Mission:

 

The mission of the North Carolina Whirligig Festival is to create a festival driven by the community to celebrate diversity through our heritage, arts, crafts and culture. It is a great source of local pride, with the entire community involved in celebrating Wilson and showcasing the Whirligigs, our State folk-art. 

Without sponsorships the festival would simply not be possible. The North Carolina Whirligig Festival has an array of opportunities to get your business or organization involved in the festivities.

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Let’s Talk Numbers: 

2005 Established
The Festival began as an effort by the Wilson Works Together community group to create a regional celebration

50,000 Estimated
People visit the Festival’s concerts, kids zone, events and Whirligigs

100+
Volunteers to coordinate, set up, execute and break down the two day festival

200+
Vendors and activities within five blocks of historic downtown Wilson

SEE ALL OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES BY VIEWING OUR SPONSORSHIP KIT [LINK KIT HERE]

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Important Dates:

September 30

All sponsorship payments and commitment forms must be received to be included in printed festival materials – including posters, schedules, signage and t-shirts

October 1

Sponsors wanting to have a booth space at the festival must submit their completed booth form. [link booth form]?

 

Vendors

 

Now Accepting Applications for Festival Vendor Spaces!

The North Carolina Whirligig Festival is always searching for new vendors that feature recycled and re-purposed materials. It is an excellent way to connect with more than 50,000 members of the greater Wilson community and is the perfect opportunity to sell art, crafts or food, recruit members and educate the community.

All applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. In order to support vendors, we avoid duplication and only accept approximately two vendors of similar products.

Application deadline is October 1, 2019. Applications received after the deadline will have a $25 late fee. (the sooner the better - don't wait - we have sold out every year!)

Applications due by Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Mail application and payment to:

NC Whirligig Festival 
PO Box 2124 
Wilson, NC 27894 

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NC Business Registration requirement: According to NC General Statue, passed in August 2013, a "person engaged in business in NC and selling tangible personal property at specialty markets, flea markets, fairs, festivals, sporting events, entertainment events, and other events and functions must register with the North Carolina Department of Revenue and is required to collect and remit sales and use tax unless a specific exemption applies to the product sold." In order to obtain a Certificate of Registration, a person must complete Form NC-BR, Business Registration Application for Income Tax Withholding, Sales and Use Tax available online from the department’s website: NC Dept of Revenue

Therefore, the festival has added space on the Vendor application for the Business Registration/Tax ID #. If you do not have your number at the time of application, simply write in "pending". The number can be added at a later date. We do not want to delay your festival application!

Vendor Insurance In addition, the NC statues require all vendors selling to the public, be covered by an insurance policy. For many home crafters, this may be covered by your home-owner’s policy. While the festival has event insurance to cover major incidents, the policy does not cover any vendors, vendor items, vendor belongings, vendor merchandise or vendor personnel.

2019 Booth Fees

• $150 Arts & Craft Vendor

• $100 Arts & Crafts "speedy" discount received by September 1, 2019

• $450 Food vendor

• $200 Beverage Sales only vendor

• $300 Specialty or Home Based Vendor

• $850 Commercial Vendor

• $500 Non-Profit Political Booth

• $250 Non-Profit Selling Food

• $100 Non-Profit Selling Crafts

• $100 Non-Profit Holding Any Type of Fundraiser

• $50 Non-Profit Display Only

• waived Military Display Booth

• waived Sponsor booth (donation must be attached)

• $50 Downtown Merchant (in festival zone)

• $150 Downtown Merchant (perimeter of festival zone)

• $150 Double size booth space (30’ wide x 12’ deep)

• $225 Triple size booth space (45’ wide x 12’ deep)

• Late Fee - Add a $25 late fee if received after application deadline.

• Note: $25 fee will be added for any returned checks

2019 Booth Applications

[link application pdf’s]

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PARTICIPATING VENDORS

Booth Information

The North Carolina Whirligig Festival an excellent way to connect with more than 50,000 members of the greater Wilson community. It is the perfect opportunity to sell art, crafts or food, recruit members and educate the community. Please read the following carefully to ensure a pleasant experience at our festival.

2019 Booth Fees

$150 Arts & Craft Vendor

$100 Arts & Crafts early bird discount received by September 1, 2019

$450 Food vendor

$200 Beverage Sales only vendor

$300 Specialty or Home Based Vendor

$850 Commercial Vendor

$500 Non-Profit Political Booth

$250 Non-Profit Selling Food

$100 Non-Profit Selling Crafts

$100 Non-Profit Holding Any Type Of fundraiser

$50 Non-Profit Display only

waived Military display booth

waived Sponsor booth (donation must be attached)

$50 Downtown Merchant (in festival zone)

$150 Downtown Merchant (perimeter of festival zone)

$150 Double size booth space (30’ wide x 12’ deep)

$225 Triple size booth space (45’ wide x 12’ deep)

Late Fee - Add a $25 late fee if received after application deadline

Note: $25 fee will be added for any returned checks

General Information about Festival Booths

This is an Arts & Crafts Festival. All Arts & Crafts items for sale must be handmade.

All types of community groups, including civic organizations, non-profits, schools, artisan, crafters, commercial and faith based organizations are encouraged to apply. However, only groups that support inclusive membership and support community building will be considered.

Once an organization is accepted, the name of the group is placed on the website for promotion. We ask all groups return the courtesy and also add our festival to their website and promotions.

