Vendor Application

The Springfest Market has been developed to provide a vibrant space for local businesses, artisans, and food vendors to showcase and sell their products to the Southport community and festival visitors. The Springfest Market aims to encourage participation from existing Southport businesses, support local entrepreneurs, and promote community engagement. While we encourage local artisans to showcase their offerings, products sold at the festival do not have to be handmade. Preference will be given to vendors who are existing Southport businesses, with non-local businesses permitted only in limited cases.

The Springfest Market is sponsored by the City of Southport. The following rules are designed to ensure smooth operation, fairness, and success of the event.

 
ELIGIBILITY
We encourage all market vendors to be local to Southport or the surrounding areas. Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the Springfest Committee.

Accepted Products:

• Food items (both prepared and packaged)
• Local produce (Plants, herbs, and flowers)
• Home décor and other products (not necessarily handmade)
• Artworks
• Clothing and accessories

Other products and services may be considered, pending approval by the Springfest Committee.

Preference will be given to:

• Southport businesses
• Vendors offering locally sourced or locally prepared products.

Vendor Exceptions:

Vendors selling products produced outside Southport or North Carolina may participate, but must have prior approval from the Springfest Committee. Such products must not exceed 50% of the vendor's total offering on event day.

“Non-local” produce / products must be clearly marked with their origin (e.g., “Imported from Florida”).

The Springfest Committee reserves the right to limit the sale of similar products (e.g., multiple jewelry vendors, multiple coffee vendors) in order to maintain variety and appeal.

Canned or Processed Goods:

All packaged or processed food items must be clearly labeled with the product name and contents. Vendors offering home-produced food items must comply with local food safety regulations and may need to undergo a home inspection from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS).
Vendors selling food products must provide proof of home processing approval if applicable.

Approval Process:

Vendors must submit their products for approval before the event. The Springfest Committee has the sole discretion to approve or deny participation based on product appropriateness and available space.

All vendors selling food must provide a copy of their NCDACS certificate for home-produced food items.