2008 Renaissance Faire Food Merchant Form

A Community Celebration of Art, Science, History and Literature by

The Village Library of Wrightstown 727 Penns Park Road Wrightstown PA 18940 215-348-6491

Greetings,

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Village Renaissance Faire. We cordially invite you to join the festivities September 15th & 16th at the Village Renaissance Faire! This ever-increasingly popular event will be held on the Middletown Grange Fairgrounds located at 576 Penns park Road, Wrightstown, PA, 18940, in the heart of Bucks County, just minutes from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and major arteries. The opportunities are grand with modest merchanting fees, low gate fees of $5.00, and enthusiastic and diverse buying audience of seasoned re-enactors from Markland and the SCA, Rennies, and local families.

This highly anticipated event has gained a reputation as a legitimate Renaissance Faire with crowds ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 annually depending on the weather. So, come help us celebrate the colorful culture of our village at festival time by joining skilled artisans who sell and demonstrate time-honored arts and crafts, such as weaving, blacksmithing, leatherworking, pottery, woodcarving, jewelry, and clothing as visitors stroll the pathways enjoying mouth-watering turkey legs and other savory food.

Attendees find themselves staying all day to enjoy and explore our seven theatres of continuous revelry -- a medley including gypsy dancing, Celtic music, Celtic song, Celtic dance, juggling, puppetry, Commedia dell’ arte, and acting troupes. Crowds cheer as knights battle for the hands of fair maidens, archers challenge their opponents, and actors portray live human chess. Children enjoy the exhilaration of interactive Kids’ Kingdom where hours quickly pass with activities every half-hour including story times, marionettes, and puppetry. There are also ongoing children’s games, contests, and free craft activities.

We respect you as a vital component of the festivities and we undergo significant steps to make sure that we have legitimate, authentic, and varied merchants and crafters. To ensure our authenticity and variety we offer incentives for early reservations, returning participants, and proof of membership with host partners as well as referral reimbursements.

The Faire's marketing campaign incorporates significant coverage by local media, advertising, in persona distributions at community events through-out the summer, distributions by participants at other faires, and flyers at our local business sponsors, libraries, and schools. We make a concerted effort to keep the admission price nominal so that you have an enthusiastic and buying audience.

We invite you to participate in the Village Renaissance Faire this September and join our growing family. Although we are entirely a charity faire, we have earned a reputation as oen of the best weekend faires around. If you participate once, we are confident you will know why. Please feel free to contact me directly, visiting www.villagefaire.org or emailing [email protected].

Cordially,

Kenneth B. Hone, Faire Director Rules and Regulations for the Faire

1. Despite its success, authenticity and longevity, many find it hard to believe this is purely a volunteer charity faire and not a commercial enterprise. Please remember our mission and we are all volunteers when interacting with us and leaving the grounds, as a boy scout would say, better than you found it—Leave no trace behind.

2. Space is available on first come, first served basis and will be determined by the postmark on the application. No refunds. Availability may be limited. Special reductions are available for advance reservations.

3. All persons manning a booth are expected to be in period attire at all time during the faire as it enhances the flavor of the Faire and to act in character, even if it is just to say “God Save the Queen,” Huzzah”, or the like. A meeting will be held by 10:30 each morning to update participants on the event. Assistance is available to develop affordable period dress.

4. All Vendors are asked to decorate their booth area as much as possible with period appropriate materials. The vendors must supply and set up their own tables, display, and shelter. If you do not have period attire or decorations they are available at a nominal charge from the faire.

5. All merchandise must be Medieval, Renaissance, or Fine Arts related. Toys, plants, farm goods, craft, and hand-made items are also acceptable. Toy resellers and toys are a high priority item and must be specially approved. No flea market type, non-theme related items allowed. Any wares or services deemed inappropriate by the Faire Director must be removed if asked by the Faire Director or you will forfeit your space and all fees.

6. There is per 12 ft. X 12 ft. space with guy wires included. Discounted rates available to participating groups and performers upon satisfaction of the Library Faire Committee. SCA, Pennsic Merchants, Markland, Crafters, Guild Members, and other education and reenactment organizations may qualify for a reduced fee.

7. There is a $15.00 early booking reduction fee per space and referral fees with be given for newly accepted and paid merchants and crafters.

