2027 Fall Festival Application are NOT AVAILABLE CURRENTLY!

We do not offer Civic and Non-Profit Applications. All Exhibitors will be classified as Craft and Food Vendors Moving Forward! 

2027 OCONEE CHAMBER FALL FESTIVAL

53rd Annual Fall Festival | Vendor Application, Rules & Regulations

Saturday, October 16, 2027 | 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Mandatory Vendor Setup: Friday, October 15, 2027

Updated October 28, 2026

Welcome to the 53rd Annual Oconee Chamber Fall Festival! We are excited to continue this beloved community tradition and look forward to welcoming another outstanding group of artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and food vendors.

Our goal is to provide an enjoyable, organized, and successful experience for vendors, attendees, local merchants, and volunteers. To accomplish this, all participating vendors are expected to carefully review and follow the festival's rules, regulations, and operational procedures.

PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATION BEFORE APPLYING. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance into the festival.

Additional Fees:

• Nonrefundable Application Fee: $35
• Non-Food Vendor Electricity: $15
• Waitlist Application Fee: $5
• Additional Late Waitlist Acceptance Fee (after August 1, 2027): $40

Booth Map Color Designations:

• Youth Entrepreneur: White
• Premium: Orange
• Standard: White
• Food Truck: Purple
• Sponsor: Yellow or Red

Preview the Festival Booth Map

Applicants should select the appropriate booth category when completing their application. Approved vendors will be assigned a booth corresponding to their approved category.

Food trucks or trailers exceeding 24 feet in total length must disclose their complete dimensions on the application. Additional space requirements must be approved before arrival.

Sponsor Booths: Commercial businesses interested in participating must contact Andrea Reese at areese@oconeechamber.org for sponsorship information and availability.

APPLICATION PROCESS & JURIED SELECTION

The Oconee Chamber Fall Festival is a juried event. Every application is reviewed by our selection committee to maintain a diverse, high-quality marketplace.

A $35 NONREFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE IS REQUIRED TO APPLY.

All applicants, including returning vendors, must submit a new application and current product photographs each year.

Applications are evaluated based on product quality, originality, presentation, category diversity, and available space.

Please understand:

• Applying does not guarantee acceptance.
• Returning vendors are not guaranteed acceptance or their previous booth locations.
• Vendor placement is determined by festival organizers.
• Vendors will not receive individual booth assignments before the festival.
• Applications must accurately represent the merchandise or services offered.
• Only merchandise approved through the application process may be sold.

The selection committee will begin reviewing applications according to the published 2027 review schedule. Applicants should allow approximately 4–6 weeks for consideration.

All applicants will receive acceptance or denial notifications by email. Waitlisted applicants may receive a final decision later in the selection process.

Please monitor the email address submitted with your application. All official festival correspondence will be sent to that address.

WAITLIST APPLICATIONS

Once available vendor spaces have been filled, applicants may be offered the opportunity to join the festival waitlist.

The waitlist application fee is $5 and is nonrefundable.

Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee acceptance.

Applicants selected from the waitlist will be responsible for the applicable remaining application fee and booth fee.

Vendors accepted from the waitlist after August 1, 2027, will also be charged an additional $40 late-acceptance fee.

All applicable fees must be paid by the deadline provided on the acceptance invoice.

ACCEPTANCE, INVOICING & PAYMENT

Approved applicants will receive an acceptance notification by email.

Invoices will be issued within seven days following acceptance confirmation.

Vendors must pay their invoice within 14 business days of the invoice date to secure their space.

Unpaid invoices will be canceled after the payment deadline, and the associated booth space may be offered to another applicant.

Acceptance alone does not reserve a booth. A vendor's space is secured only after all required payments have been received.

REFUND POLICY

ALL APPLICATION FEES ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

Once a vendor has been accepted into the festival, booth fees are nonrefundable.

This includes cancellations initiated by the vendor, inability to attend, failure to comply with mandatory setup requirements, and removal for violations of festival regulations.

Vendors with exceptional circumstances should contact the Chamber directly. Any exception is subject to Chamber review and approval.

MANDATORY FRIDAY SETUP — NO EXCEPTIONS

ALL VENDORS MUST CHECK IN AND SET UP ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2027.

This is a mandatory condition of participation in the Oconee Chamber Fall Festival.

Approximately one month before the event, approved vendors will receive instructions for selecting their assigned Friday setup time.

