Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival Vendor Application
If you are interested in being a vendor at the Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival, please read through the Vendor Requirements below. If you have any questions please email us at [email protected]
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is proud to host over 10,000 patrons across two weekends in the unique setting of Sir William’s Hollow. Our goal is to provide a high-traffic, high-quality environment where local artisans and vendors can thrive.
Below, you'll find detailed pricing information for booths. Typically, vendors are required to pay a base fee upon application. Additionally, a percentage of gross sales is remitted, based on the type of booth. The base fee is deducted from the remitted percentage. If a vendor's application is not accepted, the base fee will be refunded.
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is proud to host over 10,000 patrons across two weekends in the unique setting of Sir William’s Hollow. Our goal is to provide a high-traffic, high-quality environment where local artisans and vendors can thrive.
Below, you'll find detailed pricing information for booths. Typically, vendors are required to pay a base fee upon application. Additionally, a percentage of gross sales is remitted, based on the type of booth. The base fee is deducted from the remitted percentage. If a vendor's application is not accepted, the base fee will be refunded.
Mailing Address:
Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival
608 W Bertrand Avenue
Saint Marys, Kansas 66536
Attention:
General Vendor Information, Rules, and Regulations
Richard II - September 25-27 and October 2-4 Note: There will be a special showing of the play without the festival on Thursday, October 1, which vendors may attend for free with their Vendor Bracelet.
VENDOR BEHAVIOR - Vendors are expected to always remain courteous to customers, festival staff, and fellow vendors. Inappropriate, disrespectful, or aggressive language or behavior will result in immediate and permanent removal from the festival.
VENDOR BRACELETS - Each vendor booth will receive four vendor admission bracelets. Additional bracelets may be purchased for $12. Additional bracelets must be purchased before the festival. Everyone in your booth must have a bracelet on them at all times. No entry without bracelet. Bracelets may be transferred between persons in your booth. There will be a fee for any replacement passes. Additional vendor bracelets are intended for the immediate family of the booth owner for booth workers for large booths.
HOURS OF OPERATION - The vendor shall be required to have the booth open and available to the public, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and the end of intermission on each date for which the booth is rented unless otherwise authorized in writing. Failure to keep the booth open between the required hours shall result in an immediate termination of the Vendor’s right to continue occupation of the booth. There must always be at least one adult (18+) present in a booth while it is in operation.
GROSS SALES REIMBURSEMENT AND PRICING – See “Booth Pricing” section.
SET UP / TEAR DOWN INFORMATION - Following booth assignments, the gates will typically be open from early morning until sunset Monday-Saturday. Vendors, their families, and helpers are permitted at the grounds for booth maintenance and set-up during this time.
For setup purposes on show days, vendors must arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. No vehicles are allowed on the paths; please plan to bring a wagon or extra help to get your items to your booth. The festival will have one UTV available for heavier items only from 3:30-4:30 on the days of the festival. All booths must be set up and ready to sell by 5:00 p.m. Repeated instances of unpreparedness or tardiness will result in the rejection of future vendor applications.
Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, and extension cords.
Final tear down may begin immediately following the end of intermission on the final Sunday of the festival. Any vendor that tears down prior to this time without authorization may not be allowed to attend the following year.
All personal items, furniture, and trash must be removed by October 13. Notices with photographs will be sent by October 10 if a booth is still cluttered. There will be a $100 fee for any clearing done after the 13th, which will go directly to the volunteers involved in cleaning the area.
ELECTRICITY - One 120V outlet and one 60W light is provided free in each booth. However, vendors must declare everything they will be plugging into their booth upon registration. The power grid is limited; the festival reserves the right to limit power.
COMMAND CENTRAL & EMERGENCY INFORMATION - The "Command Central" will be located in the Gift Shop and will be the central point for all emergencies, lost persons/items and assistance for any needs. At any time vendors may ask a festival volunteer for assistance or go to the Command Central location to get help on any matter.
SECURITY - will be supplied by the festival host throughout each event from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Security will not be available at night after the park has closed. You are responsible for securing all items in and around your booth. By submitting your vendor registration you accept this responsibility. FHSF is not responsible for lost or damaged items.
TRASH - Each vendor must maintain a clean area around their booth. Larger items and trash bags may be disposed of in the festival dumpster located on the north side of the parking lot.
