Applications & Vendor Information
May 21st – 24th, 2025
Contact:
Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival
Board of Directors
P.O. Box 157 Ware Shoals, SC 29692
Phone: 864-954-6353
Info@CatfishFeastival.org
NO RAFFLE TICKET SALES!!
Please note our new phone number:
864-954-6353
NO PETS ALLOWED! NO TENTS, UMBRELLAS OR UMBRELLA CHAIRS ALLOWED! ALSO, NO COOLERS OR OUTSIDE FOOD. NO RAFFLE TICKETS MAY BE SOLD. THANK YOU!
All Vendors – Please Read
The 2025 Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival is now in its 45th year. We are a non–profit organization, managed by the Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival Board of Directors, a group of dedicated volunteers.
The Catfish Feastival is a family friendly event and no pets are allowed (except for service animals) and will be held from May 21 – May 24, 2025 at Katherine Hall, 1 Mill Street, Ware Shoals, SC 29692. In previous years this event has brought in more than 20,000 visitors over the Memorial weekend. As always, we begin planning a year in advance to create a fun filled weekend of great food and entertainment for all ages. No pets allowed.
This year we’re asking you to register online using our secure website. If you choose, you may still mail your application and payment by using this link.
Food Vendor Application
Advertising:
Rules and Regulations:
- NO food sales other than what is APPROVED on your application
- You must submit a photograph of your vending space set up and your food menu. Misrepresentation will prevent the food vendor from being invited to participate in future Feastivals. Water and sodas will sell for no less than $1.00 minimum.
- Exhibitor is expected to provide their own set up (tables, chairs, backdrops, stands, covers, etc.). All spaces must be kept clean and be neat in appearance. Boxes and crates must be out of sight. No storage outside of your space.
- Vendors may put up covers or canopies provided they are freestanding and will stand within the booth space allotted. For example, if you have a 10 x 10 space, the canopy, poles, anchors, pegs, or ropes may not extend outside the 10 x 10 space, no exceptions!
- Vendors will be selected by the Board and will receive space assignments prior to the Feastival. Checks will not be deposited until exhibitor is accepted. If you are not accepted, your check will be returned.
- It is the sole responsibility of each vendor to collect and report sales tax.
- The vendor agrees to release the Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival Board of Directors and the Town of Ware Shoals from all liability for injury, damage, or loss to persons or property of the Vendor.
- The Vendor understands that there is no scheduled rain date and no refunds for inclement weather.
- NEW! Vendors are responsible for keeping their vending area clean. Including the area around your space. Vendors must leave their booth area clean and free of trash.
- Covid-19 – We are asking all vendors to comply with South Carolina Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. We ask all vendors to provide hand sanitizer for their customers.
Vendor Space:
Your tent, signs, equipment, tables, chairs, etc. are your responsibility.
Grease and Trash:
All food vendors must provide ground cover inside their booth and cooking area for the absorption of grease. No food vendor will be allowed to open if the ground cover is not in place. No grease or grey water is to be poured onto the ground or down any drains. Any- one found doing this will be asked to leave and will lose your clean up deposit. Additionally, you will be responsible for any and all environmental cleanup costs and subject to prosecution by city or state officials.
Trash:
Vendors are responsible for collecting and properly bagging trash within your sales location. Our clean-up crew will collect properly bagged trash from outside of your sales location.
Water and Electrical:
Water and Electrical hookups will be available for food vendors upon request. Please bring your own hoses and extension cords. We recommend that you have spare hoses and cords. Vendors are responsible for their own plumbing and electrical failures at their site.
Ice:
Ice is available on-site and can be purchased at the Catfish Building and can be delivered to your site.
Helpful Hints for Safe Food Handling:
All food vendors must be compliant with current local and regional guidelines for temporary food service events. Please review the following helpful hints which will help assure your booth will meet current regulations. To Prevent Food-borne Illness:
- Obtain foods from an approved source. Home prepared food is not allowed.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling foods.
- Maintain hot foods at temperatures of 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
- Maintain cold foods at temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
- Cook ground beef to a minimum of 155 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook Chicken to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Take frequent food temperatures.
- Heat foods quickly and cool foods rapidly.