All vendors must:

1. Report to the designated Chamber check-in location.
2. Arrive during their assigned setup window.
3. Follow their designated loading and unloading instructions.
4. Complete their booth setup on Friday.
5. Remove vehicles and equipment from restricted areas as directed.

Saturday morning setup is NOT permitted. Vendors who cannot comply with Friday setup requirements will not be allowed to participate. No exceptions will be made.

Food vendors will receive separate instructions regarding Saturday morning delivery of perishable items.

BOOTH SPACES, TENTS & DISPLAYS

All vendor spaces are marked according to their designated dimensions.

Vendors may apply for multiple spaces when additional room is needed. Multiple spaces must be approved and paid for in advance.

All merchandise, displays, equipment, and personal belongings must remain within the vendor's assigned space.

Tent Safety Requirements:

• Every tent must be properly secured with adequate weights or approved anchoring.
• Vendors are encouraged to lower their tents on Friday evening when possible.
• Vendors are responsible for protecting their tents and merchandise against changing weather conditions.
• No booth may obstruct sidewalks, walkways, emergency access, or neighboring vendor spaces.
• Vendors are responsible for bringing all necessary tables, chairs, tents, carts, and setup equipment.

Vendors located on the ball field will not be permitted to drive directly to their assigned spaces.

All vendors must use their designated loading and unloading zones.

ELECTRICITY & GENERATORS

A limited number of non-food vendor spaces offer access to electricity for an additional $15 fee.

Electrical access must be requested and purchased during the application process.

Each approved electrical connection provides access to two 15-amp receptacles, which may be located up to 200 feet from the assigned booth.

Vendors must supply their own properly rated extension cords and appropriate cord coverings to prevent tripping hazards.

Electrical outlets must not be overloaded. Festival staff may disconnect any electrical equipment creating an unsafe condition.

Food vendors must provide their own electricity.

Generators must be approved in advance by festival organizers. Approved generators must operate at a noise level that does not unreasonably disturb neighboring vendors or festival activities.

UNAPPROVED GENERATORS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED ON ROCKET FIELD.

FOOD TRUCK & FOOD TRAILER REQUIREMENTS

ALL FOOD VENDORS MUST BE SELF-CONTAINED.

Only approved food trucks and food trailers will be accepted.

NO TENT-BASED FOOD VENDORS WILL BE PERMITTED.

Food vendors must:

• Operate from an approved self-contained food truck or trailer.
• Provide their own electricity and approved generator.
• Disclose complete vehicle and trailer dimensions before acceptance.
• Maintain all required health permits, licenses, and food-service approvals.
• Follow all applicable food safety and fire regulations.
• Keep their assigned spaces clean throughout the festival.
• Properly contain and dispose of grease, wastewater, trash, and food waste.
• Register for an assigned Saturday morning perishable-food delivery window.
• Follow all designated food vendor loading and unloading instructions.

Food vendors are responsible for removing all waste generated by their operations. Dumping grease, wastewater, or other waste on festival property is strictly prohibited.

A refundable $200 cleaning deposit may be required when specifically identified in the vendor's acceptance terms. Any required deposit will be returned following a satisfactory post-event inspection, subject to the published deposit conditions.

Failure to clean the assigned space or improper disposal of waste may result in forfeiture of the deposit and additional action where permitted.

VENDOR PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

THERE IS NO GENERAL ONSITE VENDOR PARKING AT THE FESTIVAL.

Vendors will receive assigned offsite parking and trailer-storage instructions at check-in.

Designated vendor parking is approximately 0.3 miles from the Rocket Field festival area.

Vendors are responsible for planning their transportation, staffing, equipment, and merchandise movement between designated parking and festival locations.

The Chamber does not provide transportation or shuttle services between vendor parking areas and the festival.

Festival volunteers are not guaranteed to assist with unloading, transporting, or loading merchandise.

Vendors requiring disability-related access arrangements or reasonable accommodations should contact the Chamber in advance so available options can be reviewed.

All vendors must follow assigned parking, loading, unloading, and traffic-control instructions.

FESTIVAL-DAY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

NO UNAUTHORIZED VEHICLE TRAFFIC IS PERMITTED THROUGH THE FESTIVAL AREA BETWEEN 7:00 AM AND 4:30 PM ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2027.

This restriction will be strictly enforced.

