Vendor Registration for June 10-11, 2023 Artichoke Festival is CLOSED

 

THANK YOU to a great line-up of Artists, Crafters, Non-Profit Organizations, Commercial & Food Vendors!

Did you miss our deadline and want to be on the mailing list for NEXT YEAR’S FESTIVAL?

Send an email with your company name, contact name, social links, and best phone number* to

ARTSCRAFTS.ARTIFEST@GMAIL.COM

 

Help us spread the word! Like us on Facebook and let people know you’ll be there.

Event Dates: June 10-11, 2023

Time:

Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM

Place:

Monterey County Fair & Event Center
2004 Fairground Rd.
Monterey CA 93940 (enter at Gate 4)

The Artichoke Festival is a unique, two-day outdoor event—celebrating all things ARTICHOKE! Past attendance levels have surpassed 8,000 visitors at the Artichoke Festival, enjoying fun for the whole family. The Festival features artichoke cooking demos by local chefs, artichoke ag-education activities, a fabulous farmer’s market where artichokes are the hero, artichoke-inspired delicious food, activities for kids, great musical entertainment and more. Proceeds from the Festival are used to support Castroville’s neighboring community organizations and activities. All donation recipients must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

The Artichoke Festival also welcomes arts organizations, non-profits, and neighborhood groups to participate. Artisans, Crafters, and Non-profits receive discounts off the commercial vendor rates.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 28, 2023

The Artichoke Festival is held at the beautiful Monterey County Fairgrounds, with room for lots of vendors!

All booth spaces are located outdoors. A deposit (non-profits exempt), along with the fully completed and signed application form, a copy of current resale license, and two (2) photos of booth and/or merchandise display will hold a space until application deadline on April 28, 2023. After that time, uncompleted registrations will forfeit prior booth assignments and be released into open space que.
Space fees include entry passes for booth workers, and liability coverage provided by California Fair Services Authority (CFSA). Electrical services, tables and chairs can be rented, fee schedule is located on the application.

NOT included in space fees: tent/canopy, parking passes, required state/county/city licensure and/or permit fees.

Eligible vendors include: Artists, Crafters, Non-Profit Organizations, Commercial, and Food Vendors. Unsure if you are eligible? See descriptions below, or email us at artscrafts.artifest@gmail.com. The Artichoke Festival also welcomes arts organizations, non-profits, and neighborhood groups to participate. Artisans, Crafters, and Non-profits receive discounts off the commercial vendor rates.

Vendor Types & Fees

Commercial Vendors ($425 – 10’x10’ booth)

Vendors and commercial retailers who are selling or exhibiting products which are mass-produced, imported, mass-marketed or manufactured by or purchased from a wholesale or retail provider. Vendors selling prepackaged, bulk foods are included in this category.

Arts & Crafts Vendors ($300 – 10’x10’ booth)

Artists and crafters who personally make their own products or merchandise for sale. Vendors who sell imported, manufactured, mass-produced, or mass-marketed items are not eligible for this booth price.

Non-Profits ($100 – 10’x10’ booth)

Both nonprofit vendors who are selling products or services, and those providing information only are included in this category. Please upload a copy of your proof of non-profit tax exempt status with the link provided in the form.

Food Vendors (Fees based on booth sizes below)

The fee is $800 per 10ftx10ft space, $1,000 per 10ftx15ft, and $1,150 per 10ftx20ft space for the two-day festival. Rig size can be indicated on the form. We also welcome Food Trucks. Stand alone BBQs, grills, and fuels used for cooking must be disclosed on the form.

Non-profit food vendors: please contact us at foodvendorartifest@gmail.com, or 888-808-7707, ext 2.

Permits & Licenses

Links to City and County permit forms are provided within the online registration system and below. Please refer to documentation on the Vendor application form for requirements for your particular operation. Please upload a copy of each completed license application or final license with vendor registration submission as proof. Copies only! Do not mail your original City or County license application, fee or licenses to us; we will NOT be able to forward them.

