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1. APPLICATION & ACCEPTANCE

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Vendor participation is not confirmed until both of the following have been received by Cast Iron Skillet, LLC:

• A completed and submitted Vendor Application Form

• Full booth fee payment

 

Upon receipt of both items, Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will send an official acceptance confirmation to the email address provided in the application. Booth assignments, venue maps, load-in schedules, and day-of logistics will be emailed 1–2 weeks prior to the event start date. Vendors are responsible for monitoring the email provided at registration, including spam and junk folders, and for adding Cast Iron Skillet, LLC communications to their contact list.

 

Note: Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the right to decline any application at its sole discretion, including for category balance, product appropriateness, or capacity.

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1.1 Waitlist Policy

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If an application is not immediately approved, it may be placed on a waitlist based on category and booth availability. Vendors added to the waitlist will receive an email notifying them of their placement.

If a booth slot becomes available, a CIS Holiday Festival team member will contact the vendor by email and phone. The vendor will have 3 business days from the date of notification to submit full booth payment and confirm the space. If payment is not received within this window, the offer will be forfeited and the slot will be extended to the next vendor on the waitlist.

 

Note: Placement on the waitlist does not guarantee booth availability. CAST IRON SKILLET, LLC makes no guarantee that a waitlisted vendor will be offered a slot, and waitlist status does not constitute a confirmed reservation. No booth fee is collected at the time of waitlisting — payment is required only once a slot is formally offered and accepted.

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2. BOOTH FEES & PAYMENT

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​​​​​​​All fees are due in full prior to the event date. Invoices must be paid promptly within 5 business days upon issuance; late or unpaid fees may result in forfeiture of booth assignment.

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3. CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

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IMPORTANT: All booth fees are NON-REFUNDABLE and NON-TRANSFERABLE.

Vendor fees represent a confirmed commitment to participate. Once payment is received, no refunds will be issued for cancellations initiated by the vendor for any reason, including illness, personal emergencies, or schedule conflicts.

 

Event Cancellation by Cast Iron Skillet, LLC:

If Cast Iron Skillet, LLC cancels a market due to severe weather (e.g., hurricane, tornado, flooding), government order, or Act of God, Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will work to reschedule the event. If a rescheduled date cannot be established, booth fees will be refunded. Refunds will not be issued for weather that is unpleasant but not dangerous (rain, cold, wind) — all events are Rain or Shine (see Section 13).

 

Cancellation Notice:

Vendors who must cancel are required to notify Cast Iron Skillet, LLC in writing (email) as soon as possible and no later than 72 hours prior to the event. While no refund will be issued, early notice allows Cast Iron Skillet, LLC to adjust the floor plan and offer the space to a waitlisted vendor.

 

Day-Of No-Show:

Vendors who fail to appear on the event day without prior notice may be deprioritized for future festival selection and will be assigned less favorable booth locations at subsequent events.

 

No Refunds, Credits, or Transfers — Reasons That Do Not Qualify:

Consistent with the non-refundable, non-transferable policy stated above, the CIS Holiday Market does not issue refunds, credits, or transfers for any reason, including but not limited to: ordinary weather conditions (see Section 13, Rain or Shine Policy); vendor-initiated cancellation; low attendance; disappointing sales performance; changes in personal availability; travel issues; illness or personal emergencies; or event date changes initiated by Cast Iron Skillet, LLC for reasons other than full event cancellation. By submitting an application and accepting a booth space, Vendor commits to participating in the event as scheduled and confirms they are prepared to honor that commitment.

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4. BOOTH SETUP & SPACE

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4.1 Space Dimensions

Each standard booth is a 10x10 outdoor space. Large booths and craft workshop booths are 10x20. Vendors may not exceed the boundaries of their assigned booth space. Any overflow beyond the allocated footprint — including display tables, racks, signage, or merchandise — requires prior written approval from CIS Holiday Festival management team and may require purchase of additional space.

