GFree Fest takes place March 20–21, 2027, from 11 am to 5 pm both days, at WaterFire Arts Center (475 Valley Street, Providence, RI).

The event is indoors and takes place rain or shine.

We value community over competition, and we're always looking for positive-minded people who are enthusiastic about promoting their businesses, the events they participate in, and other small businesses in the gluten-free community.

All vendors at GFree Fest must commit to bringing ONLY gluten-free food, beverages, and other consumable products to the event. This includes anything sold, served, sampled, or distributed to attendees.

GFree Fest is owned and hosted by someone with celiac disease, so we understand firsthand how important it is for people with gluten-related dietary restrictions to have access to food they can feel confident eating.

We also recognize that there simply aren't enough dedicated gluten-free businesses out there! We're enthusiastic about working with restaurants, bakeries, and other food producers that are expanding their gluten-free offerings and genuinely take the dietary needs of our community seriously.

Your business does not need to operate an entirely gluten-free facility year-round to participate. However, you must have appropriate procedures in place to prevent gluten cross-contact at every stage of sourcing, preparation, storage, transportation, and service, and be prepared to share details about it with us and attendees.

All accepted vendors are required to sign an agreement confirming their commitment to providing exclusively gluten-free products at GFree Fest, and must reaffirm that commitment upon arrival.

We're particularly interested in businesses that understand the importance of transparency and can confidently answer questions about ingredients, preparation methods, and cross-contact prevention.

As this is primarily a food-focused festival, we prioritize food and beverage businesses, but welcome applications from relevant makers, retailers, and nonprofits.

We review applicants' social media accounts and websites, and your ability and willingness to promote your work and participate in your community is important! We cannot accept applicants with private social media accounts as their only online presence, because we can't promote what we can't see.

We do not, and will never, accept multi-level-marketing vendors.

While we love supporting dedicated gluten-free businesses, we also recognize the importance of encouraging more restaurants, bakeries, and food producers to offer gluten-free options.

What matters is that every product you bring to GFree Fest is gluten-free, and that you have appropriate measures in place to prevent cross-contact with gluten.

We take these requirements seriously, and expect our vendors to do the same.

All products sold, served, sampled, or distributed at GFree Fest must be entirely gluten-free.

Vendors must carefully review their ingredients, including sauces, seasonings, additives, and other components that may contain hidden sources of gluten.

Businesses that also handle gluten-containing ingredients must have appropriate cross-contact prevention protocols in place. This includes attention to shared equipment, preparation surfaces, fryers, utensils, storage areas, and transportation and service practices.

We require accepted vendors to provide information about their preparation facilities and cross-contact prevention procedures.

Vendors must also sign an agreement confirming that they understand and will comply with our gluten-free requirements, both during the acceptance process and upon arrival at the event.

Please do not apply if you cannot confidently meet these requirements.

Transparency is an important part of GFree Fest. All vendors must display table signage indicating how their food is prepared. including whether they operate in a dedicated gluten-free facility or a shared facility. This signage will be provided when you check into the event, and must remain on your table for the duration of the event.

We also encourage attendees to speak directly with vendors about their ingredients and food preparation practices so they can make informed decisions based on their individual dietary needs.

We expect vendors to be knowledgeable, honest, and prepared to answer these questions.

Applications for GFree Fest 2027 are now open and available exclusively through our website at gfreefest.com.

We do not send applications through social media messages or solicit applicants in vendor groups online.

Please beware of scammers! We are not responsible for payments made to individuals or organizations not associated with GFree Fest.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and all applicants will be notified of their status via email.

Be sure to add hello@gfreefest.com to your contacts so our emails don't wind up in your spam folder!

If accepted, you'll receive instructions for completing your vendor agreement, submitting payment, and providing any additional required documentation.

Food and beverage vendors must also submit proof of appropriate insurance and the required Rhode Island Department of Health documentation.

All required forms, payments, and documentation must be received before your booth is considered confirmed.

It isn't personal, we promise!

GFree Fest is a carefully curated event, and we take the application review process seriously.

We consider a variety of factors, including your business's fit with the event, your gluten-free products and preparation practices, your online presence, your participation in your community, the types of products you offer, your location, and the overall balance of vendors at the event.

We aim to feature a mix of established and newer businesses, local favorites, and brands from throughout New England and beyond.

We're also committed to creating a diverse and equitable event and making space for businesses owned by members of historically underrepresented communities.

Because we have limited space and want to offer attendees a wide variety of products, we cannot accept everyone who applies.

PLEASE NOTE: Past participation does not guarantee acceptance to future events. We love our returning vendors, but we're also committed to introducing attendees to new businesses!

We may reach out to waitlisted businesses if an appropriate space becomes available.

Welcome to Rhode Island!

We'll share any available hotel recommendations or discounted room-block information with accepted vendors as the event approaches.

Bring everything you'll need for a successful weekend!