INCLEMENT WEATHER - Weather cancellation decisions may be made up to one hour before an event. Cancellations will be conveyed to vendors and volunteers through group text or phone call and posted to the FHSF Facebook page. Vendors are expected to show up unless cancellation is announced. There will be no refunds for cancellations due to weather. In the event that two or more of the scheduled festival nights are cancelled due to inclement weather or mud, rain dates may be announced for a subsequent weekend. Notification will be texted, emailed, posted on the website, and on the Festival’s Facebook page. If an extra rain date weekend is needed, vendors will not strictly be required to attend but are asked to be open to the idea. Vendors are asked to please plan accordingly.
BOOTH CONTENT - Items should be homemade or handmade unless express consent is given by the FHSF in writing. Every type of item sold in vendor booths must be approved upon registration. No additional items may be added without written consent. Objects in vendor booths deemed by staff to be inappropriate or substantially outside the general theme of the festival must be immediately removed upon the request of festival staff. Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival, Inc. reserves the right to reject or remove from sale any items considered unsuitable.
USE OF FHSF LOGO - The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival (FHSF) name, its logo, and official art are reserved only to the FHSF for its own use.
ALCOHOL - The sale of alcohol for immediate consumption is restricted to FHSF booths, such as the George Pub and the Village Vitner. No outside alcohol is allowed on FHSF property.
RAFFLES/DRAWINGS - For exhibitors who are planning on any type of giveaway promotion please read the law pertaining to the use of raffles in the state of Kansas.
ANIMALS - No live animals are to be used in booths as either entertainment or prizes. Exceptions are granted for specific attractions with large animals, such as pony rides or petting zoos.
PETS - No pets or animals are permitted in vendor areas except for service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A service animal is defined as a dog or, in some cases, a miniature horse that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks or work for a person with a disability. The tasks or work performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person's disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under the ADA.
Vendors with service animals must maintain control of their animals at all times and ensure that animals are harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the individual's disability prevents using these devices.
In compliance with the ADA, festival management may ask a vendor to remove a service animal from the premises if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it. If a service animal is removed, the vendor will be permitted to continue participating in festival activities without the animal present.
As permitted by the ADA, festival staff may only ask two specific questions when it is not obvious what service an animal provides: (1) is the animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform. Staff will not request documentation for the animal, require that the animal demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.
BUILDING ADDITIONS - All building additions must be approved by festival. If addition is initiated by the vendor, it must be paid for by the vendor.
VIP AREA - The VIP area and its complimentary food and drinks are reserved for VIPs and FHSF staff only. This area is not open for vendor or public use.
Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival
608 W Bertrand Avenue
Saint Marys, Kansas 66536
Attention:
- Applications must be submitted online, no later than June 30, 2026.
- Late applications will be charged a $25 late fee.
- Applications received after June 30, 2026 will be rejected for 2025 but added to the waitlist in the order received.
- No new booths will be added for 2026 after June 30th unless booth space opens up. If booth space opens up after June 30th, archived applications will be considered in the order received or at the discretion of FHSF.
General Vendor Information, Rules, and Regulations
Richard II - September 25-27 and October 2-4 Note: There will be a special showing of the play without the festival on Thursday, October 1, which vendors may attend for free with their Vendor Bracelet.
VENDOR BEHAVIOR - Vendors are expected to always remain courteous to customers, festival staff, and fellow vendors. Inappropriate, disrespectful, or aggressive language or behavior will result in immediate and permanent removal from the festival.
VENDOR BRACELETS - Each vendor booth will receive four vendor admission bracelets. Additional bracelets may be purchased for $12. Additional bracelets must be purchased before the festival. Everyone in your booth must have a bracelet on them at all times. No entry without bracelet. Bracelets may be transferred between persons in your booth. There will be a fee for any replacement passes. Additional vendor bracelets are intended for the immediate family of the booth owner for booth workers for large booths.
HOURS OF OPERATION - The vendor shall be required to have the booth open and available to the public, between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and the end of intermission on each date for which the booth is rented unless otherwise authorized in writing. Failure to keep the booth open between the required hours shall result in an immediate termination of the Vendor’s right to continue occupation of the booth. There must always be at least one adult (18+) present in a booth while it is in operation.
GROSS SALES REIMBURSEMENT AND PRICING – See “Booth Pricing” section.
SET UP / TEAR DOWN INFORMATION - Following booth assignments, the gates will typically be open from early morning until sunset Monday-Saturday. Vendors, their families, and helpers are permitted at the grounds for booth maintenance and set-up during this time.
