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More information and registration for the 2023 Tour the Town will be available Spring 2023.
Sponsored by:
Support Local during this year’s Festival with TOUR THE TOWN!
Tour the Town – Shop Local During Pumpkin Festival!
Date: Saturday, September 10 – Saturday, September 17
Location: Brick & mortar businesses in the Village of Morton
Apply: 2022 Tour the Town application!
Tour the Town Merchant Week
Tour The Town Pop-Up Market
Tour the Town Local Spotlight
As a business, how can I participate in Tour the Town?
Tour The Town, Merchants Week
WHO: Pumpkin Festival Attendees, community members and visitors
WHAT: Businesses set up themed display and offer swag items / special food items / discounts and coupons
WHERE: Brick & mortar business and organizations located in the Village of Morton
WHEN: Saturday, September 11 – Saturday, September 18
WHY: Bring awareness to Morton businesses during the Pumpkin Festival
Tell me more about the Local Spotlight
Local Spotlight
WHO: Organizations and groups within the Morton area that offer outreach initiatives, non profit services and more
WHAT: Organizations and groups set up to share more about their services & offer family / kid activity or craft
WHERE: Church Square grassy lot (225 E Jefferson St.) – Festival Family Zone
WHEN: Wednesday, September 15 – Saturday, September 18
WHY: To showcase local organizations and groups that serve our community
Tour the Town, Pop Up Market
WHO: Pumpkin Festival Attendees, community members and visitors
WHAT: Merchant Pop Up Market booth spaces
WHERE: Morton Township Office, parking lot (300 W Jefferson)
WHEN: Friday, September 17 & Saturday, September 18
WHY: To provide space for those businesses that do not have a brick and mortar location in Morton
The Pumpkin Business Expo, with over 12,000 square feet of space, is filled with displays and merchandise from over 50 area businesses.
This year, we will be hosting a demonstration booth at the Business Expo (see attached layout). Vendors will be able to secure a one-hour block to play a video, demonstrate their product, or host some other activity. Demonstrations must meet the expectations and guidelines of the Business Expo.
Vendors will reserve their time in hour blocks which will include their set-up and tear-down of their demonstration. From the :15 – :45 of their time block, vendors are expected to have their demonstration up and running.
Vendors are limited to ONE demonstration block each for an additional $30. The demonstration blocks will open up to the Art & Craft Market vendors and other area businesses on June 24.
Demonstration Booth Availability
(available in hour blocks)
Wednesday, September 11: 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Thursday, September 12: 3:00 – 8:00 PM
Friday, September 13: 4:00 – 9:00 PM
Saturday, September 14: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Contact Crystal for openings at this year’s booth. Opportunity is available to any local business or entrepreneur.
Registration is $425 for a 10×10 space for Morton Chamber members. Non-member cost is $725. Please note that nonprofit organizations must also be a member of the Morton Chamber to get the discounted rate. Not a member? Click HERE for membership information. A priority system for 2018 exhibitors is in effect until June 21.
The tent is 8′ high around the outside edge and goes up steeply to 20′ in the middle.
The Business Expo Hours of Operation for 2019:
Wednesday, September 11: 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Thursday, September 12: 3:00 – 8:00 pm
Friday, September 13: 4:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, September 14: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
This year’s theme is “Luck O’ the Pumpkins”. We encourage you to begin thinking of all the creative ways you can decorate your booth. Judging will be based on creativity, originality, and incorporation of the theme and pumpkins!
Reminders:
Eligibility Requirements:
Note: To ensure we have a variety of vendors at our Expo, we will be limiting the number of businesses represented in each industry. Chamber members and previous exhibitors will be given the highest priority.
* All amusements are located in the midway, and managed by the amusement company hired by the Chamber of Commerce. Amusements include, but are not limited to: rock climbing walls, jugglers, clowns, face painting, rides, psychic readers/fortune tellers, bingo/gambling businesses, etc.
Thank you to our sponsor:
Please note: Vendors will be responsible for getting their own meals during the Expo. Merchants may bring in their own food to eat during the Expo or coordinate breaks with others at their booth. Volunteers will NOT be taking and filling food orders.
Vendors may bring in their own food to eat during the Expo or they may utilize a new vendor fast pass to purchase food at the Festival Grill and Sweet Shop. Further details will be sent out once accepted for this year’s event.
ELIGIBILITY POLICY & REGULATIONS
1. SET-UP: Excluding bad weather, tent is available for booth set up from noon to 8 pm on Tuesday, September 10. Set up must be complete by 2 pm on Wednesday, September 11. Vendors will NOT be able to park on Jefferson Street or 1st Avenue. Instead, we would encourage you to unload from the parking lot across Jefferson street or nearby street parking.
Do NOT pull vehicle onto the tether ball pad adjacent to the blacktop or onto the school’s grass. Vehicles must remain on the blacktop. If the tether ball pad or grass is damaged, you will be responsible for those damages.
2. TEAR DOWN: Booths must NOT be taken down before 8 pm on Saturday, September 14. All booth material must be removed by 10 am on Sunday, September 15. Vendors can tear down on Saturday evening, but will not have access to drive up on Jefferson Street or 1st Avenue or the blacktop behind and alongside Jefferson School off Adams Street. You may also tear down on Sunday until 10 am. There will be security provided on Saturday evening.
