Food Vendor

Application

EVENT

Union Street Festival features some of the top local food vendors June 1st (Saturday) 11am to 7pm and June 2nd (Sunday) 10am to 6pm

REGISTRATION

Acceptance is made through a juried process, and there is no guarantee of a spot within the event. There are limited spaces for the event, and food will be critiqued based on quality and uniqueness to provide a wide variety to the event.

Food Vendors are required to carry their own insurance, fill out the necessary San Francisco health department forms and must be self contained. There is no power available on site and if you need power you must be able to provide your own quiet generator to supply your needs.

For more questions please refer to the FAQ’s below.

Applications Open Soon

Food Vendor Application

Food Vendor FAQ

About the Event

When and where is Union Street Festival?

Union Street Festival takes place June 1-2, 2024 • 11am to 7pm (Saturday), 10am to 6pm (Sunday) in the historic Cow Hollow District in San Francisco. Located on Union Street between Fillmore Street and Octavia Street.

What is the expected attendance and demographics of the event?

The expected attendance of the 2024 Union Street Festival is 75,000 people throughout the course of the weekend. Given the nature of the area the historic Cow Hollow district offers a great opportunity to market your brand to a higher than average household income at $270,000 and a wide range of ages. The median age is 33 years old and 54% are female.

What are the COVID-19 protocols?

We want to ensure the safety of our guests and vendors and take sanitation and health very seriously. We recommend that attendees, and vendors use proper hygiene and ensure they are washing their hands properly, using sanitation ointments like denatured alcohol when handling items between clients shopping in your booth. We encourage keeping a safe distance and recommend the use of face coverings. If you are feeling unwell before the event we ask that our vendors and patrons take a covid test to ensure they are not infected with Covid-19 and spreading it to other patrons and vendors.

Will the event still take place if there is inclement weather?

Union Street Festival is a rain or shine event.

Application and Process

When are applications accepted until?

The application process is open from December 11 until April 1st.

Are late applications accepted?

Applications received after April 1st will not be accepted.

What are the space costs for prepackaged food vendors (spices, sauces etc.)?

Prepackaged food vendors who are not producing/preparing food or drinks on-site will be located within the artist blocks.
Examples of prepackaged food vendors are small batch producers who have artisan specialty goods prepackaged for sale – spices, sauces, bottled beverages, etc, that are intended to be taken home and not to be consumed on-site.

10’x10’ Space – $550 + Health Dept. Fee
10’x10’ Corner Space – $700 + Health Dept. Fee
10’x20’ Space – $1000 + Health Dept. Fee

What are the space costs for on-site food and drink prep vendors (Food trucks, food booths etc.)?

On-site food vendors are defined as vendors that produce/cook/prepare food or drinks on-site to be consumed at the event.

Examples are vendors operating food trucks, food booths and food carts that produce food and drinks to be consumed at the event including specialty items like ice cream/desserts, smoothies, etc.

5’x5′ Cart Space – $850 + Health Dept. and Fire Department Fee
10’x10’ Food Vendor Space & Food Truck – $1,750 flat rate + Health Dept. and Fire Department Fee.
10×20′ and larger – $2000 (Plus Health Permit and Fire Permit Fees)
Food Truck – $1750

For vendors operating from a booth, this fee includes one 10′ x 10′ serving space (max size, no double serving spaces) plus one additional 10′ x 10′ cooking/prep space if needed. For vendors operating from a food truck, this fee includes sufficient space to accommodate the food truck footprint.

Space will be limited to an as needed basis (no spillover space) and there are no guarantees for larger spaces than stated above.

Can I share a booth?

Vendors are not allowed to share a booth without prior approval.

Is there an application fee?

There is a non-refundable application fee of $25 for all applications.

The application fee is separate from your space fee and does not count towards your space fee.

If you need to cancel, please contact us before April 1st to either process a refund if you have already been accepted or before you receive your acceptance notice and are charged for your booth space fee.

There are no refunds after April 1st.

What does the Jury look for in an application?

Organizers are looking to provide a top experience for our guests by the very best, freshest, creative and inspired local food the Bay has to offer.

We prize local chefs and look for food and drinks that offer a high level of quality, attention to presentation and professionalism.