 

4.2 Booth Sharing

Booth spaces are assigned to a single registered vendor only. Subletting, sharing, or co-occupying a booth with another business not registered with CIS Holiday Festival is strictly prohibited. Unregistered co-vendors will be asked to leave the event grounds. There are no exceptions to this policy.

 

4.3 Vendor Supplies

Vendors are responsible for bringing all necessary setup materials, including but not limited to:

• 10x10 or 10x20 canopy/tent

• Tent weights — all tent legs MUST be anchored with a minimum of 25 lbs per leg. Tents without adequate weights will be required to come down immediately for safety. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will not be responsible for any tent or property damage resulting from wind or weather.

• Tables, chairs, and display fixtures

• Extension cords (minimum 50 ft. recommended; outdoor/weatherproof rated)

• Bags, tissue paper, and packaging supplies for customer purchases

 

4.4 Electrical

Limited electrical access may be available at select venues. Vendors requiring electricity must indicate this at the time of application and pay any applicable electrical surcharge. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC does not guarantee electrical availability at all venues. Vendors are encouraged to bring a battery-powered backup for lighting and payment processing.

 

4.5 Setup and Breakdown Time

The following schedule applies to all standard retail, artisan, and craft vendors. Food trucks and food vendors operate on a separate load-in and load-out schedule, which will be communicated individually no later than two weeks prior to the event.

 

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​* Food trucks and food vendors will have different load-in and load-out times, which will be communicated no later than two weeks before the event.

* Vendors must have all equipment, merchandise, and materials removed from the venue grounds within 90 minutes of the event close. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC is not responsible for items left on-site after breakdown.

 

CIS Holiday Festival staff and volunteers will be on-site to direct vendors to their assigned spaces. Vendors arriving after 2:00 PM Friday and 11:00 AM on Saturday may forfeit their pre-assigned location and be redirected to an alternate available space.

 

5. OPERATING HOURS & EARLY DEPARTURE

Vendors must remain operational — with all merchandise displayed and available for sale — for the full duration of each event day. Event hours are as follows:

 

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6. PRODUCTS, MERCHANDISE & APPROVED CATEGORIES

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6.1 Product Consistency

Vendors must sell only the products described in their vendor application. Significant changes to product offerings after acceptance require prior written approval from the CIS Holiday Festival manager. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the right to require removal of any product that was not disclosed in the application.

 

6.2 Approved Vendor Categories

The CIS Holiday Festival is curated to reflect the following categories.

 

• Retail: Holiday goods, jewelry, clothing & apparel, home & living, Christmas decor, arts & collectibles

• Custom & Artisan: Personalized gifts, handmade items, custom portraits, engraved products

• Food & Beverage: Food trucks and holiday beverage vendors (subject to Section 10 food requirements)

• Craft Workshops: Interactive, instructor-led holiday crafting sessions (wreath-making, ornament decorating, gingerbread, centerpieces)

• Nonprofit & Community: Habitat for Humanity, Secret Santa, registered 501(c)(3) organizations

 

All accepted vendors must operate within their registered category.

 

6.3 Prohibited Products

The following items may not be sold or displayed at any CIS Holiday Market location:

• Weapons of any kind (including decorative knives, swords, or replicas)

• Illegal substances or drug paraphernalia

• CBD, THC, or cannabis-related products

• Adult or sexually explicit materials

• Politically inflammatory or divisive materials

• Counterfeit, unlicensed, or infringing products

• Products not permitted under Mississippi or county law

• Any item Cast Iron Skillet, LLC deems inappropriate for a family-oriented, community event

 

Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the sole right to determine product appropriateness. Violation of this section may result in immediate removal from the event without refund.

 

6.4 Intellectual Property

Vendors warrant that all products offered for sale are lawfully authorized and do not infringe any copyright, trademark, patent, or other intellectual property rights. The display or sale of counterfeit or unlicensed goods is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal without refund.

