Food Vendor Expression of Interest

Midsumma Carnival 2022. Photo by Ash Giblin @trashthebinary

Food Vendor EOIs for Midsumma Festival 2025 are now open.
Scroll down to fill out your form today!

For your food truck to be involved with Midsumma Festival’s large outdoor events, you must first fill out an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. Midsumma will determine successful applications based on specific criteria to ensure the offering to event attendees is diverse, affordable, sustainable, caters to all tastes and dietary requirements, and is in line with Midsumma Festival’s organisational values.

Operating at Midsumma Festival events is highly desirable for most vendors and unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate all requests, so please take the time to tell us about your best assets.

The bars at Midsumma are on a tendered contract, so we do not require any EOIs for alcohol vendors.

All Food Vendors will be required to adhere to any health directives required by the State Government at the time of the event. These will be communicated in the lead up to the event day. Food Vendors will be encouraged to supply their own hand-sanitiser and PPE.

Events

Midsumma Carnival: Sunday 19 January 2025

  • Midsumma Carnival turns Alexandra Gardens into the queerest precinct in town for LGBTQIA-friendly people.

Midsumma Pride March: Sunday 2 February 2025

  • In 2024, over 14,000 people marched down Fitzroy St in St Kilda to our seaside celebrations in Catani Gardens.

Successful applications may be offered a position at one, or both of these events.

Victoria’s Pride Street Party: Sunday 9 February 2025

  • Due to limited space, food vendors for this event are carefully curated according to a set of guidelines. Successful applicants for Midsumma Carnival and Midsumma Pride March will be considered.

ESSENTIALS

  • READ the information provided about the selection process and vendor fees.
  • TALK to us if you have any queries. Midsumma can be reached on [email protected] or 03 9296 6600.
  • PREPARE clear images of your vehicle, a copy of your menu (with prices and dietary/allergy information), and a copy of your Public Liability Insurance to go with your application.
  • SUBMIT online. Submissions with incomplete information will not be considered.

 

Please Note: Due to logistical requirements of the event, applications are only open to trucks, vans, or trailers. We are unable to accept vendors who operate out of a marquee or similar.

 

 

Van showing Width, Length and Height measurements clearly labelled

Successful food vendor applications are based on a range of criteria presented to a selection panel for suitability to Midsumma Festival.

Menu Options / Dietary Requirements

At Midsumma Festival we aim to have a broad range of food options at our events. We appreciate the diversity of our audiences as well as the food available to them!

Previously, selected Food Vendors have demonstrated a variety of food options within their menu. Menus with a number of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or nut-free options are highly regarded. Menus generally must at least have a vegetarian main meal option in order to be considered. 

Affordable pricing options

Midsumma Carnival and Midsumma Pride March are both free events and we have members from the community attending from all walks of life. Food Vendors with menu items at a broad range of price points are more likely to be successful.

Sustainable / 'Green' practices

Midsumma Festival, as well as our event partners City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip, have strict guidelines around sustainability.

Vendors with sustainable practices around packaging, straws, landfill, recycling, food waste, and water usage are at an advantage. Midsumma strongly discourages the use of single-use plastics. 

Adherence to public health guidelines

In light of government restrictions and public health guidelines, we are looking at how our vendors work within these for the safety of Midsumma Festival audiences.

History with Midsumma Festival

Midsumma Festival takes into consideration previous interactions with Midsumma Festival staff, volunteers and customers and encourages EOIs from Vendors who share in our values.

Bonus Tips

  • Shake it up! It's a competitive industry that is constantly changing and we love seeing new vendors applying, or vendors changing up their menus and truck designs. No need to re-invent the wheel, just to perhaps change the tyres every now and then.
  • Be flexible. As the event grows and improves each year, there are changes that are made across all aspects of the event. We are appreciative when our vendors are open minded about new elements of the events and not set on what has happened in previous years.
  • Many vendors at our events run out of their vegetarian/vegan option early in the day. Don't underestimate the queer community's love for a plant-based diet!
  • Midsumma encourages you to consider access and inclusion throughout your planning process. We recognise that food trucks and trailers are often not designed with accessibility in mind. Please share your ideas on how to make your service and offerings accessible and inclusive for Midsumma attendees.
  • Midsumma Festival is a not for profit organisation run by a small team of arts and events management professionals. We hold each event's best interests at heart and may be able to offer more tips to best facilitate your success on the day. We know that all our vendors are experienced, dedicated, and prepared to do an amazing job - we look forward to working with you!

Make sure you give us as much information as you can to ensure we see you at your best!

Successful applicants will be contacted shortly after registrations close to confirm their acceptance for Midsumma Carnival and/or Midsumma Pride March. Other event opportunities may arise during the festival for which your contact details will be kept for reference.

Please note that due to the volume of submissions received, incomplete applications will not be considered. The outcome of this process is decided by Midsumma Festival and will not be reconsidered.

Food Vendor FAQs

How much space do I get?

Your operating space is inclusive of your cool room and any back of house space you may require, so please ensure that the details provided in your application are as accurate as possible to ensure we can provide you with the right space and position.

Where will I be located on the event site?

Food Vendor locations are determined by the festival based on Vendor footprint, power requirements, and a variety of options across the site. Locations are non-negotiable.

How many customers can I expect on the day?