Vendors must remain open and operational during official festival hours of 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Early breakdown is not permitted without authorization from festival management.

Vehicles may not enter restricted areas until event personnel have reopened the designated loading zones.

SALES TAX & BUSINESS LICENSING

Vendors are responsible for collecting, reporting, and remitting all applicable Georgia state and local sales taxes.

Applicable tax requirements and instructions will be communicated to vendors as part of the festival information.

Vendors will receive applicable tax information and City of Watkinsville one-day business license documentation during Friday check-in, as arranged by festival organizers.

Each vendor remains responsible for complying with all applicable tax and licensing requirements.

ADDITIONAL FESTIVAL RULES & REGULATIONS

1. Vendor Conduct

All vendors must treat festival staff, volunteers, neighboring vendors, local merchants, and attendees with courtesy and respect.

Threatening, abusive, disruptive, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated.

2. Approved Merchandise

Vendors may display or sell only merchandise approved through their application.

3. Commercial Businesses

Commercial businesses may participate only through approved festival sponsorship opportunities.

4. Direct Sales

Direct-sale and multilevel-marketing companies are not permitted to participate as regular vendors.

5. Solicitation & Campaigning

Unauthorized solicitation, campaigning, petitioning, and fundraising within festival-controlled areas are prohibited, subject to applicable law and designated public-access rights.

6. Advertising & Donations

Vendors may not distribute promotional materials or request donations outside their assigned booth spaces without prior approval.

7. Sound Equipment

Megaphones, loudspeakers, and other sound-amplifying devices are prohibited unless specifically authorized by festival management.

8. Wi-Fi & Payment Processing

The festival does not provide public Wi-Fi or secure internet connections for vendor payment processing.

Vendors must arrange their own mobile hotspots, cellular connections, and credit card processing services.

9. Animals

Animals and pets are not permitted within designated festival areas, except service animals as required by applicable law.

10. Cleanliness

Vendors must keep their booths and surrounding areas clean and free from trash, debris, and obstructions.

11. Personal Property

Vendors are responsible for securing their merchandise, displays, equipment, and personal belongings.

12. Overnight Security

The Chamber arranges overnight security patrols on Friday evening. However, security patrols do not guarantee protection against theft, loss, vandalism, or weather-related damage.

Vendors leave merchandise and equipment overnight at their own risk.

13. Volunteer Assistance

Festival volunteers generously contribute their time to support the event. They are not required to load, unload, transport, or set up vendor merchandise.

Any assistance offered is voluntary and cannot be guaranteed.

14. Compliance With Instructions

Vendors must follow all official festival communications, parking maps, loading procedures, safety requirements, and directions issued by authorized event personnel.

15. Violations & Removal

Festival management reserves the right to remove vendors who violate festival policies, create safety concerns, or engage in serious or repeated disruptive behavior.

Violations may also affect eligibility for future festivals.

A FINAL WORD TO OUR VENDORS

The Oconee Chamber Fall Festival is made possible through months of planning and the dedication of Chamber staff, community partners, local merchants, and volunteers.

Our rules and procedures are not intended to make participation difficult. They exist to create a safe, organized, and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

We understand that participating in a festival requires significant time, preparation, and investment. In return, we ask each vendor to arrive prepared, respect the event's operational requirements, and extend the same courtesy to volunteers and fellow participants that they would expect for themselves.

Thank you for helping us make the 53rd Annual Oconee Chamber Fall Festival another successful celebration of our community!

VENDOR AGREEMENT & ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By submitting this application, I acknowledge and agree that:

• I have read and understand the 2027 Oconee Chamber Fall Festival Rules and Regulations.
• I understand that application fees are nonrefundable and acceptance is not guaranteed.
• I understand that booth assignments are determined by festival management.
• I understand that Friday, October 15, 2027, setup is mandatory and that failure to comply will result in forfeiture of participation.
• I agree to follow all parking, loading, unloading, electrical, safety, and festival operating requirements.
• I understand that I am responsible for my merchandise, equipment, personnel, and required permits.
• I understand that failure to comply with festival policies may result in removal from the event or ineligibility for future participation.

Oconee County Chamber of Commerce

Vendor Questions & Sponsorship Inquiries: Andrea Reese | areese@oconeechamber.org

2027 Fall Festival Application are NOT AVAILABLE CURRENTLY!