For setup purposes on show days, vendors must arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. No vehicles are allowed on the paths; please plan to bring a wagon or extra help to get your items to your booth. The festival will have one UTV available for heavier items only from 3:30-4:30 on the days of the festival. All booths must be set up and ready to sell by 5:00 p.m. Repeated instances of unpreparedness or tardiness will result in the rejection of future vendor applications.
Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, and extension cords.
Final tear down may begin immediately following the end of intermission on the final Sunday of the festival. Any vendor that tears down prior to this time without authorization may not be allowed to attend the following year.
All personal items, furniture, and trash must be removed by October 13. Notices with photographs will be sent by October 10 if a booth is still cluttered. There will be a $100 fee for any clearing done after the 13th, which will go directly to the volunteers involved in cleaning the area.
ELECTRICITY - One 120V outlet and one 60W light is provided free in each booth. However, vendors must declare everything they will be plugging into their booth upon registration. The power grid is limited; the festival reserves the right to limit power.
COMMAND CENTRAL & EMERGENCY INFORMATION - The "Command Central" will be located in the Gift Shop and will be the central point for all emergencies, lost persons/items and assistance for any needs. At any time vendors may ask a festival volunteer for assistance or go to the Command Central location to get help on any matter.
SECURITY - will be supplied by the festival host throughout each event from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Security will not be available at night after the park has closed. You are responsible for securing all items in and around your booth. By submitting your vendor registration you accept this responsibility. FHSF is not responsible for lost or damaged items.
TRASH - Each vendor must maintain a clean area around their booth. Larger items and trash bags may be disposed of in the festival dumpster located on the north side of the parking lot.
INCLEMENT WEATHER - Weather cancellation decisions may be made up to one hour before an event. Cancellations will be conveyed to vendors and volunteers through group text or phone call and posted to the FHSF Facebook page. Vendors are expected to show up unless cancellation is announced. There will be no refunds for cancellations due to weather. In the event that two or more of the scheduled festival nights are cancelled due to inclement weather or mud, rain dates may be announced for a subsequent weekend. Notification will be texted, emailed, posted on the website, and on the Festival’s Facebook page. If an extra rain date weekend is needed, vendors will not strictly be required to attend but are asked to be open to the idea. Vendors are asked to please plan accordingly.
BOOTH CONTENT - Items should be homemade or handmade unless express consent is given by the FHSF in writing. Every type of item sold in vendor booths must be approved upon registration. No additional items may be added without written consent. Objects in vendor booths deemed by staff to be inappropriate or substantially outside the general theme of the festival must be immediately removed upon the request of festival staff. Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival, Inc. reserves the right to reject or remove from sale any items considered unsuitable.
USE OF FHSF LOGO - The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival (FHSF) name, its logo, and official art are reserved only to the FHSF for its own use.
ALCOHOL - The sale of alcohol for immediate consumption is restricted to FHSF booths, such as the George Pub and the Village Vitner. No outside alcohol is allowed on FHSF property.
RAFFLES/DRAWINGS - For exhibitors who are planning on any type of giveaway promotion please read the law pertaining to the use of raffles in the state of Kansas.
ANIMALS - No live animals are to be used in booths as either entertainment or prizes. Exceptions are granted for specific attractions with large animals, such as pony rides or petting zoos.
PETS - No pets or animals are permitted in vendor areas except for service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A service animal is defined as a dog or, in some cases, a miniature horse that has been individually trained to perform specific tasks or work for a person with a disability. The tasks or work performed by the service animal must be directly related to the person's disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under the ADA.
Vendors with service animals must maintain control of their animals at all times and ensure that animals are harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the individual's disability prevents using these devices.
In compliance with the ADA, festival management may ask a vendor to remove a service animal from the premises if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it. If a service animal is removed, the vendor will be permitted to continue participating in festival activities without the animal present.
As permitted by the ADA, festival staff may only ask two specific questions when it is not obvious what service an animal provides: (1) is the animal required because of a disability, and (2) what work or task has the animal been trained to perform. Staff will not request documentation for the animal, require that the animal demonstrate its task, or inquire about the nature of the person's disability.
BUILDING ADDITIONS - All building additions must be approved by festival. If addition is initiated by the vendor, it must be paid for by the vendor.
VIP AREA - The VIP area and its complimentary food and drinks are reserved for VIPs and FHSF staff only. This area is not open for vendor or public use.
Booth Pricing
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival operates on a "Base Fee + Percentage" model. Your Base Fee acts as a deposit and is credited toward your final dues.
