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Festival Application

THE NEXT FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD ON OCTOBER 28, 2023

The Sausage Festival is a bi-annual event that is coordinated by, and benefits Elberta's Volunteer Fire Department, began in 1976. The proceeds benefit the fire department and other non-profit organizations that participate in the festival. Our event is always held on the last Saturdays of March and October.

Although the recipe has changed somewhat over the years, the original secret recipe for Elberta's famous sausage is credited to Alfred Stucki who managed Elberta's Locker Plant from 1953 until his death in 1973.

We usually sell approximately 6,000 pounds of Elberta German Sausage each festival, and attract an estimated 15,000 visitors to each festival. All booth spaces are 10'x10'. Regular spaces are $100 each, and spaces requiring electrical are $110. If you want to purchase multiple spaces, it is advised that you submit your application early; don't wait until the last minute! The later it gets, the harder it is to group multiple spaces together. If you still have any questions, you can contact us by e-mail at festival@elbertafire.com.

Vendor Application

READ THIS SECTION IN ITS ENTIRETY. SUBMISSION OF YOUR APPLICATION CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS.

If you are a member of a non-profit organization in the Elberta area and you would like a free non-profit booth space, or if your business would like to become a sponsor of the Elberta German Sausage Festival, please visit our non-profit application here.

When you have purchased a booth space, you will first receive a confirmation email stating that we have received your application. You will not receive a receipt/acceptance confirmation until your application has been processed. Once the application is processed, you will receive the receipt/acceptance confirmation at the email address you have listed on your online account with us. We ask that you please add the e-mail address festival@elbertafire.com to your address books to prevent spam filters from catching your receipt. Activating or signing up for an account alone does not register you for the festival. After you sign up for an account, you will need to return to the application, login, and purchase your booth(s). The application on our site must be completed, and your payment must be submitted with the application. We will not accept applications for food/beverage vendors. Do not submit the application requesting to register for the next festival; this application is for October 28, 2023 only!

Vendors that attend the October festival have until January 1st to submit their applications to be guaranteed the same booth space(s). Vendors that attend the March festival have until June 1st to submit their applications to be guaranteed the same booth space(s). If you submit your application after January 1st for the March festival or after June 1st for the October festival, it is not guaranteed that you will have the same space as before. If you are a return vendor and would like to move to a different space than you had, please let us know and we will make every attempt to honor your request, however, cannot guarantee you that will will be able to give you what you are asking for. If you are a return vendor and submit you application for additional spaces and/or a different type of space than you previously had, you will not be guaranteed to be placed in the same area as where you were.

The festival will be held from 8am-5pm. Booth spaces are 10'x10'. We do not provide tents or tables; we only provide a space for your to setup. We cannot guarantee that exact or similar items will not be sold in proximity to your booth.

All vehicles must be outside of the event barricades by 8am the day of the festival. Any vehicles still inside the event perimeter after 8am (anywhere inside of barricades, chains, gates, etc) will be towed at owner's expense. Any vehicle parked in front of/in the immediate area of barricades, chain gates, and/or driveways will also be towed. Handicap parking is reserved around the police department and the Municipal Complex across from the Town Park. If you are parked in a handicap area without proper legal designation on your vehicle, it will be towed at owner's expense. Vehicles are not allowed back into the event  perimeter until 5pm. No parking is allowed at Town Hall or on Town of Elberta property unless the vehicle has proper legal designation for handicap parking, or otherwise arranged with the Town.

Vendors are not allowed to sell or display items from vehicles during the festival. Any employee or person assisting a vendor at the event must follow the same rules as the person responsible for the booth space.

We are not responsible for any injuries, theft, accidents, or weather events.

You are responsible for collecting sales tax at 11%. All applicable State of Alabama and Baldwin County business and/or vendor licenses must be acquired prior to the festival. If you already have a valid Baldwin County business license, you will also need a transient vendor license to operate at the festival. If your tax account with the county is delinquent, you will not be allowed to check in until it is made current, and your booth space fee will not be refunded. For more information regarding licensing, please call (251) 990-4633, or e-mail salesandusetax@baldwincountyal.gov. Failure to obtain proper business license sections may result in citations from the Baldwin County License Enforcement Department. We also reserve the right to not allow your business to operate at the festival if you have not acquired the proper licenses.

We reserve the right, at our discretion, to deny participation for any reason. There are absolutely NO REFUNDS unless you are expelled from the Festival. If you have any other questions you may call, or e-mail festival@elbertafire.com for a faster response. We expect all vendors to abide by the terms listed in this application. Failure will result in expulsion from the event. We reserve the right to make administrative changes to booth space assignments at our discretion. 

Please do not contact Elberta Town Hall regarding your application; they do not handle the applications, and cannot give you any information regarding status.

While some companies such as Essential Oils, Scentsy, Color Street, Paparazzi, etc. may have rules that only one of their vendors may attend an event, we do not enforce the rules of any 3rd party. 

Vendor check-in is at the gazebo with the blue metal roof in the southwest corner of the park. All vendors MUST check in with the check in station before setting up or unloading product. Vendors will receive their booth space numbers when they check in. Failure to check in by 7AM the day of the event will result in forfeiture of your booth space(s); you will not be checked in before or after those times.

