If you’re interested in taking part in Arts in the Park, read on for everything you’ll need to know about the event and what’s expected of our food vendors.
This year’s festival has passed, however, if you are interested in being a Food Vendor please reach out to our committee at artsinthepark@nvc.net or call 605-226-1557. Normal office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-4pm.
2025 Important Dates * Dates subject to change between now and January 15, 2025
- March 14, 2025 Application deadline
- April 4, 2025 Notifications of juror’s decisions
- June 13, 2025 Exhibitor load in, 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- June 14, 2025 Arts in the Park hours, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- June 15, 2025 Arts in the Park hours, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location
Melgaard Park in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Aberdeen. The festival is held rain or shine. To preserve the integrity and quality of the show, and out of consideration for fellow exhibitors, you may not take down your exhibit before the closing time. Failure to exhibit both days during festival hours will affect eligibility for future festivals.
Fees/Booth Description * Fees subject to change between now and January 15, 2025
The booth fee is $175 per space. Each space is approximately 12’ X 12’. PLEASE NOTE: ENTIRE food booths must fit within the 12’ X 12’ space. This MUST include wheels, hitches or anything else associated with your booth. Additional booth space may be rented at $175 per space. This fee is for space only and all materials for booths, including items necessary for display and sales of work must be provided by the exhibitor. An additional fee of $25 per space will be charged for any booths requiring electricity. Please specify on the application 110 volts or 220. A maximum of 50 amps is available. Canopies must be adaptable to hard-topped surfaces. In applying, you agree to be willing to adjust to the space assigned. View map.
There are no guarantees or promises regarding preference for space locations or the filling of any other kinds of requests. Vendors wishing to be adjacent to each other should request such booth assignments on their applications.
All fees are payable to Aberdeen Arts in the Park. If paying by check, it must be for full payment of fees and must accompany a completed and signed Arts in the Park Application Form. Post-dated checks and incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant. We will send you an e-mail notification that we have received your application. This notification does not mean you have been accepted – just that we have received your application. It will also let you know that your application is complete or if anything is missing.
Application and Jurying
Each applicant will be required to submit a completed and signed Arts in the Park Application Form on which a detailed description of the menu has been completed. We ask that you list all the items you plan to sell.
Although a photo of your booth is not required, it is encouraged. Also helpful for publicity is photos of any items you will be selling, sample menus, etc.
If you have not been a food vendor previously at Aberdeen’s Arts in the Park, along with your application please include a list of 3 shows (name, address, contact person) you have been in as references.
Certificate of Insurance
Each food vendor shall be required to carry liability insurance with a limit of $1,000,000 listing both Aberdeen Area Arts Council and City of Aberdeen as certificate holder and shall provide a copy of the Certificate of Insurance with your application. We understand that everyone has different renewal dates. If the certificate you send in with your application will expire before our event, it is your responsibility to send us a current certificate by June 1.
Set-Up
Set-up is not allowed before 1: 00 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025. Exhibitors who fail to comply with this rule will affect their eligibility for future festivals. Each exhibitor is responsible for their own display materials, including tables, chairs, canopies, backdrops, and especially rain and sun protection. The Aberdeen Area Arts Council and the City of Aberdeen will not be responsible for any loss or damage incurred at Arts in the Park either during the Festival hours or overnight.
Specific instructions regarding load-in and load-out procedures will be sent to those accepted in May.
Cancellations
If an exhibitor finds it necessary to cancel, the Aberdeen Area Arts Council must be notified immediately. Exhibitors may not transfer or sell their space. Failure to notify the Committee of cancellation will affect the exhibitor’s eligibility for future festivals.
The Arts in the Park booth fee is non-refundable. An exhibitor who finds it necessary to cancel due to medical reasons may submit a letter addressed to the committee explaining the reason. The committee will consider each request individually with no guarantees of a refund.
Sales Tax
You are required to collect sales tax and report that to the SD Department of Revenue within 30 days of the event. Forms from the state will be included in your registration packet. The SD Department of Revenue will be furnished a list of registered exhibitors and may attend the festival to check on exhibitors. If you have not paid your sales tax from a previous event, you will not be allowed to set up. If you have any questions regarding sales tax, please contact the SD Department of Revenue at (605) 626-2218.
Violations
Any violation of the Exhibitor Guidelines and Information, South Dakota Sales Tax Law or City of Aberdeen Ordinance, or a material misrepresentation on the application shall suffice for the sponsor to elect to immediately close down the exhibitor and/or deny the exhibitor the right to return to Arts in the Park in the future.
Questions
Please contact the Aberdeen Area Arts Council at (605) 226-1557 or e-mail at ArtsInThePark@nvc.net.
Thank you for your interest in Arts in the Park!