1. Vendor Tiers & Fees
2. Defining "Gross Sales" & Examples
To ensure a fair partnership, we define Gross Sales as your total revenue generated from the price of your goods, excluding sales tax. You should not pay the Festival a percentage of the tax you collect for the state.
Example A: Food Vendor (15% Remittance)
Example B: Game Operator (20% Remittance)
Example C: Merchandiser (Flat Fee)
3. Shakesbucks
Shakesbucks are $10 vouchers given to VIPs and staff. Treat these as cash.
4. Remittance & Deadlines
Following the festival, please report your total earnings to FHSF. We will email an invoice that can be paid online or by check.
Mail Checks to:
Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival
608 W Bertrand Avenue
Saint Marys, Kansas 66536
(Please make checks payable to "FHSF")
1. Vendor Tiers & Fees
- Food Vendors ($100 Base Fee): Any booth selling one or more food items. Remit 15% of gross sales (minus base fee).
- Game Operators ($100 Base Fee): Any booth operating games of skill or chance. Remit 20% of gross sales (minus base fee).
- Merchandisers ($100 Flat Fee): Selling non-food/non-game items. No percentage due.
- Exhibitors ($25 Base Fee): Booths for display/information only. No sales permitted.
- Non-Profits ($0 Base Fee): Must provide 501(c)(3) proof. Sales require an agreed-upon nominal fee or volunteer barter.
- Multi-Vendor Booths: Booths may be shared; however, each vendor is a separate entity and must submit an individual application and base fee.
2. Defining "Gross Sales" & Examples
To ensure a fair partnership, we define Gross Sales as your total revenue generated from the price of your goods, excluding sales tax. You should not pay the Festival a percentage of the tax you collect for the state.
Example A: Food Vendor (15% Remittance)
- Total Collected at Register: $2,180 ($2,000 in food + $180 in state sales tax).
- Your Reportable Gross Sales: $2,000.
- The Math: 15% of $2,000 = $300 total dues.
- Final Payment: $300 minus your $100 Base Fee = $200 owed to FHSF.
Example B: Game Operator (20% Remittance)
- Total Collected at Register: $436 ($400 in games + $36 in state sales tax).
- Your Reportable Gross Sales: $400.
- The Math: 20% of $400 = $80 total dues.
- Final Payment: Since your dues ($80) are less than your $100 Base Fee, FHSF will refund you $20.
Example C: Merchandiser (Flat Fee)
- Total Collected at Register: $5,000.
- The Math: Because Merchandisers pay a flat $100 fee, no percentage is owed regardless of your sales volume.
3. Shakesbucks
Shakesbucks are $10 vouchers given to VIPs and staff. Treat these as cash.
- Change Policy: If a customer’s total is $8, collect the $10 Shakesbuck and return $2 in cash change.
- Redemption: You may trade them for cash at the Bard’s Gift Shop each night (after the front gate closes) OR mail them with your year-end dues to reduce the amount you owe.
- Deadline: Shakesbucks must be submitted by October 31st, 2026. They will not be honored after this date.
4. Remittance & Deadlines
Following the festival, please report your total earnings to FHSF. We will email an invoice that can be paid online or by check.
- Payment Deadline: Invoices must be paid by October 31st, 2026 to avoid a 10% late fee.
- Final Cutoff: Failure to submit dues by December 31st, 2026 will disqualify the vendor from applying for the 2027 festival.
Mail Checks to:
Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival
608 W Bertrand Avenue
Saint Marys, Kansas 66536
(Please make checks payable to "FHSF")
Sales Tax
Per Kansas Law, the festival is required to:
Licensing
No KDA license is required if a vendor is selling no more than six times a year.
Participation in the FHSF constitutes two of those six times as each weekend is considered one fundraising “event”.
Food Vendors (information taken from Kansas Sampler Festival Website):
A Kansas food license is required except for vendors participating SIX DAYS or less a year. (This does not mean 6 events a year - for instance, if you participate in 2 events and they last two days each, then you have used up four of your six days allowed) If you have a food vending business that attends more than six days a year you must purchase a food license. To submit an application please go to this link.
Food vendors are responsible for paying their own sales tax. For information about events sales tax please see the KDOR Website.
Food vendors are responsible to make sure they meet Kansas Department of Agriculture health guidelines. Food safety information can be obtained at the Kansas Department of Agriculture's website:
Every item sold in a concession must be approved by the festival committee.
Festival observers will check vendor foods at the festival. Vendors may be asked to remove an item if it wasn't approved.
