2025 Food, Drink, Concessions

This category is for food and beverage (non-alcoholic) vendors and/or food trucks. 

We are offering promotional incentives for food vendors that feature a menu item containing liver mush. Vendors are welcome to use any brand of liver mush (not liver pudding or scrapple) and our liver mush producers may offer discounts on bulk purchases (please let us know if you’re interested). 

Background: The 2024 NC Liver Mush Festival had approximately 18,000+ in attendance. Our goal is to have a balanced mix of food and beverage vendors, locally crafted vendors, businesses, and non-profits. We are especially interested in vendors with liver mush-related angles, high-quality products/services, unique and/or handcrafted items, and positive experiences for our attendees. We will select from applicants that support this mix.  Each standard vendor spot is 12' x 12', allowing for a 10' x 10' setup plus a little additional space for merchandise or other items. Vendors are not to exceed the designated space. If you will need additional space for merchandise, supplies, equipment, etc., please select the Double Booth Option. Vendors must provide their own supplies including tables, full table coverings, chairs, and/or tents.

Would you like to have a more substantial marketing presence during the festival? Consider a festival sponsorship! All sponsors have the option of a booth in a prime location on the square. Sponsorships start at $600, please contact Emily Epley at emily.epley@clevelandcountync.gov for more information.

BOOTH RATES DO NOT INCLUDE ELECTRICITY. MUST PURCHASE BOTH BOOTH and ELECTRICITY. A limited number of electric hookups are available, so please be sure to request it in your application. We will prioritize requests based on the business needs (i.e Food Trucks vs. plugging in a fan). You are responsible for providing your own extension cords and power strips if needed. Extension cords can’t be placed where hazards may be created. Safety covers are required for public safety. Have questions? Need support processing your application? Let us know, we are happy to help and will reach out as quickly as possible!  

Food vendors must review and comply with all Cleveland County, NC Health Department rules. See attachments and, if necessary, contact the designated health department contact on paperwork. 

Application Deadlines

Applications Open to General Public: March 15th

Early Bird Review Round Closes: May 1st

*Early Bird Rates Apply

Applicants Notified of Status on or before: May 15th 

2nd Review Round Closes: July 1st

*Standard Rates Apply

Applicants Notified of Status on or before: July 15th

3rd and Final Review Round Closes: September 1st

*Standard Rates Apply

Applicants Notified of Status on or before: September 15th

The 2025 NC Liver Mush Festival: Mush, Music & Mutts is a juried festival. Selected vendors are based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Our commitment to offer a diverse, quality assortment of food/craft, retail, and non-profit options.
• Rotation of previous vendors with new vendors to allow someone new an opportunity to vend as well as new options for our festival patrons.
• Previous history with us. Previous participation in the NC Liver Mush Festival: Mush, Music & Mutts does not guarantee a space for future festivals.

*Please note: If you would like to represent more than one business, please complete a separate application for each business. We will do our best to place those businesses together based on our festival footprint. 

Approval and Payment Process

A $10 non-refundable application fee will be charged at the time of your submission. Once an application is submitted, the NC Liver Mush Festival Vendor Committee will review the application and notify each applicant on or before May 15th (Early Bird Round), July 15th (Second Round), or September 15th (Third and final round) and send out via email the acceptance or denial of application.

• For approved vendors: The card on file will be charged the remaining payment upon approval by the Vendor Committee. This payment will cover booth space and electric hook-up if requested.
• Payments not fulfilled within two weeks of your acceptance notification for any reason will be considered forfeited and your space will be replaced with a vendor from the next round of applications.

All payments are processed through Eventeny. A vendor will not be finalized until full payment has been received. Late applications received after September 1st will not be accepted. 

Liability Insurance 

All approved vendors must carry their own product liability insurance and present a certificate of insurance. Vendor Insurance must include Cleveland County Tourism/Cleveland County Government, NC as additional insured for one million ($1,000,000.00). Address for insurance purposes: Cleveland County Government, 311 E. Marion St., Shelby, NC 28152.

The Vendor Committee will place each vendor in the location that best fits the festival footprint. Booth assignments will be sent out in late September. 

Booth placement is based on, but not limited to, the following:

• Receipt of payment.
• Previous history with us.
• Our commitment to offering a quality assortment of options.
• Variety of booth types.

As a courtesy to others, no loud or explicit music is to be played. This is a family-friendly event - products, displays, and audio/video should be appropriate. Anyone that chooses not to follow these rules may be asked to make changes, asked to leave, or blacklisted from future participation. This is at the discretion of the festival management.

This festival is open to the public from 9 am - 4 pm. To ensure the best experience for the festival attendees, all vendors must be fully set up during those hours. Any vendor that arrives late or starts to break down early may be charged an additional fee and/or not be allowed to participate in the future.

A limited number of electric hookups are available, so please be sure to request it in your application if needed. We will prioritize requests based on the business needs (i.e. Food Trucks vs. plugging in a fan).

You are responsible for providing your own extension cords and power strips if needed. Extension cords can’t be placed where hazards may be created. Safety covers are required for public safety. 

Purchase Policy

All vendor payments are final and cannot be exchanged or refunded. Vendors are responsible for transaction fees associated with credit card payments through Eventeny. This is a rain-or-shine event. No refunds will be made in case of inclement weather. In the event of dangerous or severe weather designated by the National Weather Service, Cleveland County Emergency Management will notify festival leadership regarding event closure.

By purchasing a vendor booth for this event, you agree to this purchase policy. Before submitting your application, we urge you to read all the vendor information, guidelines, and rules provided above and in the application descriptions.  Any questions or concerns can be directed to the Festival Team at info@nclivermushfestival.com or call 704-484-4750.