The Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce is the organizer of the event and reserves the right to refuse any vendor from participating in the festival. The Chamber of Commerce determines final placement of all vendors within the festival and reserves the right to move any vendor. We will hold spaces for 10 days to allow all vendors in good standing to renew. After the 10-day period, we cannot guarantee a space in the Unicoi County Apple Festival. By clicking below, you agree that you have read and understand the renewal process and agree to follow all festival rules and regulations.
Booth Spaces and Setup
Each booth is 15’ wide and 10’ deep. The number on the sidewalk represents the center of the booth.
- Main Avenue is reserved exclusively for handmade crafts, therefore merchandise bought for resale (except antiques and collectibles) will not be permitted. The only allowed exceptions are for local downtown merchants and festival sponsors.
- Vendors must furnish their own tents, display tables, skirting, chairs, shelving, extension cords, tents, etc.. Vendors requiring electricity must apply through the Chamber office and supply their own cords.
- All tents, tables, chairs, displays, signage, and activities must be contained within the vendors assigned space. Signs, tents, canopies or any other part or display may not extend over or onto the sidewalk.
- Booths may not be sublet or shared with another exhibitor or artist. The booth must contain the items listed on the attached application. You are not allowed to sell your booth to another vendor and/or organization, nor are you allowed to give your booth to another vendor and/or organization. If you cannot occupy your booth, the booth reverts back to the Chamber of Commerce.
- The festival is advertised until 8 p.m. To maintain the integrity of the festival, we require all vendors to maintain their booths until 8 p.m. both days. Failure to do so will forfeit a vendor’s right to a booth space for next year’s show.
- All vendors must collect and submit Tennessee State Sales Tax.
- No vehicles are allowed on the festival grounds during festival hours. Vendors bringing vehicles onto the festival grounds between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Friday or Saturday could face forfeiture of their space the following year and possible city fines and towing. Vendors not adhering to this rule will be asked to leave the Festival grounds and will forfeit his or her space.
- All vendors must staff their own booths. The Chamber cannot staff booths for food or restroom breaks
Returning Vendors and Vendor Renewals
Festival organizers recognize that more than 80% of vendors return the following year to the Unicoi County Apple Festival as a vendor. To ensure ease in the renewal process, organizers have established a renewal process for returning vendors.
- Any vendor in good standing may renew their currently occupied booth space for the following festival. Renewing vendors will be given first priority for placement in the vendor space.
- Renewing vendors must compete a new application and pay the associated booth fees to confirm their acceptance.
- Festival organizers hold all vendor booths for renewing vendors for a 10-day renewal period. After this time, organizers cannot guarantee booth placement or acceptance into the festival.
- Vendors renewing their festival participation but requesting to move to a different booth location for the following year, should renew their existing, current year booth. By renewing this current booth, vendors are guaranteed a space in the festival and will be given first option for moving to a new location. Renewing vendor requests will be granted before new vendors are accepted into the show.
- Renewing vendors requesting to move vendor locations should make their requests in writing either on the back of their vendor application or on an attached page. Verbal requests will not be granted.
- In the event that the request cannot be granted, festival organizers will refund the booth fees paid by the vendor.
Other Festival Rules and Regulations
- No jumping jacks or fireworks of any kind; Chinese throwing stars; blow dart guns; weapons or toys imitating weapons or like products are allowed within Festival grounds.
- Gas powered generators are strictly prohibited.
- Disruptive, rude or disrespectful behavior toward other vendors, volunteers, patrons or merchants will not be tolerated. Festival organizers reserve the right to remove or ban any person(s) who are not in compliance with the festival rules and regulations.
- Vendor cancellations made by July 31 are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made by vendors after August 1 may be eligible for a refund at the discretion of the Apple Festival Committee. No refunds will be given after September 1.
- The festival will be held rain or shine. No refunds will be given for inclement weather. Additionally, no refunds will be given for any natural disaster or acts of God, such as, but not limited to tornados, earthquakes, flooding or fires; civil or military disturbances, such as but not limited to acts of war or terrorism, riots, nuclear or natural catastrophe; health or welfare disasters, such as, but not limited to pandemic, epidemic or outbreak; or any other acts beyond the festival’s reasonable control that would require cancellation.
- NO ANIMALS (including pets) are allowed on the fairgrounds with the exception of identifiable service animals.
Additional Information
- Festival hours are 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday. Payment of your booth fees constitutes a contract to follow all festival rules and regulations. Any vendor not abiding by these rules set forth by the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce will forfeit their privilege to participate in the current and future shows.
- Festival organizers reserve the right to move vendors as needed.
- Information concerning setup for the 2026 festival will be mailed in mid-September.
Important Notice Regarding Vendor Booth Sales
In today’s social media–driven environment, fraudulent offers for vendor booth space have become increasingly common. Please be advised that the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce is the owner, official coordinator, and sole facilitator of the Unicoi County Apple Festival. All vendor spaces are sold directly through the Chamber of Commerce. No third-party individuals, organizations, or agencies are authorized to represent or sell booth spaces for this event.
Vendors are strongly cautioned to exercise due diligence when responding to solicitations and to disregard any offers for booth space that do not originate directly from the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will not be held responsible for any losses or damages incurred as a result of fraudulent transactions with unauthorized parties.