Festival Theme
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is a classical-arts village festival focused on William Shakespeare, his plays, and his era in Europe. Festival buildings will be designed to imitate, Tudor, Roman, and Tuscan architectural designs. All booths should strive to conform to these themes in their decorations, their offering, and in their choice of names. Festival wares should be handmade and local unless otherwise approved in writing. The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is not a Renaissance festival, less a medieval anachronistic faire, and more a living contemporary celebration of classical art and culture.
Mission Statement
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is a Saint Mary’s, community-based initiative focused on 1) providing outdoor Shakespearean theatre using local talent 2) educating Kansas families, and 3) creating a family-friendly, rural outdoor classical arts venue for the region.
Vision Statement
As a premier fine arts outdoor festival in the Flint Hills, we hope to help educate Kansas families by providing opportunities for them to better understand, participate in, and appreciate the fine arts - most importantly, through the live performance of the plays of William Shakespeare and through interactive workshops and works of art created by regional Kansas artists, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs.
Along the way, we would like to demonstrate how rural quality of life can be positively affected by providing semi- professional and professional level entertainment to small town audiences using local talent. To do this we will provide continuing education opportunities for our actors and directors by bringing in guest workshop instructors.
We hope to encourage tourism to our beautiful Flint Hills region by being located amidst its unique natural beauty and by showcasing it in our venue design.
At our peak our vision is to be a well-known, outdoor Kansas venue with a finished village festival and a beautiful outdoor amphitheater using regional actors, artists and craftspeople to educate and entertain.
Per Kansas Law, the festival is required to:
- Notify the state of the dates of the festival
- Provide all vendors with sales tax packets received from the state
- Distribute the packets to all vendors
- Inform the vendors of their duty to remit the sales tax collected.
- Get the Vendor’s sales tax number or get them to sign a statement that they will remit the sales tax as instructed in the packets.
- Provide the state with a list of the actual vendors and their sales tax registration numbers if they have one.
Licensing
No KDA license is required if a vendor is selling no more than six times a year.
Participation in the FHSF constitutes two of those six times as each weekend is considered one fundraising “event”.
Food Vendors (information taken from Kansas Sampler Festival Website):
A Kansas food license is required except for vendors participating SIX DAYS or less a year. (This does not mean 6 events a year - for instance, if you participate in 2 events and they last two days each, then you have used up four of your six days allowed) If you have a food vending business that attends more than six days a year you must purchase a food license. To submit an application please go to this link.
Food vendors are responsible for paying their own sales tax. For information about events sales tax please see the KDOR Website.
Food vendors are responsible to make sure they meet Kansas Department of Agriculture health guidelines. Food safety information can be obtained at the Kansas Department of Agriculture's website:
Every item sold in a concession must be approved by the festival committee.
Festival observers will check vendor foods at the festival. Vendors may be asked to remove an item if it wasn't approved.
Festival Theme
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is a classical-arts village festival focused on William Shakespeare, his plays, and his era in Europe. Festival buildings will be designed to imitate, Tudor, Roman, and Tuscan architectural designs. All booths should strive to conform to these themes in their decorations, their offering, and in their choice of names. Festival wares should be handmade and local unless otherwise approved in writing. The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is not a Renaissance festival, less a medieval anachronistic faire, and more a living contemporary celebration of classical art and culture.
Mission Statement
The Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival is a Saint Mary’s, community-based initiative focused on 1) providing outdoor Shakespearean theatre using local talent 2) educating Kansas families, and 3) creating a family-friendly, rural outdoor classical arts venue for the region.
Vision Statement
As a premier fine arts outdoor festival in the Flint Hills, we hope to help educate Kansas families by providing opportunities for them to better understand, participate in, and appreciate the fine arts - most importantly, through the live performance of the plays of William Shakespeare and through interactive workshops and works of art created by regional Kansas artists, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs.
Along the way, we would like to demonstrate how rural quality of life can be positively affected by providing semi- professional and professional level entertainment to small town audiences using local talent. To do this we will provide continuing education opportunities for our actors and directors by bringing in guest workshop instructors.
We hope to encourage tourism to our beautiful Flint Hills region by being located amidst its unique natural beauty and by showcasing it in our venue design.
At our peak our vision is to be a well-known, outdoor Kansas venue with a finished village festival and a beautiful outdoor amphitheater using regional actors, artists and craftspeople to educate and entertain.
Any vendor related questions may be emailed to [email protected]