● Vendors are required to apply for and pay for a City of Gulf Shores ($100) & Baldwin County/State of AL Business License ($31) BEFORE arriving to be allowed to participate in the festival. If accepted, you will receive instructions for this well before the Festival.
● Vendors are responsible for collecting and paying sales taxes. Tax forms will be included in vendor packets and City of Gulf Shores tax collectors will be on site on Sunday, for your convenience, to pay sales taxes. It is the vendor’s responsibility to pay taxes. Any vendor that does not pay will not be issued a license for the next year and will NOT be eligible to participate.
● PROPANE tanks MUST be those installed and connected by the Shrimp Festival Committee DESIGNATED Licensed Alabama Propane Certificate Holder. (Vendor brought propane tanks are prohibited.)
● Vendors must furnish their own tent & tent weights and tents must be secured/weighted properly. Our requirement is no less than 100 pounds per leg. Anchoring to any City property is strictly prohibited. Staking into the ground is prohibited without prior consent. Damages caused by vendors to City/Private property are the responsibility of the vendor. If you need or want to rent a tent please contact the CABC so we can provide you with contact information for authorized tent vendors.
● Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, LED lighting & extension cords.
● No generators are allowed to be operated on the Festival Site.
● Electricity is provided to your booth/truck/trailer for a fee for which you must choose the load. If you are using too much power you will be required to reduce your number of connections.
● Dedicated Wi-Fi Access is available for a fee; see booth fee section.
● All displays should be designed and constructed in good taste and must not cause concern for the safety of festival attendees.
● Vendors may ONLY use the space provided and purchased. You MUST keep all of your stock and equipment within your designated space.
REGULATIONS HAVE CHANGED/PLEASE REVIEW THIS SECTION CAREFULLY
Per the Fire Marshal & Health Department
● Written documentation on fire rating and wind load for any tents you will be raising is required. Manufacturer testing and approval certification for flame propagation shall be provided for each tent. You must provide this documentation in order to be approved to open for business.
● The Fire Marshal requires stamped written documentation from an Alabama licensed professional engineer regarding the wind loading requirements for all stages, signs, or structures fabricated or constructed and utilized at the event.
● Structures/Tents in excess of 400 square feet require approval and a permit.
● A fire code inspection shall be required before and during the event.
● All food vendors are required to have at least one (1) class ABC fire extinguisher. If creating grease laden vapors (fryers, griddles, etc. you are also required to have a class K fire extinguisher. The Fire Marshal and Food Chairman will be checking certification and compliance.
● Use of electric fryers shall be approved by the Shrimp Festival Electrical Contractor and Shrimp Festival Food Chairman and based on the electrical load plan.
● Fryers and cookers shall rest LEVEL on plywood extending 3 feet out in all directions from the cooking device. A commercial non-flammable grilling mat shall be installed between the cooking device and the plywood, and an underlayment must be put down under the entire tent (NO ROOFING FELT). This must be installed before the plywood and fire mats.
● Cooking devices shall not be located within 3 feet from any Tent, combustible or flammable surface unless approved by the Fire Marshal and Shrimp Festival Safety Committee.
● All vendors with a cooking trailer using fryers/cooking with grease are required to have a TYPE 1 hood system and automatic fire suppression system. The fire suppression system and hood must meet current standards and have a current inspection certification.
● Any cooking devices using charcoal or wood fired cookers are prohibited.
● All equipment must be safe and compliant with the manufacturer’s standards and complete (not missing covers and safety controls.
● A Fire Marshal and LP Gas inspection is required.
● Food vendors SHALL ensure that all customer and employee accessible areas are free of trip hazards including but not limited to signage, displays, and back of house. WALKWAYS MUST BE CLEAR!
Committee Rules & Regulations for Food Vendors
● Parking is extremely limited and vehicle entry pass(es) will be provided for each vendor. Vendors must display tag and contact information must be correctly displayed in the windshield of the vehicle. Vehicles not displaying a vehicle entry pass with owner information will be towed at your expense and we are not kidding. We strongly encourage the use of the Gulf Shores City School Shuttle system whenever possible.
● Security is provided before and during the festival however the CABC assumes no responsibility or liability for damage or loss of property in cases of weather, theft or vandalism or any other cause. It is the responsibility of the vendor to insure and secure their own property.
● Vendors must bring enough inventory to operate through the festival. Festival hours are 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Thursday- Saturday and 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Sunday. Food Vendors MUST stay open for the duration of the festival.
● Food Vendors must check in and set up Monday & Tuesday. Any vendor that does not check in during the time allocated may forfeit their booth without refund. NO VENDORS may pack up and leave early unless approved by committee. Leaving early will automatically disqualify you from the following year’s festival.
● No booth space can be sub-leased. Any vendor found subleasing space will automatically be disqualified from the festival and asked to leave without refund.
● Vendors may begin breaking down their booths after 5:00 pm on Sunday and NOT BEFORE!
● LOAD OUT INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES WILL BE COMMUNICATED BY YOUR COMMITTEE CHAIR. DO NOT TRY TO LINE UP OR MOVE YOUR VEHICLE UNTIL INSTRUCTED TO DO SO.
