FILIPINO FIESTA
Vendor FAQs
SKIP TO: Application Process | Booth/Tent Setup | Product Guidelines | Tent Space Details | Event Marketing | Other
Application Process
What’s the general application process for vendors?
Complete your vendor application form and include all required documents
Within 3-5 business days, you’ll receive a notice if your application has been approved with an invoice and instructions for payment from events@filcom.org
Submit payment by check or credit card
If you’re a food vendor, email the following to events@filcom.org by Friday, April 25, 2025:
Copy of Hawaiʻi Department of Health temporary food establishment permit; and
Certificate of Liability Insurance naming City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaiʻi and The Filipino Community Center, Inc. as additional insured
If you complete your application, sign the agreement, and make payment by the early bird deadline on Sunday, March 16, 2025, you'll be included in our social media promotions and could also appear in media spots, such as print, TV, and radio.
Can I complete a paper form?
No, we don’t have paper forms available and highly encourage submitting your form online to streamline the process.
Can you help me complete my form?
Yes, our friendly FilCom Center staff will be available to assist you with completing your form. We’ll have office hours in February and March with dates to be announced. However, we do encourage submitting your form online.
Can I get my nonprofit booth sponsored?
If you're a nonprofit looking to have a booth at our event, we offer the possibility of sponsorship. Once you apply, we'll place your organization on a sponsorship waitlist. We'll attempt to secure a sponsor for your booth by March 16, 2025. If we're unable to find a sponsor by this date, you'll have the option to pay the nonprofit vendor fee to confirm your booth or choose not to participate.
Booth/Tent Setup
How is the vendor area organized this year, and how will this affect my application as a potential vendor?
This year, we've organized the event into specific zones, including Craft Market, Food/Concession, Street Food Experience, Cultural Village, and Health & Wellness, Kabataan, and Premier. This setup allows for a better-organized attendee experience. Due to the specialized zoning, our selection process for vendors will be more selective, and space in each zone will be limited. We recommend applying early to secure a spot.
Is booth sharing allowed?
No, booth sharing is not permitted. Each vendor is assigned a specific space for their exclusive use to maintain a streamlined and organized event setup.
Can I select my vendor spot at the event?
No, vendor spots are assigned within specific zones based on category to enhance the attendee experience and avoid direct competition between vendors. While you cannot select your own spot, our team will ensure your booth is appropriately placed within its designated zone.
Can I bring my own tent?
No need to bring your own tent. We’ll be providing and setting up tents for all participants to ensure a consistent look and feel throughout the venue. If you have a stand-alone tent, you're more than welcome to personalize it by hanging banners and adding tent walls.
Are there any restrictions on how I can set up my booth display and merchandise?
Vendor booth display and merchandise must be contained within the confines of the booth space. Displays above and beyond boundaries will not be allowed. Banners and signs hanging over booths cannot be higher than 8’. Booth displays shall not obstruct the view or obstruct access to fellow vendors.
FilCom Center doesn’t allow anything to be taped, nailed, tacked or otherwise affixed to ceilings, painted surfaces, doors, glass, fire sprinklers, columns, fabric or decorative walls.
Additionally, all food vendors must have a 2A:10BC fire extinguisher for their tent/booth. Any vendor using grease frying (pans and deep frying) must have a K-Class fire extinguisher as well as a 2A:10BC fire extinguisher within their tent/booth. Date on service tags for all extinguishers shall be less than one year old.
Product Guidelines
What’s the theme for this year's event and how can I incorporate it into my offerings?
This year's theme is "Celebrating Wellness and Heritage through Malunggay." We encourage vendors to integrate malunggay (moringa) into their dishes, products, or activities to align with the theme, although it's not mandatory. This focus is a shift from previous years' general inspirational Filipino quotes/sayings and aims to be reflected throughout the event to promote wellness and cultural significance of malunggay in Filipino culture.
What are the product guidelines for vendors?
All vendor retail products must be suitable for a family audience. We reserve the right to refuse approval to vendors whose products we determine aren't in line with this family-friendly standard.
Can I sell bottled water?
Due to our sustainability policy, there’s no selling of bottled water. Canned juice or soda is allowed. We’ll have two refillable water stations, one near the FilCom building entrance and the other near the Beer Garden.
Tent Space Details
What’s included in my tent space?
For booth vendors, you’ll be one of four vendors under a 20’x20’ tent with a 10’x10’ space per vendor. For all other vendors, except food trucks (unless you’ve indicated in your application) you’ll have a stand-alone 10’x10’ tent. Food vendors will have access to a semi-private sink, water, and electricity. All spaces come with one 6’ table and two chairs. We won’t have extra tables and chairs so bring additional tables and equipment as needed.
Will I have access to electricity?
If you purchased electricity or have electricity included (food and concession vendors), please bring your own extension cords and tape to tape it down.
Is there vendor parking?
Each vendor receives one parking pass included with their booth reservation. Sponsors, due to their additional contributions to the event, are provided with extra parking passes as part of their sponsorship package.
Event Marketing
How can I promote my participation in the event?
About one month prior to the event, organizers will send you a marketing kit via email, which you can use to promote both the event and your participation.
Can I create a Facebook Event for the Fiesta?
This year, we've implemented a new policy around Facebook Events. Vendors are not permitted to create "nonofficial" Facebook events for the Fiesta. Our team will be responsible for creating the official event page. If a nonofficial event is created, we’ll need to enforce this policy by directly reporting the vendor or individual responsible to Facebook.
Other
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
Reach out to your assigned vendor zone representative, or email Vendor Chair Kat Duran-Higa at katduran@live.com for general questions. For payment-related questions, email events@filcom.org.
Be on the lookout for an email from organizers closer to the event with details about the Fiesta Onboarding meeting. At this meeting, we'll share logistical info, provide parking passes, tips to make the most of Fiesta, address questions and more.