- Keep raw and cooked food separate.
- Thaw foods properly: completely submerged under running water not longer than 4 hours, as part of a cooking process, or through refrigeration.
- Use single service articles whenever possible.
- Keep foods covered and protected from dust, dirt, insects, vermin, and human contamination.
- Minimize handling of foods before, during, and after preparation.
- Do not use swollen, leaking, or damaged canned goods.
- Store all food product and equipment at least six inches off the ground.
- Items Required at a Temporary Event:
- Sanitizer
- Probe Thermometer
- Chemical test strips (for measuring sanitizer concentration)
- Adequate supply of back up utensils
- Adequate supply of potable water
- Soap and single service towels
- Fire extinguisher (properly tagged and correct type)
- Adequate facilities and equipment to maintain food at the proper temperatures
- Adequate protection from flying insects, vermin, dust and dirt
- Adequate protection for food displayed, prepared or stored
Please note: All participating vendors will need to be serve safe certified from the health dept.
In order for our event to be successful, we must insist that everyone follow our rules. Those who do not, will be asked to leave and will not be invited to return. We ask for your cooperation and understanding.
Food vending will begin on May 22nd from 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm. The Catfish Feastival will be open again on May 23rd from 12:00pm – 11:00 pm and May 24th, 2023 from 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm. We strongly encourage vendors to stay open until at least 10 pm each day to take full advantage of the crowds for the concerts. Each retail vendor will be responsible for providing their own tents, tables, partitions for hanging displays and lighting. Various exhibit space sizes are available with power and water. No refunds will be issued for inclement weather. Set up begins no earlier than 9 am. Set up must be completed by 12 pm for Thursday and Friday and Saturday. Absolutely no tear-downs until 10 pm each evening. We know set up and breakdowns are extremely hectic, but we ask that you please unload and load your vehicles as quickly as possible and get your vehicles out of the way to allow other festival vendors access to their spaces and to allow for traffic flow. (Please respect our patrons and other vendors)
Vendors must park in vendor parking area! No vehicles will be allowed to stay in the Feastival area or at your space.
If you wish to be a Feastival participant, please fill out the vendor application and return along with your full menu, photos of your vending setup and menu, and a check for the appropriate amount. All applications must be received with photos, menus and check by no later than May 14th, 2024. No applications will be accepted after the cut–off date. The Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival is a great opportunity to sell and promote your products! Space is limited.
******Food Vending is Full, Please Do Not Apply for 2023
Craft Vendor Application
Advertising:
Advertising becomes more extensive each year. Advertising includes our web page and social media, television ads, radio ads, newspapers, magazines and other festival web sites. Our advertising reach covers South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
Rules and Regulations:
- STRICTLY ENFORCED: ALL ITEMS SOLD BY CRAFTERS MUST BE HANDMADE. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- If you have not participated in the Feastival before, you must submit a photograph of your vending space set up. Misrepresentation will prevent the vendor from being invited to participate in future Feastivals.
- Exhibitor is expected to provide their own set up (tables, chairs, backdrops, stands, covers, etc.). All spaces should be neat in appearance. Boxes and crates should be out of sight.
- Vendors may put up covers or canopies provided they are free–standing and will stand within the booth space allotted. For example, if you have a 10 x 10 space, the canopy, poles, anchors, pegs, or ropes may not extend outside the 10 x 10 space, no exceptions!
- Vendors will receive space assignments upon arrival to the Feastival. Checks will not be deposited until exhibitor is accepted. If you are not accepted, your check will be returned.
- It is the sole responsibility of each vendor to collect and report sales tax.
- The vendor agrees to release the Ware Shoals Catfish Feastival Board of Directors and the Town of Ware Shoals from all liability for injury, damage, or loss to persons or property of the Vendor.
- The Vendor understands that there is no scheduled rain date and no refunds for inclement weather.
Vendors are responsible for leaving their booth area clean and to dispose of trash.
Vendor Space:
Your tent, signs, equipment, tables, chairs, etc. are your responsibility.
Trash:
Vendors are responsible for collecting and properly bagging trash within your sales location. Our clean-up crew will collect properly bagged trash from outside of your sales location.
