Please note

The BBQ Fest on the Neuse Committee reserves the right to accept or deny any or all applications.

Deadline

The application deadline is April 17, 2026.

Picture

Your entry is not complete without sending a picture of your set-up. The picture should represent how your space will appear at our festival. Pictures of your set-up taken at other events are acceptable. You will not receive festival arrival information until pictures are received. All vendor questions and booth pictures should be emailed to kfmohrfe@ncsu.edu. You may also reach her at 252-527-2191.

Electricity

Electricity is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Vendors must provide their own heavy-duty extension cords. If you need electricity, please email a picture of your plug to kfmohrfe@ncsu.edu.

Water

Water is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Vendors must provide their own food-grade water hoses.

Note: Water hookups are limited in Zone 1C. If you need water hookup, it’s better to be in Zones 1A and 1B. If you prefer to still be in Zone 1C and need water hookup, please contact Kaelyn Mohrfeld at kfmohrfe@ncsu.edu.

Hours

Vendors are expected to be in operation on Friday, from 5pm - 10pm and again on Saturday, from 10am - 7pm.

Vendor vehicles and breakdown

No vendor vehicles will be allowed on the festival grounds after 4pm, Friday.

Vendors will need to begin to break down their displays at 7pm, Saturday. To allow festival attendees to exit safely, no vendor vehicles will be allowed to move into or around the festival grounds until 7pm on Saturday.

Vendor Staging

To make the vendor check-in more efficient, vendors will be staged in an area outside of the festival area - Atlantic Avenue intersection with Mitchell Street at railroad crossing - 300 Atlantic Avenue, Kinston. Festival staff will direct you to your position. You will receive detailed arrival instructions once payment and photo of your display are received.

Security

Overnight security will be provided.

Contact

All vendor questions and booth pictures should be emailed to kfmohrfe@ncsu.edu. You may also reach her at 252-527-2191.

IMPORTANT

All festival vendors are required to read and agree to adhere to the FESTIVAL GUIDELINES.

Health Department Permit for Food Vendors

All food vendors must submit a Lenoir County Environmental Health Department permit two weeks prior to the event.

Download the Temporary Food Establishment Permit Application & Checklist

252-526-4248 | P.O. Box 3385 | Kinston, NC 28502

Space

The vendor area and each “quantity” in the drop-down menu below are 10-feet by 10-feet.

Example:
Quantity of 1 = 10’x10’
Quantity of 2 = 10’x20’
Quantity of 3 = 10’x30’
Quantity of 4 = 10’x40’

Priority Zone Preference

The 2026 BBQ Fest on the Neuse offers preferences for our Vendor Priority Zones.

NEW FOR 2026: You will get to choose your Priority Zone preference in two drop downs - your 1st choice and your 2nd choice. As always, the BBQ Fest on the Neuse is a first come, first serve festival where priority is given to long-returning vendors.

See the map here for more details on Priority Zone placement.

Priority Zone 1A = $400 for a 10’x'10’ space (Herritage Street from W. Caswell to Gordon Street)
Priority Zone 1B = $400 for a 10’x'10’ space (Gordon Street from Herritage to Mitchell Street)
Priority Zone 1C = $400 for a 10’x'10’ space (Herritage Street from Gordon to North Street)
Priority Zone 2 = $400 for a 10’x'10’ space (West North Street from Herritage to Mitchell)

For example, if you need a 10’x20’ space in Priority Zone 1A, then your vendor fee would be a Quantity of 2 x $400 = $800.

Note: Water hookups are limited in Zone 1C. If you need water hookup, it’s better to be in Zones 1A and 1B. If you prefer to still be in Zone 1C and need water hookup, please contact Kaelyn Mohrfeld at kfmohrfe@ncsu.edu.