Here are some handy links to help with the required permits or licenses you’ll need in order to operate as a vendor at our event:

 

Register for a California Seller’s permit: https://www.cdtfa.ca.gov/services/permits-licenses.htm
(ALSO, SEE IMPORTANT NEWS ABOUT NEW CDTFA TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Apply for City of Monterey Temporary License To Do Business (every vendor needs this regardless of selling or not selling, whether your business is a for-profit or non-profit): http://cmbuslic.ci.monterey.ca.us/businessLicenseApplication/

Food and Beverage sellers: apply for a Monterey County Health Dept Temporary Food Facility permit: https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/home/showpublisheddocument?id=24906

Inclusion of these website links is for convenience only and does not in any way imply or guarantee that the City of Monterey, Monterey County, or State of California will issue licenses or permits applied for by Vendor. 

Regarding Food Vendor County Health Dept. Permits:

ALL Food Truck or Food Concessions Vendors (prepared on-site, ready-to-eat) must provide us with a copy of their Monterey County Health Department’s Temporary Food Facility Permit (TFF) application, and a site plan for the Office of the State Fire Marshal, (we provide a form for your site plan, to be sent back to us for submission to the SFM). Those vendors selling wholesale or bulk pre-packaged foods, such as baked goods, olive oils, jarred pickles, and jams, may apply as a Commercial or Arts & Crafts vendor, but are also required to apply for the Monterey County Health Department’s Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Permit covering free samples. As proof of permit, include a copy of your completed Health Department TFF permit application with Festival Vendor registration. Upload COPIES of the TFF application, or permits only! Keep your original TFF application and other licenses with you; we will NOT be able to forward them to the City of Monterey or County Health Dept.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY AND DISEASE PREVENTION NOTICE: 

As a public event, the Artichoke Festival must comply with all CDPH and County Health Dept. safety guidelines at the time of the event is held. Head counts and space capacity will be closely monitored and state fire safety rules will be enforced. Vendors are not required to bring proof of fully completed COVID-19 Vaccination, or negative test results, however we highly encourage completed vaccination series. If you feel sick or are running a fever, please don’t come to the Festival. Face masks are not required, but recommended for those with compromised immunity, or very young or elder loved ones at home.

Final welcome packets with vendor booth location, entry tickets, set-up details, and parking info are provided during Vendor set-up at the Fairgrounds. Registration deadline is April 28, 2023. A $50 late registration fee will be applied to all Vendor applications received after this date. All Vendors must be approved by the Vendor Committee. Acceptance will be sent via preferred communication method chosen during ONLINE REGISTRATION process.

We are proud to support the Monterey County Fair & Event Center’s Sustainability Policy!

Food Waste Collection Program and Sustainability Policy: As of April 1, 2016 California legislation (AB1826) requires food waste be collected separately for “recycling.” The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival, in cooperation with the Monterey County Fair & Event Center and Blue Strike Environmental, is participating in this mandatory waste reduction and recycling policy for all exhibitors, vendors, and concessionaires. Vendors are expected to comply with AB1826, and separate food waste from recycling and trash. Information about acceptable materials and food waste recycling can be downloaded here, and will be provided to Vendors prior to the event. Education and training will be provided to food vendors before the start of the event.

FESTIVAL SET-UP and PARKING FOR VENDORS
(Please refer to the application contract for a complete list of regulations per your vending area.)

Set-Up: Logistics and deliveries on the grounds during set-up must be carefully orchestrated to avoid delays and traffic snarls. Food Vendors may set up their booths on Friday, June 9, 2023 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and be prepared for Fire Marshal inspection after 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Commercial, Arts & Crafts, and Nonprofit Vendors will be allowed to set-up on Friday June 9 between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday, June 10, 2023 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. All vehicles must be off festival grounds by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, 2023, and will not be allowed back on grounds until 5:30 p.m. or an all-clear signal is given on Sunday evening, June 11, 2023. Your booth is required to be staffed at all times during the festival’s regular hours of operation.

