FOOD VENDORS PLEASE READ! If you are selling or sampling food at a Chicago festival, you must have a city license, present proof of insurance AND have a valid Festival Sanitation certificate (details below). Your kitchen must also have passed a recent City Health inspection to participate. Call 312-746-8030 for class schedules; Festival Sanitation Class is 3-hours ($30).The person listed on the Sanitation Certificate must be present at the booth at all times. There are several courses available (below).

1. HAROLD WASHINGTON COLLEGE
Hospitality Programs
30 East Lake Street, Room 1105-A
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 553-5800 or (312) 553-5960

2. ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
200 North LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
(312) 787-4792
Member $25/Non-member $30

3. HOSPITALITY ACADEMY
AT McCORMICK PLACE
301 East Cermak Road
(312) 791-6030
Chicago, Illinois 60616
$30 registration fee

BE PART OF ONE OF THE TASTIEST FOOD & MUSIC EVENTS OF THE YEAR! HankFest attracts some of the best musicians, chefs and loyal fans in the city. Staged in Chicago's hot West Loop, HankFest also attracts an amazingly wide demographic of young and old, affluent and up-and-coming, tattooed/pierced to conservative. The common thread: Everyone loves Hank's music and a "come one, come all" family-style party.

MID-SEPTEMBER DATE IS GREAT FOR SALES! Tired of competing with all the other Chicago summer festivals? HankFest and its Indian summer weather has proven to be a beautiful time to be outdoors; eating great food and listening to great music creates a winning environment for sales and making new customers.

SMALLER VENUE SIZE BOOSTS SALES. With a total size of 160' X 120', you'll have a comparatively intimate target area to showcase & sell your product or service. No walking for blocks for customers to find you!

TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC: Those who enjoy true, classic country (you'd be surprised to discover how many people love classic country music!). Ages range from influencers in their 20's who crave authentic, non-corporate music, all the way to those in their 60's who remember great country music when it was new.

WHO SHOULD HAVE A BOOTH AT HANKFEST?

* Beer & Wine (domestic & imported, red & white)

* Restaurants (focus on comfort food, BBQ, corn-on-the-cob, grilled items, fall fare, etc.)

* Food & beverage mix manufacturers (sampling their retail products)

* Clothing/Jewelry/Cowboy Hats (country western/southwest style preferred)

* Smokeless and regular tobacco

* Schools/classes (dance schools, music instruction)

* Music-related (guitar, fiddle, dulcimer makers, music stores, music instruction)

* Fine artists

* Tattoo artists

* Outdoor Sports (boats, fishing equipment, hunting)

* Motorcycles