CATERERS AND FOOD SERVICE PROVIDERS

Applications for the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival are now OPEN for qualified caterers to provide food service to patrons for the 2025 festival, scheduled for April 10 – 13, 2025. The MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival is produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., Downtown Fort Worth Rotary Club and Downtown Fort Worth Lions Club, Inc. An application must be on file by January 20, 2025 in order to be considered. If your application is accepted, you will receive a letter of notification, along with an agreement and information packet, by January 27, 2025.

Please complete the form below accurately, and incomplete applications will not be considered. All applications from prospective Caterers who have not participated previously in the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival must include images showing your entire operation.

General Information

Locations

26 caterer spaces are available in food courts located throughout the Festival

  • 200 block – On Main Street, featuring 2 new stages being activated on 1st Street with headliner entertainment, and also at Weatherford and Main Street with Squonk Opera, “Hand to Hand.”
  • 400 block – On 4th Street between Houston and Main Streets, across from the Plaza
  • 600 block – On 6th Street, west or east corners
  • 700 block – On 7th Street, west or east corners, featuring Locals Only stage on 7th towards Commerce
  • 850 block – On 8th Street, west side
  • 900 block – On Main Street, featuring headliner stage at 9th Street
  • Cart locations are available throughout the festival for ice cream, lemonade, etc.

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Sales Method

The festival operates on a credit card ONLY basis. Festival will provide Point of Sale machines (Clover). Any Caterer who accepts cash at any point during the festival will have their contract terminated immediately.

Food Service Participation Guidelines

Decisions for participation are based on the following guidelines

  1. Your particular space requirements;
  2. Aesthetic design and presentation;
  3. Menu variety. The festival continues to seek a well-rounded menu of eclectic food choices for our guests and we are always looking for more healthy and diverse culinary alternatives;
  4. Successful compliance with health regulations. It is the festival’s goal to exceed any and all health code specifications, thus providing our guests a quality food experience;
  5. References. The festival will check references of all new applicants;
  6. Cooperation with festival officials, policies, guidelines, and health department restrictions;
  7. All things being equal, the festival considers the Caterer’s history with this Festival in its decision making process.
  8. ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE SELECTION COMMITTEE ARE FINAL.

Clean Up Deposit

A $250 clean-up deposit per booth location must be paid by all accepted and approved food service operators in advance of the Festival. Checks will be deposited and must clear prior to the start of set-up. Refund will be made by DFWII corporate check and will be issued pending completion of an inspection and determination of the cleanliness of your location(s).

Festival Fees

The Festival operates on a guarantee against a percentage of gross sales. The guarantees are as follows for EACH LOCATION, payable in advance:

  1. Non-refundable Booth Fee Guarantee, per location: $1,000 (carts pay $750)
  2. Festival percentage is 45%, inclusive of sales taxes (if any).

Insurance

The Festival requires $1,000,000 of general liability and product liability insurance, as well as worker’s compensation coverage. Certificates for each must be on file prior to commencing operation.

Electric and Other Services

There is an additional charge of $150 for each additional, 50 AMP circuit over and above the one provided for your use.

Storage

Festival will do its best to secure donation of dry, refrigerated and/or freezer space storage based on demand in advance from Ben E. Keith. Absolutely no storage on these trucks will be allowed without advance reservation, which will be a part of the Caterer Participation Packet. Space in these trailers will be distributed on a first come, first served, basis, and will be based on 6’ x 8’ increments within the truck, at $100 per 6’ x 8’ space. Management of the space within these trailers will be the responsibility of a trailer manager, and their decisions will be final. Truck parking will be pre-assigned and reservations must be made in advance

Application

 

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