 

7. FOOD VENDORS & FOOD TRUCKS

All food and beverage vendors — including food trucks, dessert vendors, and holiday drink booths — must comply with the following requirements:

• Obtain and carry all required temporary food establishment permits from the applicable county health department

• Maintain all required licenses in good standing and present copies to CIS Holiday Festival management upon request

• Comply fully with all county health department rules and regulations during the event

• Carry commercial general liability insurance naming Cast Iron Skillet, LLC as an additional insured, with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence

• Food truck operators must also carry commercial auto insurance

 

Important: If an on-site health inspector finds a vendor non-compliant on event day, that vendor will not be permitted to operate and no refund will be issued. It is the vendor's sole responsibility to secure proper permitting in advance.

 

Holiday-themed menus and seasonal offerings are strongly encouraged. The CIS Holiday Festival team will curate a diverse food and beverage mix to serve the full range of attendees. Duplication of food categories may be limited at Cast Iron Skillet, LLC discretion.

 

8. CRAFT WORKSHOP VENDORS

Craft workshop vendors operate in the dedicated Craft Workshop Area of the market. Workshop vendors are subject to all general vendor rules and the following additional requirements:

• All workshop sessions must be instructor-led and interactive, enabling attendees to create and take home a finished holiday item

• Workshop vendors are responsible for all supplies, materials, and instruction for their sessions

• Per-participant fees are set and retained by the workshop vendor

• Workshop vendors are responsible for promoting and selling tickets to their sessions — Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will provide a link for workshop ticket purchases on the event website

• Workshop vendors must ensure their space allows for safe, orderly attendance — Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the right to cap session sizes for crowd management

 

9. PAYMENT PROCESSING & SALES TAX

9.1 Accepted Payments

Vendors may accept cash and/or credit/debit card payments from customers. Wi-Fi availability on-site is not guaranteed; vendors are strongly encouraged to bring a cellular data-enabled card reader (e.g., Square, Stripe, PayPal Here) and a fully charged backup device or battery bank.

 

9.2 Sales Tax

Each vendor is individually responsible for collecting applicable Mississippi state sales tax and filing required reports with the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC staff are not certified to provide tax guidance. Vendors with questions should consult their accountant or contact the Mississippi Department of Revenue directly.

 

9.3 Independent Contractor Status

Each vendor participates as an independent contractor. Vendors are not employees, partners, agents, or joint venturers of Cast Iron Skillet, LLC. Vendors are solely responsible for their own business operations, taxes, staffing, and legal compliance.

 

9.4 Chargebacks

Vendor agrees not to initiate a credit card chargeback or payment dispute for any booth fee or deposit paid to Cast Iron Skillet, LLC. Initiating a chargeback constitutes a material breach of the vendor agreement. Vendor agrees to reimburse Cast Iron Skillet, LLC for the full disputed amount, applicable processing and administrative fees, and any collection or legal costs incurred in resolving the dispute. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the right to permanently bar a vendor who initiates a chargeback from participating in any current or future Cast Iron Skillet, LLC events.

 

10. INSURANCE & LIABILITY

10.1 Vendor Insurance Requirement

All vendors (except complimentary nonprofit booths, at Cast Iron Skillet, LLC's discretion) are required to carry general liability insurance with the following minimum coverage:

• $1,000,000 per occurrence

• $2,000,000 aggregate

• Cast Iron Skillet, LLC must be named as an additional insured on the policy

• A certificate of insurance must be submitted to Cast Iron Skillet, LLC at least 10 business days prior to the event

 

10.2 Indemnification

Vendor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Cast Iron Skillet, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, venue partners, sponsors, and representatives from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses — including reasonable attorney's fees — arising out of or related to Vendor's participation in the CIS Holiday Festival, including but not limited to bodily injury, property damage, product liability, negligence, or breach of this Agreement.