Due to the size of the festival our main street and side streets are for our vendors. Booth assignments are made on main street first and side streets as needed.

Vendor confirmation packets will be available on-line the weekend prior to the festival. Vendors can download information, parking pass and booth assignments. Vendors without internet access can request a packet to be mailed.

Solicitation throughout the festival is not allowed. We ask that you refrain from any direct solicitation, donation buckets, crews wandering throughout the crowd selling items, raffle tickets, passing out handbills or brochures. All activity must be maintained within your assigned booth location. 

Sponsors contributing $1,000 and more will receive a complimentary Sponsor booth. Our Sponsors are allowed to promote items, that may or may not be handmade.

Vendor parking pass must be displayed in your vehicle window at all times, including set-up and tear-down.

A $25 fee will be charged for all returned checks.

Generators are typically not allowed, but if needed must not interfere with the music or interaction of other booths. Generators with a silencer are preferred. 

Please remember that three musical/performance stages are throughout the festival, thus music or sound at your booth must not conflict with a performance. We have 2 stages; some booths will be placed near stages.

Please be aware that load-in is very hectic. Volunteers will be available to help you unload your vehicles. Load in time does not include set up. Load in is strictly for unloading of supplies. Once materials are unloaded, your vehicle must be moved to the parking area. The same applies to break down. The load-in and break down schedule will be made available in the confirmation packet.

Load-in and break down traffic will be directed by Wilson Police Department and JROTC volunteers.

Breakdown at the end of the day begins at 5:00 p.m., no sooner. If you leave or break down sooner than 5 p.m. your application will not be considered for future festivals.

Insurance coverage – each participant, booth, vendor or entertainer is required to have their own insurance. Proof of insurance may be requested before the festival and must be present at your booth during the festival.

The total amount of the application fee is due at the time of application. Deposits or portions of fees will not be accepted.

Only registered booth participants will be permitted to conduct business during the Whirligig Festival

The North Carolina Whirligig Festival is held rain or shine.

Refunds will only be issued if the application is not accepted.

About the Booth Space

The booth space is just that - space on the street for your booth. The single space provided with fee is 12 feet deep x 12 feet wide. Double and Triple width spaces are available for additional fees.

Tables and Chairs are not provided by the North Carolina Whirligig Festival.

10 x 10 tents are allowed. 

Booth location requests will be considered for vendors that complete the SAVE MY BOOTH process, but cannot be guaranteed.

No Vendor may exceed the limits of their issued vendor spot. (Per Public Safety Regulations.)

Electricity is limited and only available if requested.

Vendors must provide their own extension cord, 300’ min. and power strips. Outlets may not be overloaded. 

No booth will be moved unless the booth space is substandard due to severe weather issues.

Please be aware that Arts & Crafts Vendors may be located next to Food Vendors. (Food Vendors may have smoke.)

All vendors are expected to participate in the festival for both day’s full schedule, this includes non-profits, sponsors, artisans and food vendors

Booth structures may remain in place on Saturday night, for Sunday usage. However, it is recommended all merchandise, products and items of worth are stored in a locked vehicle or trailer overnight. Wilson Police will patrol the area and traffic will not be allowed to pass thru the streets over night, but security cannot be provided for individual booths. 

Booths must be manned at all times. The festival is open Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 12 noon – 5 p.m. Vendors found leaving their booth unmanned, or not returning for a portion of the festival, will not be considered for future festivals. 

Due to a busy downtown, sidewalks must remain open and clear for patrons and busines owners. Vendors may not use sidewalks as storage. The North Carolina Whirligig Festival provides larger booth spaces than most street festivals to accommodate for storage needs and elbow room.

Reminders & Helpful Hints

Vendors are encouraged to load in/set up on Friday night, 7:30-10 pm. This gives vendors the chance to set up tents, tables, displays and all heavy equipment and supplies without rushing. Food Vendors that need inspection the next morning are required to set up on Friday night. Saturday morning set up will be 7-9 am. All vendors vehicles must clear the festival zone at 9 am. Preparations may continue until the start of the festival at 10 am.

Vendors are recommended to remove all valuable belongings at the end of Day 1. Minimal security of the festival area will be provided by local police. No guaranteed security can be promised. Belongings left in the festival area unattended are at owner’s risk. 

Do not pour grease, oil, soapy water or food debris on the ground, down storm water drains or in public trash containers. Each vendor is responsible for handling grease, oil, soapy water and food debris in the proper manner as described by the Health Department, and for removing it from the festival site at the end of the day. Vendor Tab

Illegal paraphernalia cannot be sold or displayed at the festival. 

Vendors are encouraged to bring garbage containers for work areas. City of Wilson workers will assist with paper disposal throughout the day.

Security for your merchandise, booth and property are your responsibility. Please be watchful. 

Vendors are responsible for the licenses and taxes related to their sales. 

November can be cool in the mornings and windy in the afternoon. We recommend bringing items to weigh down your tent, products, etc… and methods to protect from moisture. 

Space assignments, additional information, parking instructions and maps will be e-mailed to you or made available via the festival website on or about October 29th.

Check your email and the festival website often! This will be the main form of communication once your application is approved.

For the safety and protection, all pets must be leashed and restricted behind booth to minimize interaction with festival participants. 

This is a rain or shine event. Refunds will not be provided.

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