Midsumma is unable to guarantee attendance numbers, due to the nature of non-ticketed, outdoor events, since they are subject to factors outside of our control. We will be able to provide you with estimates to assist with your planning.

Food Vendors in previous years have dispensed similar numbers of units across the event site and location is not a significant factor for the Food Vendors' success on the day.

Midsumma Carnival: 

Up to 3m x 6m: $995      $1,044.75

More than 3m x 6m: $1,320.    $1,386.00

Midsumma Pride March: 

Up to 3m x 6m: $787.     $826.35

More than 3m x 6m: $890    $934.50

All prices are GST inclusive. An external surcharge of 2% applies for credit/debit card payments.

1 x 15Amp Outlet: $115
1 x 20Amp Outlet: $250

Any 10Amp Power Outlets will be included as part of your attendance fee without additional charge.

Additional power can be supplied upon request. This is detailed in the EOI form.

All prices are GST inclusive. An external surcharge of 2% applies for credit/debit card payments.

All vendors are required to use the power supplied by Midsumma and are not permitted to use their own generator unless otherwise specified in writing by Midsumma. To discuss this, email [email protected].

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST


You must be ready to provide:
  • Contact details 
  • Menu details (item, price, allergy information, dietary requirement)
  • Vehicle and coolroom (if required) dimensions, and total footprint required
  • Power requirements
  • Overview of business practices
  • Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency
  • Promotional photos

Please note in Victoria, all organisations or individuals that prepare, sell or serve food are regulated by local councils under the Food Act 1984 (Food Act).

All food traders are required to apply for Foodtrader registration or notification under the Food Act.

Food Vendor EOI

Please use the form below to register your interest in being a Food Vendor at any of the 2024 Midsumma Festival signature events.

Please note: submitting this form does not guarantee a vendor space. Successful applicants will be contacted closer to the event date.

Primary Contact

Best number to contact you on.

Business Details

Tell us about your business and what you offer.

The name of your food van, truck or trailer.
Eg. Insta: @Midsumma, Facebook: @Midsumma.Festival
Briefly describe what food offerings are on your menu.
Briefly describe what drink offerings are on your menu.
Does your menu have any items that are:
Please upload a copy of your menu.
if multiple years, please answer with the most recent year.
Please refer to Food Vendor Fees section for pricing options at each event.

Please note that Vendors for Victoria's Pride are selected by invite only from those in the local area or who have participated in other Midsumma events.

Vehicle Details

An accurate assessment of the total footprint of your vehicle is necessary to ensure all selected vendors will fit on site. Due to space constraints Vendors cannot set up seating extensions or areas.

Please note the difference in site fees between different sized vans/trucks/trailers.

Height inclusive of clearance (mm)
(mm)
Length inclusive of tow bar, stairs, etc (mm)
Will you need to bring a cool room separate to your main vehicle?
If so, what are its dimensions (Height x Width x Length) inclusive of any tow bar or other extensions?
mm x mm x mm

Power requirements

Please indicate if you require more than a single 15 Amp outlet, and please describe the electrical equipment being used

Accessibility and Sustainability

Midsumma events are attended by a large number of patrons with different access needs such as wheelchair users, or people with blind/low vision or deaf/hard of hearing. While we know food trucks are sometimes, by design, difficult to access with high counters and loud environments, we hope to provide a positive experience for all our patrons.

How does your business cater for patrons with access needs? (eg. low counters, buzzers, staff training, option to take orders at ground level, etc)
As of 1 February 2023 certain single-use plastics are banned in Victoria single-use plastics are banned in Victoria. Which of the following items do you provide a sustainable option for?
i.e. Bamboo cutlery, recycled paper products, paper straws, etc.
Select any that apply.
Do you have any other sustainable practices?

Bump in/out

How long do you typically require to set up (bump-in) and pack up (bump-out) your space?

In minutes
In minutes
Please upload a copy of your Public Liability Certificate of Currency (minimum $20 million cover):
To help prevent spammers - please check the box below
I consent to the collection and storage of my personal details for the purpose of the application in accordance with the Midsumma Privacy Statement.
I have completed this application and am authorised to supply all the information contained here within.

I have verified that my contact details are correct.

I acknowledge that submitting the EOI does not guarantee participation in the preferred Events. Participating Food Vendors will be selected by Midsumma at its complete discretion.

I acknowledge that if my EOI is successful I am required to apply for a Statement of Trade (via FoodTrader) in order to conduct business on the day of the event, and to provide a copy of the SoT to Midsumma at least one month prior to the event. Failure to do so may result in the offer to participate being rescinded.

SUBMIT YOUR FORM

After you press SUBMIT, a "YOUR FORM SUBMISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL" page should appear and you should receive an email listing your submission details. If that doesn't happen, scroll up to look for an error message (e.g. did you tick the "I am not a robot" field?), fix the error and press SUBMIT again.

Please contact us if you have any questions or would like some assistance. 

Midsumma Carnival

Sunday 19 January 2025

Midsumma Carnival is the opening event of the festival, and for a day turns Alexandra Gardens into the queerest precinct in town with a crowd of LGBTQIA-friendly people.

Midsumma Pride March

Sunday 2 February 2025

The colourful march is preceded by Dykes on Bikes, and led by Boon Wurrung Elders and other important leaders. All march participants will finish up in Catani Gardens.

Principal Partners
Major Partners
Gold Partners