Vendor Check-In Times

Friday: 3PM-6PM

Saturday: 5AM-7AM

  • NO FOOD/BEVERAGE SALES
  • NO "OFFICIAL" OR "UNOFFICIAL" SAUSAGE FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE
  • NO GENERATORS
  • NO SELLING FROM A TRAILER/VEHICLE
  • NO PETS
  • NO CBD TYPE PRODUCTS
  • NO FLEA MARKET/GARAGE SALE TYPE ITEMS/SETUPS
  • ALL ITEMS MUST BE KEPT IN THE 10' x 10' BOOTH SPACE
  • NO OFFENSIVE MATERIAL OR OFFENSIVE NOVELTIES, OR OTHER ITEMS THAT WOULD BE IMPROPER FOR A FAMIY ATMOSPHERE
  • NO AIRSOFT GUNS OR OTHER ITEMS THAT SHOOT PROJECTILES THAT COULD INJURE OTHERS, OR BE CONSTRUED AS HARMFUL WEAPONS

WE WILL NOT ACCEPT NEW FOOD/BEVERAGE VENDOR APPLICATIONS

If you do not have an existing account on our site, please click here to create one.

If you have an existing account, click here to login.

To proceed and purchase your booth space(s), click here. The process of purchasing your booth space completes the application process - there is no separate form or anything else you must do to submit your application. When you submit your application, you will receive an automatic e-mail stating the application has been submitted. Once it is processed and accepted, you will receive another e-mail with a confirmation attached as a PDF document.

If you have an account, but cannot remember your password, click here to reset the password. You must create an account and be logged in before you can purchase booth spaces.  

Festival FAQ

When is the festival?
The festival is a one day event that is held twice a year, ALWAYS the last Saturday in March & October.

Where is the festival located?
The festival is located in the town park, at the intersection of Main St. and State St. (Co Rd 83 and US Hwy 98). The park is located directly across from Town Hall. If you are using a GPS, use the address 13052 Main St., Elberta, AL, 36530.

What are the times for the festival?
The festival is held from 8am – 5pm. Vendors will not be allowed to bring vehicles into the park until 5pm, unless otherwise allowed by event staff. Vendors cannot sell or display from a vehicle during the festival.

Are pets allowed at the festival?
Unfortunately, only service animals as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act are allowed inside of the event. Those who bring pets or animals that do not meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act will be asked to remove the animal.

What is the cost for a space?
Non-electrical is $100 and electrical is $110.

How many spaces am I allowed?
You can purchase as many as you need, but as the festival date nears, spaces may be limited. The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes to give you multiple spaces, and spaces next to each other.

What is the size of a booth space?
Spaces are 10’x10'. Tables, tents, etc are not provided. We only provide a 10'x10' space.

Do vendors have to check in?
Yes. Check in is at the gazebo with the blue metal roof in the park. Vendors must check in on Friday 3PM-6PM, or on Saturday 5AM-7AM.

How long do vendors have to setup?
You may start setting up at anytime after you have checked in, and you may setup however long as you like, as long as you have completed setup by 8AM on the day of the festival. All vendors must be checked in and setup by 8AM on Saturday. All vendor vehicles must be out of the park by 8AM the day of the festival. Vehicles are not allowed back into the park until 5PM.

What items are not allowed for sale?
No flea market/garage/yard sale items, air soft guns, stun guns, or other items that can injure others are allowed. Adult novelties/items, or other items that could be construed as offensive in a family setting, or harmful to others are also prohibited. CBD products are also not allowed. If you think there may be an issue with selling it, you probably shouldn't try to sell it. We perform random booth checks throughout the day to ensure those types of items are not being sold. Event staff will have final discretion of what items may be inappropriate.

Where is handicap parking located?
Handicap parking is reserved around the Police Department and the Municipal Complex across from the Town Park. If you park in the handicap zones and you do not have a handicap tag or placard on your vehicle, it will be towed at your expense. Your trailers will also be towed if you park them in this area.

Where are vendors allowed to park?
Parking is located anywhere outside the park as long as no roads/driveways are blocked, with the exception of any handicap parking and/or private property. All traffic laws apply. All vendor vehicles must be outside of the park during the festival or they may be subject to tow. The park area is defined as any area inside of our park rules signes, barricades, gates, and/or chains. No parking is allowed at Town Hall or on Town of Elberta property unless otherwise arranged with the Town.

Do you provide wireless internet access?
Free wireless internet is provided for the purpose of credit card transactions and social media posts. We do not guarantee speed or coverage of the wireless internet.

Is there security provided?
Elberta Police has additional officers working during the festival weekend, however, there is no security dedicated to the event overnight. If you choose to setup your items on Friday and leave them overnight, we are not responsible for any theft or damage to the items.

Am I responsible for collecting sales tax?
Yes. Sales tax in Elberta is 11%. This covers all applicable taxes. You will receive a tax packet upon check-in that will explain how to pay your tax payment.

I was a vendor at the festival. How do I keep my same space for future festivals?
Vendors that attend the October festival have until January 1st to submit their applications to be guaranteed the same booth space(s). Vendors that attend the March festival have until June 1st to submit their applications to be guaranteed the same booth space(s). If you submit your application after January 1st for the March festival or after June 1st for the October festival, it is not guaranteed that you will have the same space as before. If you are a return vendor and would like to move to a different space than you had, please let us know and we will make every attempt to honor your request, however, cannot guarantee you that will will be able to give you what you are asking for.

My business is setup on/in my vehicle/trailer. Can I sell from it at the festival?
No. Vehicles are not allowed inside of the park after vendor setup; this also includes trailers. You will need to make arrangements to sell your items from your booth space itself. Only approved food vendors are allowed to sell from their vehicles/trailers.

What are my camping, RV, or lodging options?
While you cannot camp or park an RV on the festival grounds, there are camping options nearby. Click here for a complete list of member campgrounds and accommodations.