This includes a table and chairs (rentals are available), a 20-foot extension cord and power strip if you've arranged for electricity, a reusable water bottle (WaterFire Arts Center has refill stations), cash for making change, a backup charging brick for your devices, and a hand truck or wheeled cart to make loading in and out easier.

Food vendors should also bring all approved equipment and supplies needed to safely prepare, store, and serve their products, while keeping in mind that this event is fully compostable.

Please do not bring alcohol, drugs, pets, therapy or emotional support animals, or speakers or musical instruments for playing music at your booth. We've got the music covered!

Tents and balloons are not permitted inside the venue.

PLEASE NOTE: Vendors may not tape, nail, tack, or otherwise affix banners, backdrops, merchandise, or other items to the venue's floors or walls. Vendors are responsible for any damage they cause.

If your booth involves water or other liquids, you must keep the floor dry at all times.

All participating food and beverage vendors must provide a certificate of insurance with the required entities listed as additional insured. We'll provide the specific information needed.

Food vendors must also comply with all applicable Rhode Island Department of Health regulations and provide the required permits or certifications.

You'll also need to complete our gluten-free vendor agreement and provide information about your food preparation practices and cross-contact prevention procedures.

If you're unfamiliar with Rhode Island's permitting requirements, we'll help point you in the right direction!

Electricity is available for an additional $50 fee for vendors requiring power beyond ordinary phone and POS charging.

All electrical equipment must be approved in advance.

Vendors may not cook with propane, open flames, or deep fryers indoors. Sterno may be permitted with advance approval.

Please be sure to provide accurate information about your electrical needs before the event.

All vendors must commit to participating for the full duration of both days.

GFree Fest is a two-day event, and we cannot accommodate vendors packing up on Saturday evening or arriving to set up for the first time on Sunday morning.

Leaving early or failing to participate for the full event may affect your eligibility for future events.

WaterFire Arts Center is ADA accessible, and accessible parking is available near the entrance.

If you have questions about accessibility or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Free on-site parking is available for vendors at WaterFire Arts Center, and we will provide a map depicting vendor parking areas to accepted vendors.

We do not recommend leaving vehicles on site overnight. GFree Fest and WaterFire Arts Center are not responsible for any damage, theft, or loss.

Unfortunately, no. Pets are not permitted at GFree Fest.

Service animals individually trained to perform work or tasks for people with disabilities are welcome.

Emotional support and therapy animals are not considered service animals under the ADA and are not permitted under our venue and event policies.

We have a security team that monitors the event and its entrances and exits.

Although we have security on site, we cannot guarantee that theft or loss will not occur. Please secure your belongings and notify a staff member if you notice anything concerning.

GFree Fest and WaterFire Arts Center are not responsible for stolen or lost items.

Vendors are welcome to leave their displays intact overnight.

The venue will be secured after the event closes on Saturday.

However, we strongly recommend taking any valuable merchandise, cash, computers, tablets, phones, and point-of-sale systems with you.

Food vendors must follow all applicable food storage, temperature control, and food safety requirements.

Vendors selected for GFree Fest 2027 must arrive for load-in on Saturday morning at 8 am.

We may also offer an optional Friday evening load-in period, and we'll share details with accepted vendors if that becomes available.

All booths must be completely set up and ready before the event opens at 11 am.

Late arrival may result in forfeiture of your booth space.

Vendor booths are non-refundable and non-transferable.

GFree Fest is a carefully curated event, and all participating businesses must complete our application and acceptance process.

If you can no longer participate, please let us know as soon as possible so we can determine whether we can offer the space to another applicant.

No. Vendor spaces are reserved exclusively for the businesses that applied and were accepted.

Every participating business must complete our application process and meet all applicable state tax, health department, and gluten-free participation requirements.

You cannot invite an unapproved business to sell or distribute products from your booth.

Tables and chairs are available to rent.

We'll provide rental options and pricing to accepted vendors before the event.

We cannot provide table linens, and vendors are responsible for bringing any additional display materials needed for their setups.

GFree Fest follows applicable state and federal requirements related to sales permits and the collection of sales tax.

Vendors are responsible for obtaining the appropriate sales permits and collecting and remitting Rhode Island sales tax on taxable sales.

We'll provide accepted vendors with more information about Rhode Island's requirements.

Failure to comply with applicable sales tax regulations may affect your eligibility to participate in future events.

What can we say? We just like books!

Our free book swap is located near the event check-in area.

Bring along your gently used books and swap them for something new (to you). We'll get the swap started with a collection of books of our own, including some gluten-free cookbooks!

Please, no encyclopedias or textbooks.

Visit our check-in table! Lots of lost items get turned in throughout the weekend.

If you've already left the venue, send us an email or a message through social media and we'll do our best to help.

Don't be a jerk.

We have a zero-tolerance policy for rude, aggressive, discriminatory, or harassing behavior directed toward our staff, venue staff, vendors, or attendees.

We want GFree Fest to be a fun, positive, and welcoming experience for everyone. Anyone who violates this policy may be removed from the event immediately and without a refund.

Please be kind to one another!