Food Vendors
Be Part of the Largest Food Festival in Arizona!
Thank you for your interest in being a Food Concessionaire at the 2024 Arizona State Fair!
In gathering over one million guests over a 23-day run, the Fair will be the ultimate event to showcase your stand and menu!
Frequently Asked Questions
We are so glad you are interested in being a part of the Arizona State Fair! We understand that you may have some questions and are happy to provide information about the Arizona State Fair vendor programs.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions. If you don’t see your question(s) answered here, please give us a call at 602-257-7110 or email us directly at [email protected].
Applications have closed for the 2024 Arizona State Fair. Applications for the 2025 Arizona State Fair will open next spring
Both commercial vendors and concessionaires (food vendors) go through an application process to be considered for a spot at the Arizona State Fair. The list below outlines the application process for both commercial vendors and concessionaires.
- Payment of non-refundable application fee (for commercial vendors only).
- Submission of a completed online application here (for concessionaires) or here (for commercial vendors).
- Submission of a menu (for concessionaires), or complete product line (for commercial vendors).
- Submission of photos of trailer/booth, either in your application or by email to [email protected].
*Applicants will be contacted when the application has been approved or denied by the Commercial Sales Department. For the fastest response to status inquiries please send an email to [email protected]. The application is for selection consideration only and does not constitute a contractual agreement between the Arizona State Fair and the applicant. Incomplete applications will not be processed or considered.
Exhibits must be open and staffed during the Fair’s business hours. In order to provide Fair guests with the best experience, all vendors are required to be onsite and fully staffed for all 23 days of the Fair. Hours for outside vendors and inside vendors vary. Please check the 2024 ASF Commercial Sales Handbook for specific hours. All booths/exhibits are required to be staffed for the full length of the Fair. Booths left unattended will be considered to be non-compliant with ASF vendor policies.
Load-In
Vendor load-in will begin the Tuesday prior to the opening of the Fair.
Shopping Pavilion load-in hours:
- Tuesday, September 17 from Noon – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday, September 18 from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday, September 19 from 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Load-in and setup for all vendors must be finished by 8:00 PM Thursday, September 19. Opening day is Friday, September 20 and all exhibits must be ready for business when the Fair opens to the public.
Load-Out
Vendors must remain open for business on the last day of the Fair until the Fair closes.
For indoor vendors only, load-out will begin at 10:00 PM on October 27 and end at 12:00 AM (midnight) on October 27. No vehicles are allowed on the Fairgrounds until after the official close of the Fair and following the final safety sweep of the Fairgrounds by law enforcement. Once the final safety sweep is concluded, vendors will be notified by Fair staff that load-out may begin. The Fair is not responsible for any and all property left on the Fairgrounds after midnight on the closing night of the Fair.
The Shopping Pavilion will be open from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM on Monday, October 28.
The 2024 Arizona State Fair will be open from September 20 through October 27. Opening day is a FRIDAY. We are closed Monday-Wednesday.
The online application is most easily completed using a PC as smartphones may or may not support the application format.
Preference is given to exhibitors/booths/stands that have a professional, attractive display, and utilize modern, well-maintained equipment, as well as those stands/booths with height, color, eye appeal and that are highly visible.
Consideration of applications includes:
- Space availability
- Uniqueness and appeal of the product
- Fit with the Arizona State Fair program
- References and experience
Spaces are assigned by the Fair and factors that are considered include:
- Whether the stand is indoors or outdoors
- Menu/product mix in the surrounding area
- Product line appeal/novelty
- Booth/trailer appearance
- Available space
- Special requests for a location (every effort to fulfill special requests is made BUT spaces are limited)
All exhibitors must stay within their footprint at all times. Hawking during open hours is not permitted. Exhibitors found selling outside of their footprint will be considered non-compliant with ASF policies and may be charged for space used.
Food trailers are preferred to food trucks and tents. You will need to be on the grounds for all 23 days of the fair and will service hundreds of thousands of people. We love eye-catching wrap/signage, great lighting, and thoughtful menus. Please view this video by the outdoor Amusement Business Association that reflects the Arizona State Fair program philosophy.
We encourage you to apply early as we do sell out of space. Applications are considered in the order in which they are received. However, we do accept non-food vendor applications up until the opening day of the Fair as we may still have an opening. We also maintain a waitlist.
Our selection process does take some time as each application is thoughtfully considered. You should expect to hear from us via email within a few weeks. If you would like to check on the status of your application, you may email [email protected] or call 602-257-7110.
ALL vendors are required to provide the Arizona Exposition & State Fair with a certificate of insurance before load-in. The insurance certificate needs to be a $1,000,000.00 General Liability policy with no less than a $2,000,000.00 Aggregate. The Additional Insured working should be:
The State of Arizona, individual members of the Arizona Exposition and State Fair Board, the agents, servants, and employees of the Board and State are named as additional insured. Please note: if you include the show name and show dates, the dates must include set-up dates and move-out dates with the additional insured wording.
The Arizona State Fair has specific requirements for approved cash registers, POS systems, and audit reporting for concessionaires. Several POS systems meet those requirements; however, not all systems are approved by the Arizona State Fair. Only Clover POS systems are accepted by the Arizona State Fair. Please check out the Arizona State Fair POS requirements for concessions.
Commercial sales can use the POS of their choice.
One 15-amp electrical outlet will be provided to all exhibitors inside the Shopping Pavilion. Electricity is an additional fee for outside vendors. You can find electric rates on the 2024 Commercial Outdoor Electric Rates.
We don’t have these items for rent but our friends at CSI might be able to help you. Please contact CSI at 602-923-0011.
Vendors are responsible for obtaining and securing tents for their booth space. Series 2000 or Pagoda-style tents are recommended and pop-up tents are not allowed for outdoor vendors. Rental tent company contact information will be made available at a later date for the rental of tents and other related equipment. Rental tent inventory cannot be guaranteed and vendors are encouraged to place rental tent orders early.
RV spaces are limited. RV permits, reserved parking, and ground vehicle credentials will be available for online purchase for contracted vendors only. All new requests for RV spaces will be filled on a first come, first serve basis and are not guaranteed. If we cannot accommodate your request, we will refund your payment.
All vendors must obtain identification credentials for each employee working the Fair. Your credentials provide Fair access for the duration of the Fair and free parking in the vendor parking lot. Credentials are not included with booth/license fee and must be purchased separately. Credentials are only available for online purchase through a link we will provide to contracted vendors.