Parking: Space is extremely limited and Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc. cannot guarantee that free parking spaces will be available to vendors. Vendors are encouraged to arrive early on the days of the event in order to find free parking on Fairground Road. All other parking on the Fairgrounds during hours of operation will be for fee only. If Vendor must enter grounds with, and wishes to store a trailer or equipment hauler, please request a special entry/parking pass for this purpose from the Vendor Coordinator; spaces are limited. A small number of RV parking spaces may be available on the festival grounds, at the rate of $70.00 per night. For further information about RV space, please contact the Monterey County Fair & Event Center Administration Office well in advance at (831) 717-7167, or visit their website at www.montereycountyfair.com

Camping: Camping on festival grounds is absolutely prohibited. No ice chests (except those used in Food Vendor prep), will be allowed onto the festival grounds after the festival opens each day.

Lodging close to the fairgrounds.

Driving directions to the fair grounds.

2023 Arts and Crafts/Commercial Vendors

Business Name Artist/Contact Name Website/Home Town
3D Wire Art Richard Shaw vimeo.com/3DWireArt
Aloha Charms Thomas Sims www.alohacharms808.com
Aspire Health Plan Martha Tabarez www.aspirehealthplan.org
Bass Pro Shops Jacob Swertel Basspro.com
BBV Designs Carmen Bryant www.instagram.com/BBVDesigns
Beckies Boutique Nancy Gomez beckiesbowtique.com
Big Paw Olive Oil Cassie Mattos www.bigpawoliveoil.com
Cal Fire BEU Luis Perez www.facebook.com/CALFIREBEU
California Hats Company Mario Garcia www.californiahats.store
California Highway Patrol Jessica Madueño chp.ca.gov
Carol Long Jewelry Carol Long Salinas, CA
CCL Monterey County Mike Clancy citizensclimatelobby.org
Coastside Home Goods Sylvie-Marie Drescher www.coastsidehomegoods.com
Creations with Grace Graciela Aguirre www.instagram.com/creationswithgrace831
CS Creations Cynthia Saldana www.instagram.com/cs_creations.cynthia.saldana
CulturArts Brandon Soto culturarts.com
Cupcakes for College Olympia Neville www.instagram.com/cupcakesforcolleges
Cutco Cutlery Carlo Cipollina www.cutco.com
Diggs Publishing Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs ksdiggs.com
Dream Wolf Creations Yida Sanchez www.instagram.com/dream_wolf_creations
Ecology Action Sebastien Garbe evsforeveryone.org
El Colibri Maylin Marin www.instagram.com/roxyhummingbird
Fabys Creations Fabiola Salgado Fabyscreations.com
Four Seasons Gutter Filter William Sackett fourseasonsgutterfilter.com
Foustman’s Salami Justin Foust foustmans.com
G.B. Creations Jacqueline Gastelum g-b-creation.myshopify.com
Garden Art by Layla Layla Sandell gardenartbylayla.etsy.com
Grand Canyon University Ashely Grogan www.gcu.edu/c/ashley.grogan
Haute Pink Boutique Deborah Potter www.hautepink.shop
Highway One Station DK Tucker highwayonestation.com
Hummus Heaven Omen Hussein www.facebook.com/Hummus-Heaven-Monterey-county
Jerky Hut Tracy Hood www.jerkyhutjerky.com
Jerry Miller Jerry Miller www.facebook.com/HandCraftedByJerry
Just Cloudin’ Around Gina DeVecchio www.instagram.com/justcloudinaround
Kamikaze Fresno Hoa Tran www.kamikazefresno.com
Kitchen Craft Lesley Scott www.waterlesscookware.com
Knotty Pine Decor & Gifts Michael Escobedo Fresno, CA
La Obsession Juan Angel Canizal www.instagram.com/la_obsesion_canizal
LeafFilter North, LLC. Justin Lowry www.leaffilter.com
Madera’s Queen Honey LLC Luis Elizondo www.instagram.com/maderaqueenhoney
Mi Distinctive Tastes Denise Bartolomei distinctive-tastes.com
Morea Designs Morea Martin www.instagram.com/moreadesigns
Natures Tech Greg Sollecito www.aloemoistorganics.com
Noir Culture Tracey Antinori-Howard www.facebook.com/shopnoirculture
Oh Shirt and More LLC Jill Drexhage www.ohshirtandmore.com
Oleavanti LLC Carol Saade www.oleavanti.com
play.more.mama Erica Meldrum www.playmoremama.com
Simply Barbara’s Yard Art Barbara Bryan Twain Harte, CA
Small Kind Soaps Jonathan Forbes smallkindsoaps.com
So and Soap Jill Holdaway so-and-soap.square.site
Stonehenge Llamas Margaret Drew Vacaville, CA
Superior Sleep Experience Michele Bowman www.supsleep.com
Taddo’s Tallow Tamera Taddo taddostallow.com
The INDI Rose dba Moonstone oddities Celestina Sanchez www.facebook.com/theINDIRose2
Tibet Creations Ngudup Lama Monterey, CA
Trendy Handbags Jerry Perez Gustine, CA
Tupperware Michelle Reeder MichelleReeder.my.Tupperware.com
Viva la Revolution Marcial Ramirez vivalarevol.com
Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Aaron Demery www.facebook.com/yosemitenation

