Important Dates

When is the festival?
20-22 of February 2009

What are the Festival opening times for Exhibitors?
Friday 20th - 10am to 6pm
Saturday 21st - 10am to 6pm
Sunday 22nd - 10am to 5pm
All exhibitors are required to be at their site no later than half an hour prior to opening times.

When does the Early Bird discount (business exhibitors and food vendors) end?
28th of November

When do I find out my site location?
Your site location will be made available to you when you get your ‘Festival’ information kit in February.

Applications

How much does it cost?
Each application will take you through the various costs involved. Please refer to the appropriate application form, or contact the Festival's exhibitor team.

What is the selection process?
The Sustainable Living Festival will review your application based on a set criteria with the aid of positive and negative screening tools, and consultation with  community groups, peak bodies and specialists. Please read the Festival criteria carefully before applying.

When do I have to pay?
Your payment will be processed once we have approved your application, you will be notified of this upon acceptance.

How long will the selection process take?
Please be patient and understand that we will try to process your application as soon as possible.

Can I have a bare earth site?
Bare earth sites are available for special circumstances. Please contact the Sustainable Living Festival for further information.

What is a Premium Sites?
Some locations are classed as premium sites, and a higher price is charged for these. Your application form will indicate if you are eligible to apply for a premium site. (Please note that premium sites are limited in number, so your application may not be successful)

What does ‘Signage Name’ refer to?
This is the text that will appear on your sign that will be displayed above your exhibit onsite during the Festival.

Eco-Id

What is the Eco-Id?
Eco ID is a profiling tool that aims to highlight the positive sustainability features of your organisation. Your Eco-Id will be displayed at your exhibit during the Festival. Information is available on how you can improve your eco-id.

How do I fill out my Eco-Id?
All questions on the Eco-Id must be filled out for it to have any meaning.

What if something on the Eco-Id does not apply to me?
With careful thought you can attribute every question on the Eco-Id to your organisation.

Should I qualify any of my answers?
No additional information is required.

Festival Services

What services are available?
Each application form will list the services available, and the associated costs. Services include: furniture, power and water.

Can I bring my own furniture?
Yes.

Why do the electrical and water services cost money?
A qualified electrician and plumber is required to connect ALL electrical and water connections at the Festival. All electrical equipment needs to be tagged.

Festival

Where can I find lower cost insurance cover?
If your looking for lower cost insurance cover for your organisation you might consider these insurance options.

When do I set my exhibit up?
You will be given a Festival 'Exhibitor Information Kit' in February detailing what time to arrive on Thursday 19th Feb. This time period will be based on information you provide for us in your ‘Confirmation Kit’, and must be strictly adhered to.

How do I pack up at the end?
Detailed information on how to pack up will be supplied in the Festival 'Exhibitor Information Kit' . At the end of the Festival, Sunday 22nd Feb, no earlier than 6pm, you will be issued a permit to retrieve your car to bring onto the site to load up. You will be required to fully pack up before you are able to retrieve your car.

What are the marquees?
Marquees are white vinyl sided enclosures in multiples of 3 x 3 m. Larger marquees (6x3, 9x3 etc) may have a support pole at 3m intervals across the entrance. The entrance height is 2.1m, the internal wall height is 2.1m, and the apex height of your marquee is 3.4m.  Displays that are large, rigid and higher than 2.1m should be discussed with the Exhibitor Co-ordinator by February 2nd.  Other displays reaching to less than 2.1 metres should be fine. You may have a private marquee space, or you may be sharing a space, and the side walls can be opened up with the approval of your neighbour.

Do I need signage?
You will be provided with an exhibitor sign, but you are welcome to bring your own if you wish. Please note all promotional signage must be kept with in your allocated space.

Will there be security onsite?
Yes. Federation Square security will patrol the Festival during the day and during the night. Please don't leave valuable items in your exhibitor stand.

Can I lock up my equipment?
No. Any equipment you leave onsite over night will remain in your marquee with the entrance tied down. Federation Square security will patrol the Festival site over night.

What do I need an electrician for?
An electrician is required to inspect all electrical equipment to be used at the Festival, and ‘tag’ it to indicate it is safe. You are required to ‘tag’ all equipment before the Festival.

Do I need an electrician to tag my laptop?
No, you only need an electrician to tag an extension cord if you will be using one. The laptop, power cord and adaptor do not require a tag.

Location / Onsite

Where can I park?
There is a car park available at Federation Square that will be available to exhibitors at a discounted rate.

Can I park oversized vehicles?
Yes. Oversized vehicle parking will be available in a special paddock next to Federation Square. Parking here is not free.

When do I get my vehicle pass?
You will be issued your vehicle pass in your 'Exhibitor Information Kit'.

Food Stalls

Is there a cool room available?
Please contact us on the availability of a cool room.

Do I need a food permit from Melbourne City Council?
Yes.

What can I sell?
All food vendors must sell vegetarian or vegan food at the Festival. You are required to provide the Festival organisers a copy of your menu for the Festival for approval.

What if I sell meat at my shop?
So long as you do not sell meat at the Festival, it is okay (this includes seafood).

What is the Waste Wise Agreement?
A Waste Wise event is an event that adheres to a strict set of waste management rules designed to reduce the impact of the event. Your responsibilities to the agreement are listed on the 'Confirmation Kit' which you can fill out once you have been accepted to exhibit.

What is Wash Against Waste?
Wash Against Waste is an element of the Waste Wise Agreement that provides a dish washing trailer at the event. Food vendors will be supplied with dishes to serve their food on, and volunteers will collect and wash them. This is remove any waste attributed to food distribution items.