8. ALL merchants selling weapons, or other controlled items, MUST be insured and licensed within the state! All weapons can only be sold to adults and the boxes must be taped at the time of sale. Any violations will result in immediate dismissal from the grounds without refund.

9. The Village Library of Wrightstown reserves the right to refuse participation to anyone not in compliance with the regulations of the Faire, the right to have you prohibit, curtail, or limit the sale of any items that do not have prior approval or fail to conform with Faire Director’s expectations of the wares described. The Library and Faire Director have the right to expel any vendor in violation of the Faire and Merchant rules. There are no refunds of the fee due to weather conditions or violation of the regulations.

10. All merchants are personally responsible for any and all tax and insurance obligations.

11. Merchants may set up after 5:00 p.m. Friday, the day before the faire. Special arrangements may be made with advance notice or request.

12. All vehicles must be off site each operating day by 10:00 a.m. until the close of the Faire each day. Any merchant arriving after the designated time will be permitted to bring their wares to their site on foot.

13. Overnight camping is permitted in the designated area with advance registration. An overnight camping pass must be obtained and displayed on the front windshield. Electricity and water will not be available in this area

14. All merchants must be off site by 9:00 p.m. Sunday. If you need to stay over Sunday night, please advise Faire Director at time of your application.

15. All merchants must make sure their space is clean of trash and debris before leaving. There will be plenty of trash cans and a dumpster for your use. ALL merchant trash must be personally placed in a dumpster. DO NOT stuff the trash cans for our volunteers. DO NOT overfill the dumpster, there should be plenty of them within feet of eachother.

16. Merchants agree to indemnify fully and hold harmless the Village Library of Wrightstown, the Middletown Grange Fairgrounds, their employees, volunteers, organizers, and agents against all damage, claims, liabilities and causes of action of every kind and nature. Merchants further agree to waive and release the above from any claims for damages or loss of personal property sustained by the merchant or any other person claiming through the merchant resulting from fire, accident, occurrence, theft, or condition of the grounds or surrounding areas.

17. The event will occur rain or shine. If weather is truly inclement, there are several fully enclosed pole barns on site that can be used for vendors and performances. Any questions can be directed to Ken Hone (work 215-348-6491 or cell phone 267-304-8060), or email [email protected].

The Library Faire Committee reserves the right to make final interpretation of the rules. Please read carefully the indemnification/waiver of claims on the application. RENAISSANCE FAIRE MERCHANT/CRAFTER FORM-2012

Organization Name /contact Address Phone______Cell______E-Mail Website: How did you hear about our Faire 1. Do your phone, email address, or street address on our website? 2. Will you provide a link to www.villagefaire.org, on your website? 3. List other events in which you have participated

4. Photos are enclosed 5. Describe the type of items that you will offer for sale at the Faire

6. Please advise if selling toys as this is a priority item and (requires special permission) 7. Describe what demonstrations or performances, if any, you will be performing at the Faire, on the fairways, or at your site 8. Describe any special needs 9. Is a free camping site being requested 10. Period Pavilions receive preferential placement. Please indicate if you have a period pavilion, describe, and if possible submit pictures. 11. I realize that this is a charity faire and I would like to donate an item for a faire raffle: I have read, agree and will comply with all Rules of the Faire and Rules of Merchants, as well as the indemnification and waiver rules I understand there may be food and fire marshall inspections. I will comply with all rules and failures are exclusively the merchants responsibility (no refunds). Fees are $115 per 12by 12 ft space including ropes if paid by June 1st. There is a $15.00 reduction for reservations by May 1st (i.e. $100) After June 1st, fees are $130 per 12x12 space. The Faire committee reserves the right to limit the number of participating merchants for any class of goods. If it is NOT listed and APPROVED, you may NOT sell it. No refunds. PLEASE SEE FAIRE RULES Number of Spaces_____ Number of Shirt coverings ($20 each) Toy reseller -surcharge Amount enclosed______Check/Money order # Signature______Make checks payable to and return completed forms and / or checks to: Village Library of Wrightstown 727 Penns Park Road Wrightstown, PA 18940 Direct any inquiries to the Village Library, Kenneth Hone, 215-348-6491 (daytime) or 215-267-304-8060, [email protected], or www.villagefaire.org. The Village Library has the right to refuse any group, individual or product deemed inappropriate and will not be responsible for loss, damage or injury to participants or merchandise.