2023 Food Vendors

Business Name Owner/Contact Name Website/Home Town
Antojitos Raspados Del Sur Emma Garcia Santa Ana, CA
Blazin’ Bayou BBQ Johnny Byrd blazinbayoubbq.com
Fruit Rider Naomi Hernandez Ramirez www.instagram.com/fruitRiderCA
Frutas Frescas Barajas Juan Barajas www.instagram.com/barajasfreshfruits
HOT DOG TRUCK Toney Canty www.instagram.com/tandtskitchen
JALISCO Michelaguas y taquizas Adriana Lopez www.instagram.com/mytjalisco
La Papa Baked Potatoes Alexis Paredes www.instagram.com/lapapa.bakedpotatoes
Maktub Espresso Cafe Lupita Zuniga www.instagram.com/maktubespresso
NorCal Snowie Robbie Thedford Hollister, CA
Oli’s Cheesesteaks Alejandro Tuesta olischeesesteaks.com
Sierra Korn Enterprises Richard Allen www.facebook.com/people/Sierra-Kettle-korn
Spice It Up Catering Donald Rentfrow Seaside, CA

LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR ALL VENDORS: 

CHANGE IN POLICY — Liability insurance coverage is automatically provided to every arts & crafts, commercial, non-profit, and food concessions vendor by California Fair Services Authority (CFSA), so we won’t be asking for your proof of liability insurance (COI). Cost for this insurance coverage is rolled into the cost of booth space fees. We cannot prorate the booth fees for vendors who have their own liability insurance, as this coverage is mandated by the Monterey County Fairground’s.

**EXCEPTIONS: Vendors whose activities include hands-on work with attendees (such as face painting, massage, etc.), or the sale of liquor or CBD products, will not be covered under the CFSA group liability policy. Such vendors will be required to provide their own certificates of insurance (COIs) as proof of self coverage. These COI’s will need to list Monterey County Fair 7th DAA and Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc. as additionally insured. Detailed instructions for obtaining the correct COIs for your vendor activities at the Festival follow:

Vendor’s current policy of General Liability Insurance must not be expired, we need to have a Certificate incorporating the dates of inception and expiration of the insurance. The specific event dates must be listed, along with all set-up and tear down dates. This certificate must have the following exact wording in order to be valid: 

Certificate Holders:
                Monterey County Fair 7th DAA
                2004 Fairground Road
                Monterey, CA  93940

                Castroville Artichoke Festival, Inc.
                PO Box 1041
                Castroville, CA 95012

