Information for participants

• Basic Info – read this first please! Note: No rentals
• Parade Entries
• Fees
• Applicant Categories
  • Arts & Crafts Vendors
  • Commercial Vendors
  • Food vendors
  • Non-profit Organizations
  • Entertainers
• Applications

Parade details will be announced!

• Please note that the deadline for entries is August 1.
• Parade fees are listed below

APPLICANT BASIC INFORMATION

• BOOTHS: Only one booth per organization, business, or craftsperson. No sharing of booths. The Solano Avenue Association (SAA) reserves the right to refuse space to ANYONE. After receiving your signed application and fees, and upon approval, the SAA will assign all participants, including SAA members, a 15' frontage for food booths; all others a 10' frontage. All spaces are 10' deep, and most have the back against curb. You provide all that you will need: chairs, booth, sunscreen, hats or shade, garbage can. Make your booth COMPLETELY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. A permit of operation will be issued to you by the SAA which must be prominently displayed. It is your responsibility to make your booth both environmentally and physically safe.
• FEES: All fees must be submitted with application and postmarked by category deadline. 50% of your fee will be retained by the SAA in the event of a cancellation up until August 01 - annually. No refunds for cancellations after August 01. See the Fee Schedule for costs.
• WAITING LIST: All late registrations will be put on a waiting list. You will be notified by telephone if you are accepted as space opens up.
• RENTALS: Due to the magnitude of this event, coupled with ongoing difficulties with various rental companies, the Solano Avenue Association will not provide rental equipment like tents, tables and chairs. We recognize that this is an inconvenience and apologize. Pop-up type tents, including portable chairs are availalable at sporting goods stores, including box stores like Target. Compact / fold-up tables can be found at office supply stores; and we can provide food vendors with a reliable company where temporary food serving facilities can be rented.
• INSURANCE: Applicants with hazardous equipment (food booths, rides, games, etc.) must submit a certificate of additional insured with this application or have it faxed or mailed from your agent. Name the Solano Avenue Association and it’s Executive Director as additional insured’s. Policy must be worth no less than one million US dollars. For one day / event insurance we recommend: Dick Wardlow Insurance Co. 800-298-3000
• SELLERS PERMIT: Submit your valid CA Sellers Permit number or an exemption with this application if you are selling anything. It may be obtained by calling the State Board of Equalization 510.622-4100. You are responsible for collecting and reporting all sales tax.
• ELECTRICITY: Available For $25 until July 1 Only! Locations are mainly in Albany and up a 12' pole. The SAA cannot help you access it. Bring your own ladder & cords. Do not use duct tape on the poles, but please tape cords across sidewalks.
• SET UP: 8 a.m.-10 a.m. There is no specific check in site. You may enter Solano with your vehicle until 9:30 a.m. with your booth permit on your dashboard. Please put street barricades back in place if you move them. DRIVE CAREFULLY and when parking DO NOT BLOCK ANY DRIVEWAYS or you will never be invited back to the Solano Avenue Stroll! Respect the residents and business owners on the street, you are their guests. Set booth in the parking strip on Solano Avenue, back to the curb according to the enclosed map. Most locations are not numbered. Leave adequate room so that pedestrians may walk freely down the center of the street. Do not block wheelchair ramps or fire hydrants. All vehicles must be off Solano by 10 a.m. and all traffic regulations will be strictly enforced by the Albany and Berkeley Police Department(s).
• PARKING: There are no parking passes or special parking areas for vendors or festival attendees. Use legal parking spots only.
• EVENT DURATION: Booths open at 10, close at 6. Parade begins at 10:00AM. You may still do business during the parade. Stay open entire length of event, until 6 p.m. or you may not be allowed to participate the following year. Stroll officials will monitor these things.
• CLOSE DOWN: All sales must stop by 6 p.m. Pack up 6-6:30 p.m. Street opens to traffic at 7 p.m. when you may bring your vehicle onto Solano to load up. We realize this is a very short period for closing down and some of you may take longer. Please do not block the traffic lanes.
• EVENT STAFF: Each 3-block area is assigned a block captain to help with any problems. Their shirts say "STROLL PATROL" on the back. They and the police are in communication with the event headquarters which are at 1451 Solano. The SAA has a few booth sitters in the craft area who may come by for bathroom breaks.
• MISC.: Please keep literature distribution and clipboard activity behind your table as we have had many complaints by fairgoers. You may not give away food or drink unless you register as a food booth. No music or amplification in booths. All entertainers must apply using the Entertainers Application. Firecrackers, "snap-pop" type products, silly string, alcohol, and Styrofoam are not allowed.
• EVENT CANCELLATION: In case of extremely bad weather or a natural disaster the show may be canceled at the discretion of the promoter. Call 510.527.5358 for recorded information that morning. No refunds or payments will be made if show is canceled.
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APPLICANT CATEGORIES DEFINED:

Arts & Crafts Vendor
Original, hand-crafted work in any media by the artist who is present.

