DEAR VENDOR:
Thank you for your interest in participating as a vendor in the 6th Annual Annual Boston Art & Music Soul (BAMS) Festival. Named "Best Music Festival" by Boston Magazine, BAMS Festival will take place on Saturday, June 29 and June 30, 2024 inside the historic Franklin Park Playstead Field. Since our debut in 2018, we have brought together 40,000+ attendees, presented 100+ recording, performing, and visual artists; and have supported 200+ small minority-owned businesses and nonprofit organizations.
We are excited to welcome all businesses to apply, especially those businesses that represent the African diaspora.
A call for vendors to participate as large corporations, in the food truck zone, and in the Festival Marketplace is now open. All vendors will apply through the application below
2024 Festival Highlights:
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Two days with one electrifying stage, featuring local, and GRAMMY-nominated music artists.
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“Rep Your City” Live Art + Graffiti Exhibition - an interactive live art activation that features New England-based emerging and seasoned painters/graffiti writers who create social-justice themed murals.
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“KIDchella Pavilion ” - A fully immersive experience for the whole family that includes a curated music lineup of NextGen youth artists, an active play area featuring face painting, and arts & crafts; as well as interactive dance performance and dance workshops where attendees can learn both traditional and contemporary African and Afro-centric dance styles from local choreographers.
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Food Truck Zone - a curated selection of ethnic cuisines representative of the people, neighborhoods and culture that amplify Greater Boston.
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Vendor Market– A showcase of artists, craft makers, creative entrepreneurs and small businesses who will promote and sell their diverse products and services. Takes place on Saturday, June 29 and June 30, 2024.
Why should you participate?
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You and your business become part of this growing festival tradition that celebrates the black communities, elevates local businesses and amplifies emerging and national talent.
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Access to a diverse cross section of an estimated 15,000+ attendees from New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
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Opportunity to generate revenue and promote your products/services to a viable market.
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Festival marketing, promotion and social media support.
Fill out the vendor application form below. All vendor applications will be vetted BEFORE vendors are selected and finalized. New in 2024, all applicants will be required to make a non-refundable $25.00 deposit. If your application IS selected, your deposit will be applied towards your full vendor payment.
For more information or if you have questions, please email us at vendors@bamsfest.org. Following the rolling deadline of May 10, vendor applications will be reviewed for consideration (depending on available space), and will be notified on a rolling basis.
2024 FESTIVAL VENDOR RATES
One Day Only:
Saturday, June 29 OR
Sunday, June 30
Small Business*
Food Truck
Large Business / Corporate*
$350
$600
$5,000
Both Days:
Saturday, June 29 AND
Sunday, June 30
Small Business*
Food Truck
Large Business / Corporate*
$600 (save $100)
$1,000 (save $200)
$9,000 (save $1,000)
now accepting
applications:
Rolling Deadline:
5/10/2024, 11:59pm EST
Food Truck Deadline extension:
4/26/2024, 11:59pm EST
2024 Changes
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Nonprofits will not be eligible to participate this year.
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Food businesses arerestricted to food trucks
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All selected vendors will be required to submit a Certificate of Liability (minimum $500,000 or higher per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate for the year / January 1 – December 31, 2024) or One-Day Event Liability Insurance
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All applicants will be required to make a $25.00 non-refundable deposit. If your application IS selected, your deposit will be applied towards your full vendor payment.
Information to know:
Small business: Up to 5 years in operation; Up to 10 employees; Annual revenue up to $1,000,000 ($1M USD)
Large Business/Corporations: More than 5 years in operation; 10-50 employees; Annual revenue between $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 ($1M - $5M USD)
Inclusions
Vendor Marketing Inclusions:
Small Business: (1) 10x10ft area/space with (1) 8’ and (1) 6’ table, (2) Chairs and (2) black linens. All must fit underneath and within the assigned area. No electricity will be provided or available. Small businesses will NOT have their own tent. All businesses will be under a large shared tent.
Large Business / Corporations: Independent (1) 10ftx10ft area/space in activation zones, (2) 8ft tables, (3) Chairs and (2) black linens. All must fit underneath and within the assigned area. No electricity will be provided or available. Large businesses will NOT have their own tent. All businesses will be under a large shared tent.