Under “Description of Operations/Locations/Special Provisions” please include:
“That the State of California, the California Fair Services Authority, the District Agricultural Association, County Fair, the County in which the County Fair is located, Lessor/ Sublessor if fair site is leased/subleased, Citrus Fruit Fair, California Exposition and State Fair, or Entities (public or non-profit) operating California designated agricultural fairs, their directors, officers, agents, servants, and employees are made additional insured, but only insofar as the operations under this contract are concerned.”
Minimum coverage must be $1,000,000.00

IMPORTANT Fire Safety Statement regarding Tents/Canopies:

(also found in Vendor Rules and Regulations, para 15) …In accordance with State Fire Marshal laws, all tent fabric or pliable canopy covers, side/back drops and decorative material must be inherently fire resistive and individually labeled as such; if not labeled as fire retardant, they must be treated with a State Fire Marshal (SFM) approved fire retardant chemical, (empty can and dated sales receipt may serve as proof.) Exit openings for enclosed spaces must be a minimum of 3 feet wide and 6 feet-8 inches high. A Class 2A-10BC fire extinguisher must be provided in any tent having a floor area between 500 sq. ft. and 1000 sq. ft.

Vendors cooking food must be separated by 10 feet. Cooking vendors must have a minimum 2A-10BC rated portable fire extinguisher visibly accessible, securely mounted away from cooking area, with current SFM service tag attached (service date within one year). No use or storage of portable containers of liquid propane gas (LPG) is allowed in tents. All cylinders of liquid propane gas (LPG) must be secured to prevent tipping or falling over. Wood barbecue cooking is prohibited inside of booths. Wood barbecue cooking shall be performed only in areas away from public access. Distances from wood barbecues to permanent structures or festival booths shall be at least 15 ft, as required by the SFM. Fuel wood shall not be stored inside of booths. A drawing of the food vendor’s booth layout (site plan) must be submitted to the Vendor Coordinator for review by the State Fire Marshal.

FOOD VENDOR’S SITE PLAN:

A form for submission of this site plan is available on the Vendor Application portal, or by clicking this link: Food Vendor’s Site Plan. Submit to your Food Vendor Coordinator at foodvendorartifest@gmail.com, or upload via the online application form UPLOADS page. Food Vendors should be prepared for any inspections by 1:00 PM the day before the start of the Festival.

ALL VENDORS should review these rules and regulations regarding Fire Safety at the Festival. All fire mitigation regulations are now mandatory at the Monterey County Fairgrounds; The SFM has jurisdiction over all event operations on the festival grounds, and may inspect vendor’s booths for safety compliance. This Fire Safety statement in it’s entirety can also be found on the Festival’s Vendor Application Form portal. (See links to Forms at the top of this page.)

More details about Office of the State Fire Marshal regulations regarding tents at events, including fire resistance certification labels, can be found HERE.

In 2018 the State of California implemented a new requirement for vendors who report revenues earned at an event on a state fair facility. The Division of Fairs & Expositions through CA Department of Food and Agriculture receives a small percentage of all of the funds reported. The 7th DAA/Monterey County Fair takes all revenues received from the State of CA (and the additional funds through CDTFA) and funnels it directly to capital improvements which in turn benefit all that utilize the fairgrounds.

As the funding that fair facilities receive annually continues to be reduced, it is important that we as event promoters, and our vendors report these revenues. Although this is not a new program, CDTFA is finding that vendors who do business on Fairgrounds do not fully understand how to correctly report their earnings. There is NO additional tax due, it’s just a different way of reporting gross revenues. The Artichoke Festival is not asking for any additional licenses or forms from our vendors beyond showing us a copy of their CA Seller’s Permit, as we have always required. We provide this information to our Vendors as a courtesy, and to help our fairgrounds continue to provide a beautiful and safe place for events and festivals into the future.

Find more details about this new reporting requirement on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) website guide at www.cdtfa.ca.gov/industry/state-fairgrounds.htm

All final details regarding day-of information and booth assignments will be provided at set-up. Questions can be emailed to artscrafts.artifest@gmail.com, or foodvendorartifest@gmail.com or call toll free 888-808-7707 (ext 2 for Food Vendors, or ext 3 for Arts & Crafts/Commercial Vendors).