3. DECORATIONS: Vendors are encouraged to decorate their booths to celebrate this year’s theme: “Luck O’ the Pumpkins”. Booths will be judged based on creativity, originality, and incorporation of the theme and pumpkins. Judging will take place on Wednesday, September 11 between 2 – 3 pm.
4. There is pipe and draping down the center of the tent, but any other backdrops and side curtains must be provided by the Vendor which can be ordered from Peoria Flag & Decorating, (309) 685-8989.
5. All vendors are responsible to supply their own tables, chairs, and any food or snacks they will need.
6. Unauthorized removal of tables and chairs from other areas of the Festival is not allowed.
7. Security service is provided only during hours the Business Expo is not open to the public. There WILL BE security on Saturday night.
8. No signs may be attached to tent support poles, ropes, or sides of the tent. Booth construction cannot rely on tent poles for any kind of support or suspension.
9. Representatives and their exhibit must remain within the confines of their booths. No soliciting in aisle ways is permitted.
10. No non-commercial food or beverages may be prepared, sold, or given away. Only commercial, individually prepackaged and sealed food or water is allowed.
11. Booths must be staffed at all times when the Expo is open to the public.
12. Morton Chamber of Commerce will not be responsible for loss or damage to any materials, including draping, in the tent. Please cover exhibits at night in the event of rain leakage.
13. No animals are allowed on Festival Grounds, except service dogs.
14. No smoking or vaping in the Expo.
15. Dress accordingly. Heaters are not permitted in the Expo.
16. Because of the family nature of the Pumpkin Festival, absolutely no alcoholic beverages, knives, firearms, or illegal substances will be permitted in booths. The Chamber has the right to refuse space to any display considered to be inappropriate.
17. These rules are subject to change prior to the Festival and such changes (if any) will be mailed to all reservation holders.
18. Any violation of rules could result in not being allowed a space next year.
Please note: Vendors will be responsible for getting their own meals during the Expo. Merchants may bring in their own food to eat during the Expo or coordinate breaks with others at their booth. Volunteers will NOT be taking and filling food orders.
Vendors may bring in their own food to eat during the Expo or they may utilize a new vendor fast pass to purchase food at the Festival Grill and Sweet Shop. Further details will be sent out once accepted for this year’s event.
ELIGIBILITY POLICY & REGULATIONS
1. SET-UP: Excluding bad weather, tent is available for booth set up from noon to 8 pm on Tuesday, September 10. Set up must be complete by 2 pm on Wednesday, September 11. Vendors will NOT be able to park on Jefferson Street or 1st Avenue. Instead, we would encourage you to unload from the parking lot across Jefferson street or nearby street parking.
Do NOT pull vehicle onto the tether ball pad adjacent to the blacktop or onto the school’s grass. Vehicles must remain on the blacktop. If the tether ball pad or grass is damaged, you will be responsible for those damages.
2. TEAR DOWN: Booths must NOT be taken down before 8 pm on Saturday, September 14. All booth material must be removed by 10 am on Sunday, September 15. Vendors can tear down on Saturday evening, but will not have access to drive up on Jefferson Street or 1st Avenue or the blacktop behind and alongside Jefferson School off Adams Street. You may also tear down on Sunday until 10 am. There will be security provided on Saturday evening.
3. DECORATIONS: Vendors are encouraged to decorate their booths to celebrate this year’s theme: “Luck O’ the Pumpkins”. Booths will be judged based on creativity, originality, and incorporation of the theme and pumpkins. Judging will take place on Wednesday, September 11 between 2 – 3 pm.
4. There is pipe and draping down the center of the tent, but any other backdrops and side curtains must be provided by the Vendor which can be ordered from Peoria Flag & Decorating, (309) 685-8989.
5. All vendors are responsible to supply their own tables, chairs, and any food or snacks they will need.
6. Unauthorized removal of tables and chairs from other areas of the Festival is not allowed.
7. Security service is provided only during hours the Business Expo is not open to the public. There WILL BE security on Saturday night.
8. No signs may be attached to tent support poles, ropes, or sides of the tent. Booth construction cannot rely on tent poles for any kind of support or suspension.
9. Representatives and their exhibit must remain within the confines of their booths. No soliciting in aisle ways is permitted.
10. No non-commercial food or beverages may be prepared, sold, or given away. Only commercial, individually prepackaged and sealed food or water is allowed.
11. Booths must be staffed at all times when the Expo is open to the public.
12. Morton Chamber of Commerce will not be responsible for loss or damage to any materials, including draping, in the tent. Please cover exhibits at night in the event of rain leakage.
13. No animals are allowed on Festival Grounds, except service dogs.
14. No smoking or vaping in the Expo.
15. Dress accordingly. Heaters are not permitted in the Expo.
16. Because of the family nature of the Pumpkin Festival, absolutely no alcoholic beverages, knives, firearms, or illegal substances will be permitted in booths. The Chamber has the right to refuse space to any display considered to be inappropriate.
17. These rules are subject to change prior to the Festival and such changes (if any) will be mailed to all reservation holders.
18. Any violation of rules could result in not being allowed a space next year.
