Application Requirements

Thank you for your interest in serving as a food booth vendor for Ethnic Expo. Please review the requirements below BEFORE submitting a food booth vendor application.

Requirements:

• Booth must be staffed from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm on Friday, October 7, 2022 and Saturday, October 8, 2022. NO EXCEPTIONS
• In order to provide a balance of cultural cuisine, a maximum of two representatives per country are accepted. The Ethnic Expo Food Committee will approve all menus.
• Booth locations will be assigned. Your location is final and non-negotiable.
• For Profit vendors must have a valid temporary food service permit issued by the Bartholomew County Health Department.
• All booths must sell authentic ethnic food items to be approved by the expo food committee upon receipt of your application. If you need help with menu planning, please contact the food committee. Photos of menu items may be emailed to jcoffman@columbus.in.gov. Information and photos will be used by the Marketing Committee for the purpose of advertising and promotion.
• All vendors must provide at least one (1) $2 food item for sale during the event.
• All food must be served in a recyclable or compostable container. See the “Sustainable Event” information on this page for approved containers. All Styrofoam (polystyrene) products, plastic straws, and to-go lids are not recyclable in Bartholomew County.
• All vendors will be required to provide a general liability certificate or personal liability certificate along with the booth rent payment, if the vendor is approved for participation at the Columbus Ethnic Expo. See the “Insurance” section below for specific requirements

Please submit a menu that you intend to sell during Ethnic Expo and note items that align with any dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, gluten or dairy free) or are locally sourced.
All booths must sell authentic ethnic food items to be approved by the expo food committee upon receipt of your application. If you need help with menu planning, please contact the food committee.
Photos of menu items may be emailed to jcoffman@columbus.in.gov. Information and photos will be used by the Marketing Committee for the purpose of advertising and promotion.

Electricity is available in 110 volts only. All vendors are required to supply all of their own electrical material (heavy duty power cords, power strips, etc.) to the electrical source. No octopus plugs may be used. No more than a total of two electric grills or hotplates per booth.

All vendors will be required to provide a general liability certificate or personal liability certificate along with the booth rent payment, if the vendor is approved for participation at the Columbus Ethnic Expo. The liability coverage shall be $1,000,000 for single occurrence and $2,000,000 for aggregate coverage.* It shall name the city of Columbus, its employees and officials as an additional insured. The issuing insurance company shall have an A.M. Best rating of B++ or better.

If a policy has no annual aggregate (such as a farm policy or homeowner policy) that also will satisfy the liability requirements as listed above. A notation in the comment section of the certificate indicating the policy in question has no aggregate is sufficient.

All Vendor payments will be due September 9, 2022. Please make checks payable to the City of Columbus for your specified amount.

Ethnic Expo has made a commitment to become a sustainable event by 2023, with zero waste being the eventual goal. We are taking steps to reduce waste, especially food waste, with recycling, composting, and education. As a food vendor handing out products during this event, you are the key to the success of our sustainable event goal as a large proportion of the waste generated during the Expo is food related.

Zero waste is a way to change the perception of our “trash” year-round and at the festival itself. Zero waste is not simply about recycling, composting, and diversion from landfills, but about preventing waste in the first place.

We are requesting that food vendors provide sustainable food service by using only compostable or recyclable serving products. The use of any Styrofoam (polystyrene) food service product, plastic straws, plastic to-go lids, and plastic bags is prohibited.