Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for participating in the Irish Festival in Alexandria on Saturday, August 13. The event will run from 11:00-7:00. The festival is a fundraiser to help pay for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Alexandria. The Ballyshaners, a volunteer organization, have been hosting the parade for over 35 years. Our mission is to preserve and promote Irish culture and heritage.
Following are key instructions for set-up, parking, operations, and tear-down. A final list of assigned spaces will be provided by Thursday evening, August 11.
Location
The Festival will be held at Waterfront Park in Alexandria, VA. For driving directions, set your GPS to 0 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314.
Booth/Tent Set-Up Requirements
Canopies and tables are each vendor’s responsibility.
Unless you have requested a larger space, each space is 10’x10′. Canopies must have weights or another method to secure them from falling over or flying away. The City’s Department of Code Enforcement will be inspecting each canopy to be sure that it is secured. If your canopy is not secured, you will have to take it down.
Booth Location
I have attached a list noting each vendor’s location. When you arrive, please check-in with me to make sure that there have not been any last minute changes. Each booth space will be lined on the grass with borders and numbers. You must use the numbered space to which you are assigned. If you do not use your assigned space, you will have to re-locate. I am assigning spaces based on specific requests and to vary products/services. My goal is to allow for consistent foot traffic thus maximizing everyone’s’ exposure for potential sales and/or outreach.
Drop-off and Set-Up
From 8:00 AM until 9:45 AM, you may use parking spaces on The Strand (see attached map) to unload your vehicle. Please be quick and do not park in those spaces while you set up your tent. Also, if your booth space is along the Potomac River, I recommend briefly parking at the bottom of Prince Street to unload your supplies. It is a shorter trip to move items from there than from the spaces on The Strand.
If you are asked to move your vehicle, please do so immediately. More than likely, it will be so that we can park the beer truck.
Parking
Once you have unloaded your supplies, please move to a legal parking space. I recommend the parking lot that is on the opposite side of Prince Street, across from Chadwick’s restaurant. It is a cash-based, pre-pay parking lot. Non-metered spaces are limited to two hours. Alexandria is very adept at issuing tickets, thus my recommending the parking lot.
Volunteers will be on hand at 9:00 to help with moving supplies to your booth space and setting up your tents.
You must be set-up by 11:00 AM.
Food Vendors
Food vendors must be set up by 10:00 AM so that the City’s Health Department can sign off on your temporary permit.
During the Festival
If you have any questions or need help during the day, either ask a Ballyshaner or go to the beer tent and ask someone to find me. Ballyshaners will be in yellow t-shirts with STAFF printed on the back.
Tear-Down
Please plan to begin tearing down your booth space no later than 7:15. Volunteers will be available to help you move your supplies to the park’s borders. I cannot guarantee that the same parking space options will be available.
I am looking forward to seeing all of you and hope that it will be a great day.
Again, thank you for participating in what the Ballyshaners hope will be a great day for you and our attendees.
Kim Moore
(703) 624-3752
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Ballyshaners Irish Festival Committee
The Ballyshaners, Inc.
For information about our organization, visit our website at:
www.ballyshaners.org
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vendor placement 2016.pdf