● NO SMOKING IN OR AROUND VENDOR TENTS. SMOKING IS ONLY PERMITTED IN DESIGNATED AREAS. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CIGARETTE BUTTS ON THE GROUND.
● NO PETS ARE ALLOWED ON THE FESTIVAL SITE.
● FIREARMS ARE PROHIBITED IN VENDOR BOOTHS.
● VENDORS MAY NOT BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR NON PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DURING THE FESTIVAL.
Vendor Selection
● Vendor selection is a juried process. Food vendors will submit photographs of booths and menu.
By signing the vendor application for the 52nd Annual National Shrimp Festival you are stating you have read, understand and will adhere to the rules and regulations listed above. Any violations may result in the loss of space without refund and exclusion from the festival in future years.
READ THE FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY
- The Annual National Shrimp Festival Committee will assign booth space. Booth spaces are awarded based on menu, food selection, pricing, and appearance. SPACE IS NOT GUARANTEED based on previous participation or location. Space assignments are only subject to change by the selection committee.
- Vendors are required to use and sell DOMESTIC SHRIMP ONLY! Local seafood is available and a list of vendors can be provided with notice by the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. There will be a $500 fine assessed for any vendor caught selling imported shrimp - 2nd offense $750 - 3rd offense you will be dismissed from the Festival. Your product will be subject to inspection and testing.
- Vendors are required to display a menu with pricing, in plain view, and large enough for patrons to see and read at all times during the Festival.
- Electricity is provided with charge to all food booths/trailers/trucks. Vendors are responsible for providing a 220V pigtail to connect to the breaker box. NO 208/230 PLUGS FROM ANY TENTS OR TRAILERS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR OUR ELECTRICIAN TO CONNECT. YOU MUST FURNISH AN OPEN PIGTAIL ON CORD NO LESS THAN 25 FEET IN LENGTH. YOU MUST SELECT 60 OR 61-100 AMPS ON YOUR APPLICATION. VENDORS MAY NOT EXCEED 100 AMPS USE. In addition, your trailer or tent set up must meet the required amperage you selected. Our licensed electrician will determine how much amperage you qualify for depending on your circuit panel or wire size.
- No extension cords smaller than 25 gauge will be permitted. All tent and signage lighting must be LED.
- FOOD VENDOR SETUP is MONDAY and TUESDAY before the Festival. All food vendors must be in place and set up by 5 PM on Tuesday. Any vendor not set up by the deadline may be replaced without refund.
- A self contained food booth is required and is defined as an enclosed structure with a three compartment sink, hand washing sink, hot and cold water, waste and fresh water hookup, screened serving window, and dry/cold storage. ALL FOOD VENDORS MUST MEET HEALTH DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS TO OPEN AND SERVE.
- The Baldwin County Health Department will assess a $50 fee for inspecting food booths and you must remit this fee to the Baldwin County Health Department DIRECTLY. You will be sent a form to complete and return to them.
- All water and sewer connections will be inspected prior to use.All connections must be acceptable by City of Gulf Shores representative and ONLY gray water may be disposed of through sewer connection. Sinks should be connected so they drain properly or have electric pumps where necessary to ensure proper draining.
- Baldwin County Health Department will be teaching a mandatory temporary food vendor class on Wednesday before the festival opens. Time and locations will be communicated at check-in. ALL VENDORS MUST HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS MEETING.
- Keep reading.
- Amplification devices, boom boxes, and walking vendors are prohibited.
- Vendors are subject to inspection by the electrical contractor, Fire Marshal, and Health Department representatives.
- The Annual National Shrimp Festival does not accommodate or have space available for motorhomes or RVs for any vendors.
- Vendors may only sell products that are listed on your application, menu, and approved by the Food Committee.
- NO lemonade or lemonade derivatives may be sold by any vendor.
- Buffalo Rock/Pepsi is an exclusive sponsor of the Annual National Shrimp Festival. If you wish to sell drinks, you MUST purchase them on site from the Buffalo Rock/Pepsi vendor.
- All accepted food vendors are required to submit an insurance certificate with minimum one million dollar liability naming the Coastal Alabame Business Chamber as an additional insured. This policy must be valid during Festival dates.
- You are almost done.
- If you request a propane tank you must secure it outside your tent or trailer. Please make sure you buy enough space to accommodate all your stock, propane tanks, and grease barrel if you need one.
- Grease barrels are provided for those who need them. It is your responsibility to ensure the safe disposal of cooking oil. Spills and any overflow clean up will be the responsibility of the vendor that made the mess.
- When calculating needed space, YOU MUST ACCOUNT FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS, AWNINGS, GREASE BARRELS, SIGNS, PROPANE TANKS, BACK STOCK, TRAILER TONGUES, ETC. YOU WILL NOT GET MORE SPACE THAN YOU PAID FOR.
- NO SMOKING AT ANYTIME IN OR BEHIND BOOTHS! NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Vendors are required to be open from 10 am til 10 pm Thursday - Saturday and 10 am til 5 pm Sunday. NO LATER!
