BECOME A VENDOR. COUNTDOWN UNTIL
Opportunity to Be a Vendor
The Arizona State Fair wouldn’t be complete without FAIR FOOD and SHOPPING! We are pleased to provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to engage with over one million guests at Arizona’s signature event!
Frequently Asked Questions
We are so glad you are interested in being a part of the Arizona State Fair and we understand that you may have some questions. We are happy to provide information about the Arizona State Fair vendor programs.
Here are some of our frequently asked questions. If you don’t see the information you are looking for, please give us a call at 602-257-7110, or you can email us directly at [email protected]
Both commercial vendors and concessionaires (food vendors) go through an application process to be considered for a spot at the ASF. The process 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 at azstatefair.com/vendorsfood/ (for concessionaires) or azstatefair.com/vendors-non-food/ (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]. Incomplete applications will not be processed. The application is for selection consideration only. The application does not constitute a contractual agreement between the Arizona State Fair and the applicant.
The online application is most easily completed using a PC as Smartphones may or may not support the application format.
The 2021 Arizona State Fair will be open from October 2 through October 30. Opening day is a SATURDAY. We are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Load-In
Vendor load-in will begin the Tuesday prior to the opening of the Fair. Shopping Pavilion load-in hours:
Tuesday, September 28 and Wednesday, September 29 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1 from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Load-in and setup for all vendors must be finished by 8:00 pm on Friday, October 1. Opening Day is Saturday, October 2 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 30 and end at 2:00 am on October 31. 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 Shopping Pavilion will be open from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 31. The Fair is not responsible for any and all property left on the Fairgrounds after midnight on the closing night of the Fair.
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 21 days of the Fair. Hours for outside vendors and inside vendors vary. Please check the 2021 ASF Exhibitor 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.
Preference is given to exhibits/booths/stands that have a professional, attractive display, and utilize modern, well-maintained equipment. We also prefer those stands/booths that are highly visible with height, color, and eye appeal.
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 21 days of the Fair and will serve 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 concessions 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 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. 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 wording should read:
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 concessions for approved cash registers. Several POS systems meet those requirements; however, not all systems are approved by the Arizona State Fair. Two systems that are approved are Clover and uAccept. POS systems must have prior approval. Please check out the Arizona State Fair cash register 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 2021 Commercial Sales Rate Sheet.
We don’t have these items for rent but our friends at CSI might be able to help you with that. Please contact CSI at (602) 923-0011.
RV spaces are limited. RV permits, reserved parking, and grounds vehicle credentials will be available for online purchase for contracted vendors only. All new requests will be filled on a first come, first served 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 will be available for online purchase through a link we provide so you can avoid waiting in line at load-in. Credentials may also be purchased on-site at check-in.