 

10.3 Theft, Loss & Property

Cast Iron Skillet, LLC does not provide security for vendor merchandise, cash, equipment, or personal property. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC shall not be responsible for any theft, loss, or damage to vendor property occurring before, during, or after the event, including during load-in and breakdown. Vendors are solely responsible for securing their booth and belongings at all times.

 

11. VENDOR CONDUCT

All vendors and their staff representatives must conduct themselves in a professional, respectful, and lawful manner throughout the event, including during setup and breakdown. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC is a family-oriented, community-first event and expects all participants to reflect those values.

 

Cast Iron Skillet, LLC reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to remove any vendor from the event without refund for any of the following:

• Disruptive, threatening, or harassing behavior toward attendees, other vendors, staff, volunteers, or sponsors

• Use of amplified sound without prior written approval from CIS Holiday Festival management

• Display of offensive, inappropriate, or discriminatory materials

• Violation of any provision of these Rules and Regulations

• Violation of any applicable local, state, or federal law

• Any conduct that, in Cast Iron Skillet, LLC's judgment, negatively impacts the event, its attendees, or its partners

 

Removal from the event does not entitle Vendor to a refund, credit, or transfer of any fees paid.

 

Alcohol Policy:

Alcohol is not permitted for sale or personal consumption on the event grounds unless expressly authorized in writing by the CIS Holiday Festival manager and in full compliance with Mississippi regulations.

 

12. MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA REQUIREMENTS

12.1 Vendor Co-Marketing Commitment

All vendors are encouraged to promote their participation in the CIS Holiday Festival on social media a minimum of two (2) times prior to the event date. CIS Holiday Festival staff will provide a Vendor Social Media Kit including event graphics, hashtags, and suggested caption templates.

 

12.2 Official Hashtag

Vendors must use the official event hashtag #CISHolidayFesitval in all promotional social media posts.

 

12.3 Media Release

By participating in the CIS Holiday Festival, vendor grants Cast Iron Skillet, LLC the irrevocable, royalty-free right to photograph, record, and use images and video of vendor's booth, products, signage, and staff during the event. These materials may be used for Cast Iron Skillet, LLC promotional purposes including websites, social media, press releases, sponsorship materials, and future marketing without additional compensation or prior notice.

 

12.4 Promotion of Competing Events

Promoting other events, markets, or competing community fairs within the CIS Holiday Festival grounds is strictly prohibited. Vendors may distribute their own business cards, flyers, and promotional materials within their designated booth space only.

 

13. WEATHER & RAIN OR SHINE POLICY

The CIS Holiday Market is an outdoor event and will proceed as scheduled in all weather conditions except those that present a direct risk to public safety (e.g., tornado warnings, severe flooding, government-ordered event suspension).

 

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In the event of a public safety cancellation, Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will make every effort to reschedule the event. If rescheduling is not possible, booth fees will be refunded. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC will communicate weather-related updates via email and social media as promptly as possible.

 

14. FLOOR PLAN & BOOTH ASSIGNMENT

Booth assignments are made by CIS Holiday Festival staff at its sole discretion based on vendor category, space availability, and layout design. CIS Holiday Festival staff may reassign booth locations at any time, including on the day of the event, to accommodate cancellations, safety considerations, or layout optimization. Booth relocation does not entitle any vendor to a refund, credit, or fee adjustment.

 

Vendors requesting specific locations, premium corners, or electrical access must indicate this on their application and pay any applicable add-on fee. Requests are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed.

 

15. VEHICLE POLICY

Day 1:  No personal vehicles are permitted on the event grounds during public hours (3:00 PM – 9:00 PM). Vendor vehicles used for load-in must be removed from the venue grounds by 2:30 PM and may return for load-out after 9:30 PM, in designated vendor parking areas only.

 

Day 2: No personal vehicles are permitted on the event grounds during public hours (12:00 PM – 8:00 PM). Vendor vehicles used for load-in must be removed from the venue grounds by 11:30 AM and may return for load-out after 8:30 PM, in designated vendor parking areas only.

