First Fridays Food Trucks
First Fridays Food Trucks

Columbia Main Street First Fridays

FIRST FRIDAYS
FOOD TRUCK APPLICATION

Thank you for applying as a Food Truck participant for Columbia Main Street First Fridays. This popular event takes place the first Friday of each month, April through December, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The first block of West 7th Street and the west half of the public square will be closed off for First Fridays where food trucks will set up in designated areas of the street. (Vendors and other participants will no longer be allowed to set up on the public sidewalks anywhere in downtown, only in the First Fridays event area and only approved participants.)

It's important to know that SPACE IS LIMITED. Submitting a completed First Fridays application does not mean guaranteed acceptance to participate. All applications must be reviewed by the Columbia Main Street First Fridays Committee. Every effort will be taken to ensure a great and varied lineup each month.

 

FOOD TRUCK FEE $90

Defined as: Food Truck, Food Tent or Food Trailer

APPLICANT GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS FOR FOOD TRUCKS

  • All Food Truck, Food Trailer, and Food Tent participants must complete a First Fridays application (below) between the 1st and the14th of the month prior to First Fridays to be considered for participation. Applicants will be informed via email of their acceptance status by the 19th of the month. For those accepted applicants, space is not guaranteed until the $90 fee is received via payment portal, mobile vending permit is confirmed (for Food Trucks & Food Trailers), and certificate of insurance has been provided within five days of acceptance email. See "CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE" section below for more details;
  • All Food Truck, Food Trailer, and Food Tent participants are required to have an active Mobile Vending Permit with the City of Columbia. If you do not, you can visit https://www.columbiatn.com/568/Mobile-Vending to obtain one;
  • Participants shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Failure to comply may result in revocation of participation;
  • Participants will be responsible for their equipment and supplies; There is no electricity available;
  • Participants are required to stay for the duration of the event, 5 pm to 8 pm since this is an enclosed area with pedestrian traffic;
  • Participants must post prices for food sales. All fees must be marked and visible to patrons. It is expected that prices will be fair to consumers, the seller, and fellow vendors; collusion among sellers to attempt to influence prices is strictly prohibited;
  • Assigned locations will be provided by the First Fridays Committee upon arrival at First Fridays and participants must stay at their assigned locations;
  • Food Truck, Food Trailer & Food Tent participants are welcome to bring their own seating arrangements for attendees but are fully responsible for setting up, breaking down, and maintaining the overall cleanliness of the area during First Fridays. Please note it on your application if you plan to provide seating.

 



CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE

ALL approved Food Trucks, Trailers & Food Tent participants at First Fridays must carry a minimum of $1,000,000 liability insurance and are required to provide a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Columbia and Columbia Main Street Corporation as additional insured in order to participate in First Fridays. Failure to provide a certificate of insurance results in forfeiture of participation. 

Please CLICK HERE for additional information and various insurance options.
 


 

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

Inclement weather is described as either undesirable or unsafe weather conditions for outdoor events. Inclement weather can come in different forms, a outlined below. This policy is designed to help the event management team identify when forecasted or actual weather conditions require event cancellation.
 

GUIDELINES FOR CANCELLATION BASED ON FORECASTED WEATHER

Event management shall use the National Weather Service for forecasting weather conditions regarding First Fridays.

Trigger to Cancel Event:

  • 0 to 24 Hours Advance Notice = Heat Advisory or Excessive Heat Watch
  • 0 to 12 Hours Advance Notice = Tornado Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Excessive Heat Warning, Rain Chance Greater than 50% during event setup and/or event time
  • During Event = Heat Index of 108 Degrees Fahrenheit, Observed Winds more than 25mph
     

WEATHER INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

  • Email sent to all approved vendors, city officials, and any other parties involved in event management regarding cancellation
  • Social media post on Columbia First Fridays and Columbia Main Street Facebook and Instagram accounts
  • Columbia Main Street website, www.ColumbiaMainStreet.com will be updated to reflect the cancellation
  • If a decision is made to cancel First Fridays based on guidance contained in this policy, vendors may be offered (a) a credit for First Fridays booth space in the current calendar year or (b) a refund of booth fee. Vendor and event management must confirm agreement in writing. 

 


 

APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & COMPLIANCE

  • Applicant agrees to hereby indemnify and hold harmless Columbia Main Street Corporation and the City of Columbia, its appointed or elected officials, employees, agents and sponsors, board members, or representatives from any and all actions, causes of action, or claims of any kind or nature which I or my representative may incur as a result of participation in First Fridays;
  • Applicant agrees to and acknowledges the guidelines and restrictions outlined above; 
  • Applicant agrees to and acknowledges the Inclement Weather Policy;
  • Applicant understands that notice of acceptance status will go out via email by the 19th of the month prior to First Fridays;
  • Payment and certificate of insurance will be due by the 24th of the month prior to First Fridays;
  • Applicant further understands that the organization and its representatives may be photographed or videotaped during the event, and hereby releases and consents to reproduction of such photos and videos for publicity purposes by Columbia Main Street Corporation and the City of Columbia;
  • Once applicant is accepted, this document and the submitted application serve as a contract between applicant, City of Columbia, and Columbia Main Street Corporation to abide by the guidelines and restrictions of the event;
  • Applicant understands that any non-compliance with these guidelines and restrictions may result in the discontinuation of applicant's ability to participate in First Fridays for a timeframe deemed appropriate by the Columbia Main Street First Fridays Committee;
  • By selecting "YES" at the bottom of the application, the applicant is signifying they have read and agree to the terms of this agreement as outlined by Columbia Main Street Corporation and the City of Columbia.

 

Questions? Please contact Columbia Main Street First Fridays Committee: FirstFridays@columbiatn.com