The food at the event will be highly competitive and strongly urge you present your best dishes to increase your likelihood of being picked as a vendor.

Union Street Festival looks to also present a higher level of standard to event food and looks to provide attendees with restaurant quality food.

The panel looks for the following areas of criteria for each applicant: depth of work, uniqueness, technique, skill level, use of material, branding, website design, and price point, and if resale items are ethically sourced.

Products displaying unique takes on everyday items offering a creative approach and a developed level of design; through things like composition, and user centered functionality will be more likely to be picked for approval.

Items with a greater number of applicants or more common items will be more competitive in the approval process.

When will I be charged for my space cost if accepted?

If accepted, your space fee will be charged between 1-5 business days automatically after approval.

If you need to withdraw your application, we strongly recommend reaching out as soon as you receive your acceptance notice or before so you are not processed your space fee.

What is included in the booth cost?

Space fees include the space itself only and do not include any additional items like tents, table, chairs or other supplies. Food vendors must provide everything they need to operate and cover all of their needs as a vendor.

Vendors with tents are required to bring their own weights to stabilize their tents. Tents and all objects are limited to a 10′ height limit required to comply with MUNI overhead wiring height limit requirements.

Vendors are not allowed to have any objects extending vertically or horizontally from their tent or truck.

When will I be notified if I have been accepted?

Applications will be approved in a rolling, on-going process throughout the application open period.

After the application period closes April 1st all artists who have not yet been approved will be informed by April 20th if they have been accepted or added to the waitlist.

Can I cancel my application after applying?

If you need to cancel, please contact us before May 1st to either process a refund if you have already been accepted or notify us before you receive your acceptance letter and charged for your booth space fee.

No refunds will be given after May 5^th.

What are the Terms & Conditions?

I release, indemnify and hold harmless, Miramar Events and the Union Street Association, their sponsors, clients and affiliated organizations or entities, directors, officers, agents or employees, or any of the above from any and all liabilities, demands, claims, damages or costs to property or persons as a result of my participation in any of the 2024 Union Street Festival. I further release and indemnify Miramar Events and the Union Street Association and all of its duly appointed representatives of all liability and responsibility for any injury, damage or loss sustained by vendors, exhibitors, guests or any other participants before, during or after the event as a result of the display of my work, equipment or materials. I understand that Miramar Events reserves the right to remove anything that does not meet the standards set forth in this application. I understand that there are no refunds or rain checks due to inclement weather. In consideration of acceptance of my application, I agree to accept all decisions of Miramar Events and agree to allow them use of the enclosed slides and photos and other promotional materials including photographs and videotape taken at each event for the purposes of promoting the events this year and in future years.

SELLER’S PERMIT NUMBER IS REQUIRED:

Every vendor must submit their sellers permit name and number in this application. It is the responsibility of each vendor to be in compliance with the State Board of Equalization requirements for selling product at a special event. Seller’s permits can be obtained at any local Board of Equalization office at no cost. Information is available at 1-800-400-7115 or www.boe.ca.gov.

APPLICATIONS AND FEES:

Applications for rental of vendor space shall be subject to the approval of Miramar Events, and Miramar Events reserves the right to reject applications for spaces with or without cause if in the best interest of the event. Return of signed agreement without payment does not reserve exhibit space. No refunds for space fees will be allowed after April 1st.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:

Vendors requesting cancellation will receive a refund of their fee less a $25 application processing fee.

SUBLETTING SPACE:

No vendor shall assign, sublet, or apportion the whole or any part of the space allotted, or have any representatives, equipment, or materials from anyone other than its own company in the said exhibit space.

WAIVER OF LIABILITY:

Vendor expressly releases the Union Street Association and Miramar Events, the event facility and their respective directors, officers, agents, employees, volunteers and servants for any damage or injury that may happen to the exhibitor or its agents, servants, employees, or property from any cause whatsoever except the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the former. Union Street Association and Miramar Events, their staff, employees, and agents assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever in matters relating to restrictions imposed on any exhibitor by any governmental agency.

