Food Vendors

• When judging quality, the City of Fruita reserves the right, in the interest of the Festival and participants and other vendors, to refuse any vendor applicant or to reject any vendor from participation at any time during the festival when quality has been compromised.  

• The City of Fruita reserves the right to determine the mix of products and services that will be offered at the festival, balancing product types and vendor experience.  

• The City of Fruita recruits vendors that have good references from other partnerships.  In the event that a vendor applicant has never sold at the festival before, the city may require an interview to determine whether the possible vendor has the integrity of product and customer service skills required.  
• A vendor at the Festival is expected to be consistently able and interested in meeting customers graciously and with a desire to share product information willingly. A history of contentiousness with customers, other vendors, or Festival staff will rule out participation in this Festival.

Requirements of all vendors at the Mike the Headless Chicken Festival

• Mike the Headless Chicken Festival is only accepting applications from vendors selling a product.  

• Mike the Headless Chicken Festival will not accept any vendors that sell, advertise, or promote obscene or illegal material or activities, including advocacy of unlawful action or fighting words.  

• All vendors must have a City of Fruita special event business license by May 26, 2025 and are required to follow state sales tax filing procedures

• • • City of Fruita business licenses are available at the Civic Center or online at https://www.fruita.org/administration/page/business-licenses .  

• • • If a vendor does not have a City of Fruita business license by May 26, 2025, the festival reserves the right to reject the application.  

• • • State of Colorado sales tax information will be provided in application process and is available through the Colorado Department of Revenue.

• All food vendors must be on the Qualified Food Vendor list for 2024 for City of Fruita.  This process requires a fire suppression inspection/exemption certificate.  Details on the process as well as the application packet can be found at https://www.gjcity.org/638/Approved-Food-Vendors

• • • Vendors must be on this list by May 5, 2025.  If they are not on this approved vendor list at this date, the festival reserves the right to reject the application.  

• Products sold at Mike the Headless Chicken Festival will match product descriptions and photos submitted in the application process.  

• Vendors are not allowed to sublet their vendor space.  Only the applicant with submitted information and photos is able to use the vendor space provided.  

• Discrepancies from the application process will be noted for future year applications from vendors.  

• All vendors will load in during designated times and clean up during designated times

• All vendors must conduct their business in a manner that does not interfere with the legitimate functions of the festival.  

• Full application must be submitted, including photos and signature agreement for terms and conditions.