Food Truck / Soul Food Row Inclusions: (1) 18ft x 20ft area/space. All must fit with the assigned area. No electricity will be provided or available
Vendor Market Hours:
Saturday, June 29, 12noon - 7pm EST
Sunday, June 30, 12noon - 6pm EST
Food Truck / Soul Food Row Hours:
Saturday, June 29, 12noon - 8pm EST
Sunday, June 30, 12noon - 7pm EST
Preference is given to minority, women & veteran owned businesses who apply.
For Boston Food Trucks, we require a copy of:
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General Food Truck Permit from the Boston Fire Department
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Health Certificate from the City of Boston
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Certificate of Insurance (with $1M threshold or higher)
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON GETTING YOUR FOOD TRUCK HEALTH AND FIRE PERMITS FROM THE CITY OF BOSTON.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR CITY OF BOSTON FOOD TRUCK REGULATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE. ALL ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING PERMITS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE AGENCIES LISTED ABOVE.
For Food Trucks permitted outside of Boston, you must provide us with everything listed above for Boston Food Trucks, by first:
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Applying for a General Food Truck Permit from the Boston Fire Department by calling 617-343-3447 to schedule your inspection for a fire permit.
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Applying for a Temporary Food Service Permit from the Inspectional Services/City of Boston
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Scheduling and passing an inspection by Boston Fire Department and the Health Department. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SETTING UP INSPECTIONS.
Vendor Marketplace Vendors
All vendors who would like to sell/display commercially packaged food or non-alcoholic beverages will need to provide a us with a valid Temporary Food Service Permit from the City of Boston. No live cooking, heat or refrigeration is allowed in this area. All items must be shelf stable and unpackaged goods are not allowed. More information on obtaining a Temporary Food Service Permit is available here.
READ BEFORE YOU PROCEED
TENTS & EQUIPMENT:
Due to liability and insurance requirements, VENDORS are not allowed to bring their own tents. You can however bring your own necessary displays, signs, and other equipment needed to vend at the Boston Art & Music Soul Festival.
CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY:
All vendors will be required to submit a Certificate of Liability to the organizers of BAMS Festival. If a vendor does not submit their COI in time, they forfeit their spot and will not be refunded. A minimum $500,000 and up per claim/$2,000,000 aggregate for the year / January 1 – December 31, 2024) or One-Day Event Liability Insurance.
VENDOR ASSIGNMENTS:
It is up to the sole discretion of BAMS Fest, Inc to determine and assign the position of where vendors will be placed onsite at the festival grounds. Special requests will not be accepted, unless for health-related reasons.
TAX ID CERTIFICATES:
Tax ID Numbers are required in Massachusetts. All Exhibitors must be in compliance with State & Federal Tax Laws and display Tax ID Certificate in booth. This is required for both in state and out of state vendors. If you do not have a tax id certificate, you can obtain one online in a few minutes at no cost. Click HERE to register with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
HEALTH AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS: FOOD VENDORS ONLY*
If accepted, each vendor will be required to obtain a Boston Board of Health Inspections Temporary Food Service Permit (if you don't already have one). Additionally, you must pass health and fire inspections prior to the event start time on the day of the festival. On the day of the event, if your health and fire inspections do not pass, you will not be refunded.
REFUND POLICY
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No refunds will be given.
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If the Festival is cancelled due to force majeure, vendors will be given a credit to next year's festival (regardless of rate change)
WEATHER POLICY:
Boston Art & Music Soul Festival is a rain or shine event. By choosing to participate in a rain or shine market, vendors assume all risks associated with adverse weather conditions.
LOCATION OF YOUR BUSINESS:
We encourage all minority/women/veteran/LGBTQ small businesses to apply. If you are applying from out of state or outside of Boston limits, you may need to apply for a temporary permit with the City of Boston.
PROMOTER STATEMENT:
The Boston Art & Music Soul Festival producers, managers and promoters reserve the right to restrict or terminate any vendor’s activity or remove any product, which, in their opinion, is objectionable or inappropriate or is detrimental to the quality of the event as a whole. In the event of any restrictions or evictions, the Boston Art & Music Soul Festival and its affiliates will not be liable for any refund of rental or other expenses. The Boston Art & Music Soul Festival producers, managers and promoters reserves the right to remove, without refund or recourse, any exhibitor who misrepresents himself or his product. In addition, the promoter reserves the right not to select vendors who may not be suitable for the market. The Boston Art & Music Soul Festival reserves the right to amend or add to the applicable rules pertaining to and governing the our Festival at any time during and before the operating season without notice. The interpretation of all the rules by the promoters shall be final.