Vendor Booth Information & Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in being a vendor for RAGBRAI 2022. These guidelines are designed to answer some of your questions and assist you in filling out the application. We are very excited about RAGBRAI coming to Mason City on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. We are expecting between 20,000 – 25,000 RAGBRAI participants to spend the night. It is our job to feed all the participants, with the idea that many in the community will be eating as well!! This is not a small job, and we will need the help of many organizations and businesses.
We want every organization and business to be successful, which in turn will make RAGBRAI a success for the whole community.
Do you operate a local business or organization so you don’t need a vendor booth, but would still like to be listed in our official RAGBRAI map? There is a separate application with different pricing linked at the bottom of this page in the application checklist section. We call this the On-Premise Vendor Application.
Vendor Fees: $600-For-Profit vendors. $350-Non-Profit organizations and businesses. Fees apply to all vendors, food, or non-food. Vendor fees will be required before any organization will be permitted to be a RAGBRAI vendor.
With the payment of the vendor fee, vendors will receive a listing in an informational brochure available to RAGBRAI participants in Emmetsburg (the previous overnight stay), as well as upon arrival in Mason City. The brochure will also be available locally. All official RAGBRAI vendors will be featured on official brochure maps.
Locations: Most of the vendors will be located downtown Mason City. A few vendors will be set up in East Park, which is the main campground. Those wishing to set up in East Park should consider serving breakfast on Thursday July 28, 2022.
You will be assigned space approximately 15’x20’. More than one space may be purchased, please indicate any additional space needs you may have. The committee will provide a map of your location when the vendor list is complete.
Hours-On July 27th: Most of the support vehicles will arrive between 8am-noon. The majority of the riders will arrive between the hours of 2-6pm. Most meals will be served between 4-8pm.
It is recommended that vendors remain open until at least 11:00 PM.
Hours-On July 28th: Breakfast can be served at East Park and recommended to start by 4:30am to about 9:00am. Coffee is one beverage that has been requested.
Pricing: It will be up to each vendor to set their own prices. It is recommended by RAGBRAI to have a discount for the registered riders and support personnel wearing wristbands and those wearing the official Mason City RAGBRAI T-Shirt. For example, it could be a free water/drink, a $1.00 off a meal or free dessert.
Signage: Food vendors are responsible for their own signs at their booth. Each vendor will receive an “Official RAGBRAI Vendor” poster, which should be visible. Additionally, churches and other establishments should post signs listing their menus and prices to draw in those who are walking or riding bicycles. Please make sure to post a sign if you are out of food.
When making signs to advertise your location you cannot use RAGBRAI in your signage. You can use “Welcome Riders.”
The food vendor committee recommends that every organization take enough time planning for this event. The groups that plan well and have something creative will do very well. Most participants plan where they are going to eat the night before, so advertising in the brochure will be very beneficial. The committee also recommends that each group projects how much it plans to serve very carefully, so you can sell all the food you prepare.
There are several food suppliers in our community who want to assist you with all your food and supply needs. Please consider purchasing your supplies locally.
Ice: Ice will be available to purchase in the downtown vendor area.
Clean-Up: Vendors will be expected to have their areas as clean when they leave as when they arrived. A $100 clean-up deposit fee is required and will be returned upon inspection and departure. All deposits will be mailed to the address listed on your vendor application. Downtown vendors must clean-up and leave by 12:30 am on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
Electricity: There will be an additional electrical fee of $50. To accommodate this, you must list your electrical needs and uses on your application. Electricity is limited and available on a first come first serve basis based on application date.
Insurance: All vendors will need to provide proof of their liability insurance. A copy of your insurance policy must be included with your application, or your application will be considered incomplete.
Food Safety: Food safety is very important when you feed this many people. All food vendors are required to have a food license. You will need to contact CG Public Health, 2570 4th St. SW. Suite 1, Mason City, Iowa to obtain the appropriate license to serve food at RAGBRAI. You can receive this information by contacting CG Public Health at their website: https://cghealth.com or email: dries@cghealth.com or by calling 641-421-9338.
Booth Set-up: Vendors may begin setting up as early as 7:00am on Wednesday, July 27th. All food vendors must be set up and ready for inspections by 9:00am. Food vendors may start selling food items when they get set up. Food inspections will be conducted throughout the day.
Pre-Meeting: An informational meeting for vendors will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 7 pm located at the North Iowa Commerce Center, 9 North Federal Avenue, Mason City, Iowa. Together with the RAGBRAI Food & Vendor Committee, CG Public Health, and ISU Extension, we will be speaking about food safety, licensing, vendor rules, parking, set up, etc. It is very important that you attend.
Summary of Requirements:
· Application
(either the vendor booth application OR the on-premise vendor application)
· Vendor Fees
· Electrical Requirements
· Copy of Liability Insurance
· Sales Tax Permit Number
· Apply for a food license from CG Public Health
Further contact Information: RAGBRAI Food & Vendor Chairs