Rules & Regulations
1.0 Location
The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum at 11 Old Slys Road, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 3M3
2.0 Hours of Operation
The event will take place on October 4th, 2026 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. The museum will be open at 9:30 am for Vendors to arrive and begin set up on the day of the event. In case of inclement weather, the event is expected to be moved to October 18th, 2026, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
2.1 Set up for Fall Fest
Vendor set up for the Heritage House Fall Fest. Vendors can start setting up around 9:30 am to 10:30 am for the 11:00 am start. Vendors are permitted to drive onto the front lawn to unload their vehicle and are then required to park their vehicle in the parking lot south of the Heritage House Museum. Vendors must be setup and ready to greet customers for the 11:00 am start. Stalls shall remain open until 2:00 pm and shall not be taken down until closing time. Vendors are expected to have enough products to last the entire day. Should a vendor sell out before the event closes, the stall must remain in place displaying a sold-out sign. No vehicles will be allowed on site 20 minutes prior to opening. Vehicles will be permitted 10 minutes after the events official end time. As a courtesy to visitors and in consideration for public safety, please make a point of respecting this guideline.
3.0 Local Producers
In order to become a vendor, you need to grow it, bake it or craft it. (Resellers permitted at staff discretion.) Goods for sale must be locally grown and produced by the Vendor(s) unless otherwise approved by the Museum Staff. In the case of food products (drinks, desserts, etc.) the Vendor(s) must make the product, but does not have to grow the ingredients themselves. All arts and crafts must be hand-made. The use of local ingredients/materials, where practical, is strongly encouraged.
In order to ensure 51% producers and a good mix of products, the Museum reserves the right to set limits on the number of vendors selling similar products.
4.0 Community Groups and Musicians
Community groups and musicians are encouraged to contact Museum Staff to request space for advertising or presentation during the Fall Fest event. The Museum encourages community partnerships and visitor participation and supports all local contributions to the Fall Fest.
5.0 Vendor Fees for 2026
Table Fee $20.00
Musicians No Charge
Vendor Fees are due no later than October 1st. In the case of an extension, vendor fees are to be paid to the Museum Staff prior to set-up at the beginning of the event. Payment can be made by credit, debit, cash or cheque (made out to the Heritage House Museum).
6.0 Vendor Responsibilities
Vendors must advise the Museum Staff by 7:00 pm the Saturday before the event if they know they will be unable to attend. Vendor fees will not be reimbursed after 7:00pm on the Saturday before the event.
Each Vendor is responsible for supplying their own equipment; awning/canopy, weights, wash stations, coolers, etc. (excluding the provided 6-foot table and 2x chairs). Awnings/canopies, if used, must be sufficiently and safely anchored to the ground.
Tables and displays should be neat and attractive. Vendors must keep their stall tidy by storing boxes and putting away any packaging, keeping all waste products in suitable containers. Vendors are required to display the pricing of all products for sale. Signage and displays must not block visual site lines and other vendors or pathways. Canopy tents must be secure with appropriate restraints on all four corners.
At the end of the day, vendors must make sure that they do not leave behind any waste or debris.
7.0 Proper Food Packaging, Handling and Labelling
Vendors are responsible for ensuring product transport, storage, packaging, labelling, pricing and handling meet all applicable federal, provincial and municipal Health Unit requirements. Food vendors that are responsible for preparing and serving their items, including any samples, in a manner which is hygienic and in complete compliance with health standards. Please consult food sector documentation, organizations, institutions and regulatory bodies in order to ensure that you have a good understanding of the norms and practices. Food vendors are responsible for providing their own hand washing station.
8.0 Licensing and Taxation
Vendors are fully responsible for obtaining all relevant licenses, permits, inspections and certificates for the sale of their products. Compliance with both Provincial and Federal Sales Tax Regulations is also the responsibility of the individual Vendor.
9.0 Space Allocation
Vendor spaces are offered on a first-come, first-served basis meaning that the Vendors who arrive first to set up for the day have first choice as to their space.
10.0 Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on Heritage House Museum grounds. Visitors, Vendors and staff are permitted to smoke in the designated parking lot area provided.
11.0 Animals
With the exception of service animals, Vendors are not permitted to have live animals at their stall, for Health and Safety and Liability reasons. This does not include visitors who have animals with them, as they remain outside of the Vendor booth.
12.0 Inclement Weather
In case of inclement weather (I.e. thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, storming, etc.) the Museum Staff have made the alternative date be October 18th. If the event is to be cancelled, Museum staff will contact all Vendors no later than 9:00am the morning of. All efforts will be considered to run the event without disruption. If it is cancelled, Vendors can be reimbursed for that day by requesting returned fee from Museum Staff.
13.0 Insurance, Quality Assurance, Complaints, Vendor Conduct
All Vendors are responsible for their own liability insurance coverage. The vendor accepts all risks associated with the use of the exhibit space or environment. The vendor shall not make any claim or demand or take any legal action whatsoever against the Fall Fest, the Museum staff, the Heritage House Museum, or the Town of Smiths Falls for any loss, extra expenses, damage or injury howsoever caused, to the vendor, volunteers or property.
Vendors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of quality, service and business. The Museum Staff will have final say regarding standards. They may request inappropriate or poor quality items be withdrawn from sale and/or displays cleaned up.
Vendors who fail to abide by the Rules & Regulations, cause disturbance, make false declarations about their goods, fail to meet Health Department standards or fail to deal with customer complaints will receive 1) a verbal warning, either in person or by telephone. 2) Continued lack of adherence will result in the issuance of up to two written warnings at which time the Vendor will be disqualified from the event.
Vendors are encouraged to approach Museum Staff if they encounter a problem. Complaints from Vendors must be submitted in writing to the Museum Fall Fest Manager. Issues, concerns related to other vendors within the market will be directed to the Museum Fall Fest Manager or a member of Museum Staff. Investigation and resolution of issues are the prevue of the Museum Staff.
14.0 Vendor Conduct
Vendors are expected to adhere to the highest standards of personal conduct, demonstrating behaviour that is respectful of customers as well as to other Vendors. Vendors who fail to conduct themselves in accordance with the Rules & Regulations may be disqualified from the event as described under 13.0 Insurance, Quality Assurance, Complaints, Vendor Conduct above. Serious acts of misconduct, such as theft or physical violence, are cause for immediate disqualification and legal authorities will be contacted. Please note that fees are non-refundable.
15.0 Fall Fest 2026 Agreement
All Vendors must complete and sign a Fall Fest 2026 Vendor Application form stating that they have read, understood and agree to abide by the Rules & Regulations with no exceptions. Unsigned applications will be rejected.
These are the Rules and Regulations of the Fall Fest. Changes and additions may be made at any time at the discretion of the Fall Fest Museum Staff.
