. 

Queer Writes Tent: Writers, publishers, and booksellers that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or provide services to the community, will have the opportunity to vend from a table within the Queer Writes Tent. Note that this will be a single table with limited stock space compared to a 10x10 space. 

Light Blue Zone: Twin Cities Pride seeks to create a festival that is able to be enjoyed by all members of the community. As such, the Light Blue Zone is intended to be a more sensory friendly area. This zone includes services such as the Escape Space, Family Services, and the Remembrance Garden. 

Small Business Tent: This is a new area with the goal of providing opportunities to vend at the festival to small businesses and/or organizations that may otherwise face barriers to doing so. Qualifications include that the business, organization, or individual vendor have an annual revenue of less than $100k. A limit is also in effect that the business, organization, or individual may only qualify for a table for a maximum of two years, in an effort to provide more people and groups with the opportunity.

What is involved in the jury and approval process?

Each vendor application will be juried in the order they are received. The jury process will verify that your business or organization meets the acceptance criteria to become a vendor at the 2025 Twin Cities Pride Festival.  

Acceptance criteria include, but are not limited to: 

• The product and/or services you intend to provide (including the quality, pricing, and uniqueness of your product or service).
• Your company or organization’s past experience and interactions with Twin Cities Pride.
• Your company or organization’s commitment to and support of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Your company or organization’s sustainability practices.
• Your company or organization’s experience at other outdoor events.
• The proposed size of your booth and any power or other requirements.
• The level of professionalism demonstrated through interactions with the LGBTQ+ community and other companies or organizations.
• Your agreement that all people who will be staffing your booth will follow the Vendor Code of Conduct and any established procedures. 

Twin Cities Pride may withdraw your application if your business or organization fails to uphold these criteria after approval, with no refund of any fees paid. Your application may also be withdrawn if all required documentation is not provided within two weeks of your application’s approval, unless otherwise stated on the application. 

How do I know if I am approved? What if I am not?

A confirmation email will be sent upon your completion of the application, with instructions for providing any additional documentation required. This email is not a statement of your application being approved, only that it has been received. You will receive an additional email within two weeks that will inform you if your application has been approved, waitlisted, or rejected. 

Vendors who are waitlisted due to incorrect or missing documentation will have their applications reviewed upon providing the correct documentation. A vendor waitlisted for missing documentation may not receive their preferred booth placement as availability will be based upon their approval date, not available spaces at time of application.

Vendors who are waitlisted due to a lack of space or multiple similar vendors already having been approved will be contacted if a space opens prior to the festival, before their application is approved, to verify if they still wish to participate or if their availability has changed. We will post a notice at the top of the application when registration changes to “waitlist only.” 

Upon your application being approved, you will have two weeks in which you can cancel and receive a refund of all fees charged, aside from the application fee and any payment processing fees.  

Failure to provide your Certificate of Insurance or other required documentation within two weeks of your application being approved may result in your application being withdrawn, with no fees being refunded. 

 Twin Cities Pride offers unique opportunities for outreach to the LGBTQ community for nonprofit organizations and businesses that support our mission and champion LGBTQ equity. If your company/group/organization is actively working against the LGBTQ community, the Pride Festival is not the space for your organization and we will politely decline your application based on the mission of Twin Cities Pride.  If you are a company/group/organization that has had past Anti-LGBTQ missions/activities in the past 5 years and are working to be more inclusive, please reach out to Andi Otto, Executive Director, before filling out the application so that we can discuss the best steps. He can be reached at andi.otto@tcpride.orgThe mission of Twin Cities Pride is to empower every LGBTQ+ person to live as their true self. We envision a future where all LGBTQ+ people are valued and celebrated for who they are. We seek involvement from those participants who affirm and support our message: the Pride celebration commemorates and continues the fight against discrimination and the struggle for equality for LGBTQ people and their families.  By completing this application, you agree to the above statements and mission. If at any time during the Pride Festival it is found that you are spreading any sort of hate message, no matter the type, you will be asked to leave the park and will not receive a refund for any fees paid. Additional fees will be assessed if you leave items behind for Twin Cities Pride to provide removal and/or disposal. 1.   Each application will be juried through a panel of people to determine if the vendor is committed to the equality of all members of the LGBTQ community and if what they are offering is relevant to the community.2.   There will be limited amounts of each type of vendor.  For example, we will not have 10 t-shirt vendors but will limit it evenly throughout the park. This is based on jury selection and is first come first served. 3.   Your application is pending until you receive notification that you have been approved.  You will not be charged until you are 100% approved to be at the festival. Approvals will come no later than 10 business days from submission. 4.   All fees are due at the time of approval and can be paid via ACH or with a credit card.  Mailed-in checks will not be accepted and returned to you.   Violations of Twin Cities Pride rules and regulations may result in additional fees being charged, exclusion from participation, both during the event and in following years.  Submitting an application and receiving a confirmation email after you’ve completed the application DOES NOT mean you have been accepted, just that your application has been received.  REFUND POLICY 
The application fee (charged when submitting the application is non refundable for any reason) If you are not accepted as a vendor you will not be charged the additional fees for your application (booth, electrical and other selections). Once approved as a vendor the applicant has TWO weeks to Cancel to receive a refund of the additional fees less the payment processing fees. If the COI -  Proof of Liability Insurance is not uploaded to your application within two weeks of your approval.  TC Pride will Cancel your approved status and No Refund of any fees will be provided. 
The Applicant understands that fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE outside of these policies.  
If the circumstances causes the festival to be delayed, fees will transfer to the new date for the festival. IF WE ARE NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE EVENT  DUE TO THE PANDEMIC OR OTHER ACTS OF GOD, FEES WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.   We DO not guarantee placement in any particular location and reserve the right to move vendors up to the start of the festival.  No Portable Generators will be allowed in either park.  Portable Generators will only be used by TC Pride for Operations & Sponsors when tapping into larger electrical systems are not available. 
Vendors who do not comply with onsite logistics and regulations will not be allowed to open for business and may be asked to leave the park, forfeiting the ability to participate in any way in the festival.   THC Vendors are required to comply with ALL MN Statute including Statutes 342, 342.40 and 342.27