 

 

Food trucks are the exception and must be parked in their designated Zone area for the full duration of the event. Food truck operators must not move their vehicles during event hours without prior approval from the on-site CIS Holiday Festival manager.

 

16. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & FORCE MAJEURE

Cast Iron Skillet, LLC shall not be liable for lost profits, lost sales, business interruption, or any consequential or indirect damages arising from Vendor's participation in the event. Attendance projections are estimates only and are not guaranteed. Cast Iron Skillet, LLC makes no representations regarding attendee volume, vendor sales performance, or event profitability.

 

Cast Iron Skillet, LLC shall not be liable for failure to perform its obligations due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, severe weather, government orders, public health emergencies, fire, flood, labor disputes, or venue cancellations. In such cases, Cast Iron Skillet, LLC may reschedule or cancel the event without further liability beyond the return of vendor booth fees where applicable.

 

17. GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Mississippi. Any legal action arising from this Agreement shall be filed exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction in Mississippi. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

 

18. PRICING & SIGNAGE

All prices must be clearly displayed using professionally printed signage.  Price gouging or materially inconsistent pricing across markets will result in removal from the event and permanent disqualification from future Cast Iron Skillet, LLC events.

 

19. CLEANLINESS, WASTE MANAGEMENT & SITE RESTORATION

Vendors must leave their booth space in the same condition it was in upon arrival. All trash and food waste must be disposed of in designated dumpsters; cardboard must be broken down. No grease, oil, food residue, sauces, or other liquids may be dumped, rinsed, spilled, or poured onto the ground, pavement, grass, storm drains, or surrounding areas.

 

All vendor setups must be fully self-contained, including:

• Power (generators must operate at 60 dBA or less and properly maintained)

• Water supply

• Wastewater containment

• Trash disposal

 

No dumping of any kind is permitted on-site. Grease mats or containment trays are required for all food vendors. Any spills or stains must be cleaned immediately using proper absorbents. A CIS Holiday Festival staff member or volunteer must inspect and sign off on each vendor’s space at the close of the event, prior to the vendor’s departure.

 

Cleanup failures carry real financial consequences.

Failure to comply with this Section — including grease stains, food or liquid spillage, trash left behind, or improper disposal — will result in forfeiture of the vendor’s deposit (see Section 21) and may result in additional remediation fees exceeding $500, based on documented cleanup costs, venue charges, and damages.

 

20. LICENSING, PERMITS & COMPLIANCE

Vendors are solely responsible for obtaining and maintaining all required business licenses, permits, health certificates, and insurance applicable to their products and operations. All required documentation must be displayed on-site and available for inspection upon request. Vendors must comply with all applicable city, county, and state regulations. This Section applies in addition to, and does not replace, the food-specific permitting requirements in Section 7.

 

21. VENDOR DEPOSITS

In addition to the booth fee described in Section 2, a refundable cash-only deposit is required at check-in/load-in. The deposit is collected separately from the booth fee and is intended solely to ensure compliance with the cleanliness and waste management requirements in Section 20. Deposit amounts:

• $100 — Food trucks and tented food vendors

• $50 — Artisans and crafters

 

The deposit is refundable only if the vendor: remains on-site for the full duration of the event; properly cleans and restores their booth space per Section 20; and complies with all rules and protocols in this document. A vendor who leaves early, no-shows, or violates event rules — including failure to maintain a clean space throughout the event — will forfeit the deposit. Deposit collection does not modify or replace the booth fee payment and refund terms set out in Sections 2 and 3.

 

22. COMMUNICATIONS & VENDOR NOTIFICATIONS

Vendors consent to receive event-related communications from CIS Holiday Festival staff by email and SMS text message, including but not limited to load-in times, booth assignments, schedule changes, and weather updates. Opt-out instructions will be included with each message. It is the vendor’s responsibility to monitor the contact email and phone number provided at registration and to promptly notify CIS Holiday Festival staff of any change.