ORANGE PARK – Council members discussed potential adjustments for future vendor selection processes at the Orange Park Fall Festival during Tuesday’s Town Hall meeting.
Vice Mayor Winnette Sandlin asked to put the discussion on the agenda after the Oct. 21 meeting brought forth a concern about the annual event.
The Orange Park Fall Festival is the oldest arts and crafts festival in Clay County, featuring over 200 shopping vendors, various food trucks and live entertainment. This year, held on Oct. 18 and 19, the town said the event welcomed more than 40,000 patrons.
While at the event, Sandlin and Mayor Randy Anderson said they heard from several people who had been trying to get a booth at the festival for more than three years.
“One of the people told me that they were told it’s a several-year waiting list. Interestingly enough, one of those people is a business owner in our town.
“We sit here month after month at every meeting, and we say shop local. But, we will not let one of our businesses have priority to have a booth. I have a concern about that.”
This year, in total, 315 vendors applied, and 210 were accepted. Twenty-three vendors this year were brand-new, and 16 were run by town residents, of the 17 that applied.
For the selection process, staff reiterated that the criteria include “creativity, space availability, product mix, history with the Town’s events and the best interests of the overall festival.” Picking town residents as vendors is treated as a veteran’s preference, and returning vendors receive the highest preference based on strategy.
Additionally, staff said it limits the number of similar vendors. Of the two vendors that Sandlin mentioned in particular, staff clarified that one didn’t appear in their records, while the other hadn’t even applied for this year’s festival.
They also stated that the waitlist doesn’t carry over from year to year. Sandlin suggested some clarifications on the selection process.
“If they need to reapply to get on the waiting list, I don’t believe these people know that.”
“It’s those kinds of things that I think at the very least that we can tweak,” she added. “Again, this is to me about transparency. And it’s about supporting our businesses and our residents.”
Sandlin brought a motion to the council to refer the matter to the Culture and Recreation Committee and develop a system that all can understand and follow, which council members voted in favor of.
Additionally, regarding the Fall Festival, one resident advised the council to monitor the locations where vendors are setting up. She said her daughter, who is handicapped, had a hard time utilizing the festival because of the rough terrain.
“The sidewalks that we have, some of the entrances and exits…were blocked by vendors who set their stuff out. I would just appreciate it if we were a little more mindful of that,” she said.