INDEMNITY:

The vendor is responsible for any and all demands on account of any injury or death, or damage to property occurring in or upon any portion of the Vendor Area leased or used by Vendor which are caused by the acts or omission of vendor, or their employees, representatives, servants, agents, licensees, invitees, patrons, guests, or contractors. Vendor shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Union Street Association and Miramar Events excepting loss by negligent acts of Union Street Association and Miramar Events their officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of actions, penalties, judgments, and liabilities of every kind and description (including court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees).

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS:

The vendor acknowledges that the San Francisco Fire Department requires all vendors to have a visible and easily accessible 2A:10BC rated fire extinguisher in their space. Fire Departments are very particular in requiring that if the extinguisher is recently purchased, it must be stamped with the CURRENT year on the body (check the label or the bottom of the unit–not the date on your receipt) AND the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green. If you’ve an older unit then it must have been serviced within the last 12 months with a current Inspection tag attached and the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green.

GENERATORS:

There is no street power onsite and if you need power for your onsite activation we highly recommend bringing a battery pack or power station. The use of generators is prohibited unless approved by Miramar Events and the San Francisco Fire Department prior to the event.

THIS IS A SMOKE-FREE EVENT AS MANDATED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO:

The vendor acknowledges the Union Street Festival is a smoke-free event as all events are mandated by San Francisco.

Food Vendor Event Info

What is required by me to have with me to sell at the event?

FOOD VENDORS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE:

Compostable food ware not limited to plates, cups, napkins and utensils.
All personnel, equipment, supplies and materials that you require;
Weights, sand bags, cinder blocks or other mechanism to secure, tie-down and stabilize tenting and displays;
Signage and decorative items for your space as you wish;
Staff to break-down and consolidate your recyclables, compost, and garbage and place in event recycling, compost, and debris boxes;
Water and ice as needed;
Full cooperation and compliance with Health Dept. rules and regulations; and
Full cooperation and compliance with Fire Department rules and regulations (see below).

FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERATORS — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY TO BE SURE YOU’RE IN COMPLIANCE:

Generators must be placed 20’ away from other vendors and structures;
Vendors must have a 40B:C fire extinguisher with the generator;
Vendors must create a 10’ safety perimeter (barricades, fencing, cones, caution tape) to block off public access to the generator;
Vendors may not have any additional fuel stored on site or brought onto the site once the event starts;
Vendors must place rubber matting or some protective safety layer over any extension cord or cable; and
Grounding rods are required in some cases depending on the type of generator, and due to the nature of the event there is no available areas to ground, so make sure you are not required to use a grounding rod to use your generator.

Food vendors must comply with San Francisco County’s ZERO WASTE Ordinance and are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages and water

All food and drink vendors must comply with event guidelines and San Francisco County’s ZERO WASTE Ordinance:
Food and drink vendors are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages and water.
Food ware and drinkware provided must be reusable, recyclable, or compostable. NO plastic, polystyrene or styrofoam product will be allowed.
Compostable food ware must be labeled with the word, “Compostable” and be BPI Certified.
Visit bpiworld.org/Find-Certified-Products
Plastic stirrers, toothpicks and beverage plugs are banned. Acceptable alternatives include paper, wood, and other natural fiber.
All food and beverage accessories like lids, containers, cutlery, and napkins are to be provided upon request OR at a self-serve station.
Distribution of single-use plastic straws including, compostable plastic ones are restricted. Acceptable alternatives include paper and other natural fiber.
All straws may only be made available upon request i.e. behind the counter.

FOOD VENDORS MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ZERO WASTE EVENT CHECKLIST

Zero Waste Checklist

Who do I name for my liability insurance?

You must have insurance for the event and you must have included in the certificate the following parties

The City and County of San Francisco
SFMTA, 1 South Van Ness Ave., 7th Floor
San Francisco CA 94103
Attn: Special Events and Street Closures
The certificate must be signed by an authorized representative.
Miramar Events
1327 Livingston Avenue
Pacifica 94044
Union Street Association, Inc.
PO BOX 470393
San Francisco CA 94147

Where can I find the San Francisco health permit application?

Do not fill out and send over until you are accepted.

Health Permits must also be sent directly to the promoter Miramar Events and not to the Health Department directly.

Is vendor parking available?

