City of Santa Barbara

Food Vendor Information

Please Read Before Submitting the Below Application

Application Deadlines: 

• Food Vendor application period closes Friday, August 8, 2025. 

Fees:

• Booth Registration: 
  • 10' x 10' Booth with Electricity = $225 per space
  • 10' x 10' Booth without Electricity = $200 per space
• EHS (Health Department) Fee = $196 (Amount may change with SB County FY26 Budget Adoption, effective July 1, 2025)
• No refunds will be made due to inclement weather. The Festival will be held rain or shine. 

Application Process and Requirements:

• Applications will begin being reviewed for consideration on Monday, May 5. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are submitted. Waterfront Businesses (tenants) will get priority if application is submitted by Friday, June 13, 2025.
• Proof of comprehensive liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1,000,000 naming the “City of Santa Barbara, its officers, employees, and agents” as additional insured is required by all vendors.
• Proof of City of Santa Barbara Business Tax Certificate (Business License) is required by all vendors.
• Temporary Food Facility (TFF) Booth Application from the County of Santa Barbara Public Health Department is required for all food vendors. Food trucks with a current Mobile Food Facility Permit from the County of Santa Barbara are also accepted. TFF applications will be collected after the application is submitted. Guidelines for Temporary Food Facilities can be found here.
• Once an application is fully approved, payment in cash, credit, or check can be made at the front counter of the Waterfront Administration Office.
• Once all required documents and payment are received, a vendor booth space can be selected. Vendor documents and payments not received by Friday, August 15, 2025, may result in a forfeiture of the vendor space at the Festival. Disclaimer: The Harbor & Seafood Festival Planning Committee has the right to revise the festival layout and vendor spaces may be changed or moved.

Setup and Breakdown:

• Setup will begin at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (Once tenting company has completed their setup).  
• Health Department inspections will begin around 8:30 a.m.  on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
• Breakdown should not begin until 5:00 pm or when product is sold out. Each vendor is expected to leave their booth area clean and trash free at the end of the Festival.
• Festival staff will inspect the vendor booth before and after the Festival to confirm any potential damages. Vendor will be responsible for cost of damages to booth their area. Any items provided by the Waterfront Department for the Festival must be returned to the Waterfront Department at the end of the Festival.

Security:

• The Festival is not responsible for loss by, or damage to, any vendor, their equipment, inventory, and/or materials. Wind sometimes comes up; it is the vendor’s responsibility to secure their equipment.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Vendor on behalf of him or herself and his or her heirs, executors and administrators and invitees, shall investigate, defend, indemnify and hold the City of Santa Barbara (City) and the respective officers, agents, and employees of the City harmless from and against all liabilities, obligations, damages, penalties, claims, costs, charges, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) by reason of injury or death of any person, or damage to or destruction of any property which may be imposed upon, incurred by or asserted against the City, or the respective officers, agents and employees of the City arising out of or in any way connected with the Vendor Permit or the use or enjoyment of the Santa Barbara Harbor by the Vendor or invitees of the Vendor.

Vendor hereby releases, waives, discharges and covenants not to sue the City of Santa Barbara, its employees, officers, and agents (hereinafter referred to as “releasees”) from all liability to Vendor, his or her personal representatives, assigns, heirs, next of kin and invitees for any loss or damage, or claim therefore on account of injury to the person or property of Vendor or Vendor’s invitees, whether caused by any negligent act or omission of the releasees or otherwise while the Vendor or invitees of the Vendor is engaged in any way with the use or enjoyment of the Santa Barbara Harbor District.

Vendor acknowledges that other than the issuance of a Vendor Permit to Vendor for Vendor’s use of the Harbor pursuant to the permit, no representation of fact or opinion has been made by the City of Santa Barbara or any of its respective officers, employees or agents, to induce this release, and that Vendor has signed this release freely and voluntarily, after having read it completely and with full knowledge of any rights or privileges that Vendor may be waiving or releasing.

By signing below, I understand and agree to all terms and conditions presented in the Arts & Crafts Vendor Information section located at the begining of this application. I agree to all accompanying stipulations, responsibilities, and conditions in relation to my participation as a vendor at the Harbor & Seafood Festival.