• Unacceptable are mass-manufactured items, kits, imports, commercial reproductions (except your own cards), foods, or taped music. If you are a designer who has objects manufactured, apply as a commercial vendor.
• Submit 3 photographs of your work, 1 of you in process of making your item, and one of your booth. The photos must be representative of that which is to be sold in your booth. Photos will be used to determine if work juried is the same as that which is in your booth. Photos should be in focus with a solid background. Put your name and address on the back of each. They will be returned after the event. Some may be used in the media for publicity or put on the SAA website.
• Approximately 140 arts & crafts booths in one location. Although we have commercial booths, they are placed elsewhere & cost a lot more.
• Jury consists of the SAA Board of Directors. Results of the jurying will be E-mailed by July 15. Please do not call for results. Your canceled booth fee check, not the jury check, means you are accepted.
• Original artists / crafters must be present to display their work. No agents or representatives.
• Electricity is EXTREMELY LIMITED in the Arts and Crafts section of the Solano Avenue Stroll.
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Commercial Vendor
Businesses not located within one block of Solano Avenue in Berkeley or Albany. Goods or services offered may not be competitive with any existing member business of the SAA.

Food - Preparation and Commercially Pre-Packaged Food or Sampling
Food preparation is sales or give-a-way of food prepared on or off site for immediate consumption.
Prepackaged items are items that must be pre-packaged, and not for immediate consumption, except sampling.

• No sales of alcohol. No Styrofoam allowed in Albany and Berkeley. No sales of any goods other than food or drink. No plastic utensils.
• THIS IS THE CONFUSING PART so please read: One half of the Solano Avenue Stroll is in Berkeley, The other half is in Albany - two different cities, both with individual guidelines and fees. So there are four food vendor license possibilities:
  1. Berkeley food vendor - prepackaged food ($38.00)
  2. Berkeley food vendor - food preparation ($157.00)
  3. Albany food vendor - prepackaged food ($61.00)
  4. Albany food vendor - food preparation ($121.00)
• In Albany you will be under the jurisdiction of the Alameda County Health Department
• In Berkeley you will be under the Jurisdiction of the City of Berkeley Health and Human Services
• What city will you be in? Do you have preference? If so, please indicate your preferred location on your Stroll application. Both cities / both the Albany and Berkeley ends of the Avenue are great for the food vendors, so we leave the decision up to you!
• Return enclosed Health Department forms to the SAA with this application. Include all Health Department fees payable to Alameda County Health Department or City of Berkeley (whichever form is enclosed). The Health Department(s) have strict standards for temporary food service. Detailed information is available with these links:
  • Alameda County Health Department (Albany Participants)
  • City of Berkeley Health and Human Services (Berkeley Participants)

Activity
Commercial activities such as inflatables, rides, petting zoos, slides, etc.

Art Activity
Commercial hands-on-activity such as palm or tarot card reading, or art projects.

Sales/Services
Commercial goods and/or services for sale or promotion.

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Nonprofit Organizations

Any organization that can provide proof of nonprofit status with this application.
No music or loud sounds unless you apply as an entertainer by June 1 & pass the audition.

Nonprofit: Food
Sales or give-a-way of food prepared on or off site for immediate consumption.

• Booth must be staffed and produced by the organization. No outside food vendors will be allowed to have a booth as a representative for the organization.
• All rules for Commercial Food Vendors apply.

Nonprofit: Information and/or Fundraising
Distribution and/or collection of information only.

• You may raise money by donation, raffles, memberships and/or materials donated to you.
• You may sell or give away promotional materials about your organization.
• You must charge, report and pay sales tax for goods sold unless you submit an exemption.
• Keep literature distribution and clipboard activity behind your table.
• If you are hosting a game booth, no cash prizes or live animals are allowed. Small toys, balloons and other prizes are acceptable. We encourage you to have game booths rather than sell products. Call us for great booth ideas!
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FEES 2008

(Please note that the Solano Avenue Association has not raised it's fees since 2004.)

You must apply by July 1, or as noted by August 1.

Applicants See Definitions Above	Fees (checks ok)	Deadline	Late: July 2-August 1 (Money Orders only)
Arts & Crafts Vendor	$140 + $10 Jury, separate checks	June 15	Late: June 15-August 1 $210 (money order) + $10 Jury, separate check
Solano Avenue Business*	Dues	Deadline	Late
Individual	$40	July 1	not an option
Organization	$70
Property Owner	$135
Business: 1-5 workers	$135
Business: 6-9 workers	$195
Business: 10+ workers	$310
Commercial Vendor*/**	Fees	Deadline	Late: July 2-August 1
Prepackaged food	$175*	July 1	not an option
Food	$500*		not an option
Art Activity	$150		$225 (money order)
Activity	$325		$450 (money order)
Sales/Services/Info	$350		$475 (money order)
Non-Profit Organizations**	Fees	Deadline	Late: July 2-August 1
Food	$250*	July 1	not an option
Information/Fundraising	$100		$150 (money order)
Parade	Fees	Deadline	Late: July 2-August 1
Non-SAA Members	$50	July 1	$100 (money order)
Vehicles (Show parking only - not in parade)	Fees	Deadline	Late: July 2-August 1
Non-commercial	$25	July 1	$50
Commercial	$50		$475 (money order)
OTHER FEES
* Health Department Fees: $157/$38 in Berkeley $121/$61 in Albany Enclose separate check to City of Berkeley or Alameda County Health Department mailed to the SAA with this application. For details from the respective city websites please see: Alameda County Health Department (Albany Participants) City of Berkeley Health and Human Services (Berkeley Participants)
** Minimal electricity is available in lower Albany for $25 (not for crafts or vehicles).

 

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Copyright SAA, 2001-2008
Updated 4/08

Phone 510/527-5358
Mail (mail only, the SAA office is not located here):
Solano Avenue Association, 1563 Solano Ave. PMB#101, Berkeley, CA 94707

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