There is no dedicated onsite accessible parking available, and we highly recommend use of public transportation or ride sharing. If you need to drive to the event there are two nearby parking garages we recommend:

Lombard Street Garage – Lot #202 – 8 minute walk to event edge
2055 Lombard St., San Francisco CA 94123

Pierce Street Garage – Lot #206 – 10 minute walk to event edge
3236 Pierce St, San Francisco, CA 94123

We also recommend checking out impark.com – which helps you book the lots above in advance impark.com

When can I start setting up?

Vendor set-up can begin at 5am Saturday June 1st (unless earlier set-up is pre-arranged for larger transport vehicles and more intensive set-ups) and vendors must be setup and in place and vehicles removed from the event site by 9am to allow time for the event to open to the public.
Clean up and removal of product from your space between Saturday night and Sunday morning can begin after the event closes Saturday can begin starting at 7pm.
Vendors must be set back up on Sunday by 9am to allow time and space for the event to the public.
The final breakdown for the event and removal of your belongings can begin Sunday after 6:30pm or when access is allowed by event security.
Please have everything removed from the street by 9pm to aid in the reopening of the street.
Vendors are required to breakdown and consolidate their recyclables and garbage and place in event recycling and debris boxes.

Is there on-site street power?

There is no street power onsite and if you need power for your onsite activation we highly recommend renting or bringing a whisper-quiet generator, battery pack or power station. The use of generators is only allowed if approved by Miramar Events and the San Francisco Fire Department prior to the event and only in full compliance with code and guidelines.

FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR GENERATORS — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY TO BE SURE YOU’RE IN COMPLIANCE:

Generators must be placed 20’ away from other vendors and structures;
Sponsors and exhibitors must have a 40B:C fire extinguisher with the generator;
Sponsors and exhibitors must create a 10’ safety perimeter (barricades, fencing, cones, caution tape) to block off public access to the generator;
Sponsors and exhibitors may not have any additional fuel stored on site or brought onto the site once the event starts;
Sponsors and exhibitors must place rubber matting or some protective safety layer over any extension cord or cable; and
Grounding rods are required in some cases depending on the type of generator.
Prepackaged food vendors are not allowed the use of generators.

Is there overnight security?

Saturday night there will be an overnight security team patrolling the streets, but we recommend taking precautions.

We highly recommend that vendors take the necessary precautions: fully cover their tent and goods if leaving items within their space overnight on Saturday, and strongly recommend any valuables or products be removed.

While we always strive to provide the best possible environment for our clients to market their products, we do like to remind everyone that if you decide to leave anything in your event space overnight that Miramar Events or Union Street Association is not liable for any damage or theft that could happen overnight.

Are vendors required to bring a fire extinguisher?

Yes, the San Francisco Fire Department requires all vendors to have a visible and easily accessible 2A:10BC rated fire extinguisher in their space. Fire Departments are very particular in requiring that if the extinguisher is recently purchased, it must be stamped with the CURRENT year on the body (check the label or the bottom of the unit–not the date on your receipt) AND the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green. If you’ve an older unit then it must have been serviced within the last 12 months with a current Inspection tag attached and the indicator must be all the way to the top of the green

What are the eco-conscious requests by the organizers for a green event?

In an effort to be a green event and to be globally conscious of our environmental impact as a community we ask vendors to be conscious of their setup.

We recommend non vinyl banners, printing done with environmentally friendly inks, upcycled displays, limiting the use of paper products like business cards and receipts and to work to use more digital receipts and virtual cards.

Please, no balloons.

We also ask that our vendors and patrons try to be conscious of our separate trash, recycle and compost bins and to be as thoughtful as possible about properly disposing of their waste.

Who do I contact if I have questions regarding the event?

Please reach out to us through the contact page on our website for a quick response as our entire festival management team has access to this contact form.

Food Vendor

Applications Open Soon

Food Vendor Application

Aw Snap, There is more?!
We promise it’s worth it.

You’re almost there!

Last few Things!

Food Vendor FAQ

Food Vendor

Applications Open Soon

Food Vendor Application

Aw Snap, There is more?! We promise it’s worth it.

You’re almost there!

Last few Things!

Food Vendor FAQ

Aw Snap, There is more?!
We promise it’s worth it.