Food Vendor
Food Vendor Application
Applications due June 1, 2025
Applications Opening February 2, 2026
Thank you for your interest in being a food vendor at Octoberfest! Our application period for this year is now closed. Fill out the form below to be notified when applications open for next year.
One of our missions is to give back to the community, so we do require each for-profit organization to pair up with a non-profit organization. The profit split is then discussed and decided upon between those two groups. If you are a non-profit looking to purchase a booth, you can do so without pairing up with a for-profit.
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If you are a non-profit looking to partner with a food vendor, please fill out this form. We’ll share this information with any food vendors looking for a non-profit that aligns with their mission.
For questions regarding applications, please contact Madison Edinger
Click here to email | 920.831.4907
Mandatory Vendor Meeting:
Tuesday, August 27th
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Pusey Room at the Warch Campus Center
711 E Boldt Way, Appleton WI, 54911
Octoberfest is on, rain or shine! No refunds will be provided, so come prepared for any weather.
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday, February 2
Food Vendor Applications Open
Wednesday, April 1 (Midnight)
License to Cruise Applications Close
Friday, May 15 (Midnight)
Octoberfest Applications Close
Wednesday, July 16
4 – 5:30 pm & 6 – 6:30 pm
Mandatory Food Vendor Meeting
QUICK LINKS
Reminder: Starting in 2022, generators are permitted following the guidelines in the packet below
For questions related to fire codes, please contact:
Derek Henson, MPA, EFO, CFO
Battalion Chief | City of Appleton
derek.henson@appleton.org
Jose Saldivar
Fire City Inspector | City of Appleton
jose.saldivar@appleton.org
Frequently Asked Questions
- Non-profit partnership required: All for-profit food vendors must partner with a non-profit organization and agree on a profit-sharing amount as part of Octoberfest’s mission to give back to the community.
- Application does not guarantee acceptance: Submitting an application does not ensure placement. We will be placing approximately the first 75 vendors along the Avenue on a first-come, first-served basis (based on when applications are submitted, approved, and paid). This also means not every application will be accepted! Please note that there are many factors to consider in this event, so while we do our best to accommodate requests, not all placement requests can be guaranteed.
- Health & safety requirements: All vendors must meet local health department regulations and provide required licenses, permits, and insurance.
Giving back to our community is a core part of Appleton Octoberfest. To support this mission, each for-profit vendor is required to partner with a non-profit organization. The for-profit vendor and the non-profit will mutually agree on a profit-sharing amount. Once that agreement is in place, the for-profit vendor may complete the application. If you are a non-profit, you are able to keep 100% of the proceeds from your own booth!
We understand that operating a food booth as a non-profit can be challenging – especially without a food truck or full commercial kitchen. The ideas below are designed to be approachable, cost-effective, and manageable using simple equipment, volunteers, and advance prep, while still offering crowd-pleasing options for Octoberfest attendees.
- Walking Tacos – Simple to assemble, highly customizable, and a proven favorite.
- Corn Dogs – Easy to prepare in batches and quick to serve.
- Pulled Pork Sandwiches – Can be prepared ahead of time and kept warm in roasters or slow cookers.
- Meatballs – Use frozen meatballs and offer a variety of sauces (BBQ, marinara, Swedish, sweet & sour).
- Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup – Offer classic versions or elevate with different cheeses or soup varieties.
- Mac & Cheese Bar – Serve a base mac & cheese with optional toppings like bacon bits, jalapeños, breadcrumbs, or hot sauce.
- Baked or Mashed Potato Bar – Toppings can include cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, butter, broccoli, and chives.
- Soups – Crowd-friendly options include chowder, chicken dumpling, butternut squash, or pumpkin soup.
- Various Dips – Buffalo chicken, spinach artichoke, queso, or salsa served with chips, bread, or crackers.
- Mini Charcuterie Cups – Individual portions with meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruit for easy grab-and-go.
- Apple Nachos – Sliced apples topped with caramel, chocolate drizzle, nuts, and sprinkles.
- Floats – Root beer, orange, or cola floats are simple and nostalgic.
- Hot Chocolate – Offer toppings like marshmallows, whipped cream, and flavored syrups.
- Apple Cider – Serve hot or cold depending on weather.
- Lemonade or Fruit Punch – Classic, refreshing, and budget-friendly.
- Beverages – Bottled Water, Canned Soda and Juice Boxes
Beginning in 2024, we implemented designated entrance streets and times to help streamline vendor arrivals and limiting waiting around for vendors. Entrance times and locations will be scheduled between 5:45-6:45 a.m. to ensure a smooth and efficient flow. By 8:30 a.m. all vendors must be set up and have all unneeded items/vehicles off of the Avenue. The event will conclude at 6:00 p.m. then vendors will be allowed back on the Avenue to pack up once the crowd has dispersed.
If you sell out of product before the event ends, you must keep your booth set up and may not tear down or remove it early. You are welcome to restock by bringing in additional supplies using a wagon, rolling cart, or other hand-carried method while walking onto the Avenue.
Food vendor space is very limited and priority is given to vendors who participated in the previous year and are participating in Octoberfest again. If additional spaces become available, the application will be made public on this same page.