Announcing HOTC Dog Fair 2011

The Huntsville Obedience Training Club is currently accepting applications for booth space at the HOTC Dog Fair scheduled for September 24^th, at Monte Sano State Park.  This event provides a wide range of demonstrations and hands-on activities for the public and their canine companions, and gives local shelters and rescue groups the opportunity to showcase dogs in need of a 'forever' home.  Vendors' booths with dog-related items for sale help lend a country-fair atmosphere to the event, enhancing everyone's enjoyment.  Several thousand people and their dogs attend the HOTC Dog Fair each year, making it one of the largest volunteer-run events of its type in the nation.  Promotional flyers can be printed using this link HOTC Dog Fair Flyers.   Please feel free to print and distribute as many as you like.

Booth space is free on a first-come basis to vendors, rescue organizations/animal shelters, and other non-profits.  You can apply for space at www.DogFair.org.  Click on "Exhibitors" at the top of the page, and then select "How can I be an exhibitor?"  You will receive an immediate confirmation of your application and in mid-September, a booth assignment will be emailed to you.  It is important to ensure that your email address is entered correctly so that we may contact you, and that you have indicated any special needs in your application.  While you are there, check out the entire HOTC Dog Fair website!   Please note that although the booth space is free, Monte Sano State Park charges a parking fee ($5) for each vehicle.

Rescue organizations/animals shelters should note that a special session (11:00) has been set aside in the Parade of Breeds to showcase the dogs you have brought for adoption.  Once you have registered for booth space, rescue organizations/animals shelters will be given a password and instructions on how to register your adoptable dogs.  Please provide as much information as possible as it will be displayed both on-line at the HOTC Dog Fair’s website, and announced while the dog is being shown. 

The Dog Fair begins at 9:00 a.m., but all exhibitors must arrive and be parked in the designated exhibitor parking areas no later than 8:30 AM, and must stay until the fair closes at 3:00 p.m.   In the past, the congestion of late arriving exhibitors created an unacceptable safety hazard to the Dog Fair attendees; therefore, no one will be allowed to drive into the vendors and exhibitors’ areas after 8:30.  Visitors’ parking is reserved for Dog Fair attendees – after all, we want as many people as possible to enjoy the event!

Other guidelines:

• All HOTC provides is a space  approximately 10' wide on dirt under trees; You must bring tent(s), table(s), chairs, floor mat, etc, if you need them.
  
  
• Electrical power is NOT available for any booth.  If you plan on running a generator, please let us know so we can place you appropriately.
  
  
• You are responsible for keeping your area clean and ensuring all trash is picked up before you leave.
  
  
• You will be assigned an appropriate space and may set up the afternoon before the Dog Fair or early the following morning.  The space will be well marked and, if practical, grouped with other like activities.  If you set up the afternoon before, security for the night is your responsibility. 

• Space is limited and will be issued on a first come, first served basis.  Should applications exceed the available space; a waiting list will be maintained.  HOTC reserves the right to place vendors and exhibitors where HOTC feels best, and to decline any application. 
  
  
• There is no charge for exhibitors to set up, however, if you are a ‘for profit’ organization or business, we ask that you give a monetary donation ($50 suggested, but please base it on affordability or a percentage of your sales) or a meaningful item that can be used in the door prize raffles.  Any money raised through cash donations will be given to dog-related charities at HOTC’s discretion.

• Items donated for the door prize raffles need to be turned in to the Prize Central and Information Booth no later than 9:30 a.m.  You should attach a brief information card with the name of your business, and a few lines about your products or service.  This will be read when the winner is announced.  Raffle drawings will be held at 10:30, 12:30, and 2:30.  The raffles are free to the public and they give an incentive for folks to register at the Information Booth, providing HOTC with a way to collect some basic visitor information. 

• Rescue organizations/animal shelters may raise money through solicitation of donations, the sales of products, and by offering services such as nail trimming, face-painting, etc.   Any money raised is yours to keep.

•  You may NOT sell food.  Our health permit does not cover food other than the specific food vendor with which HOTC has an established agreement.

• You may sell canned or bottled drinks, water, etc.

• Any taxes are your responsibility.

• Balloons are NOT allowed.  It scares some of the dogs when they pop, and the pieces can be difficult to clean up.

HOTC invests thousands of man-hours and thousands of dollars on this event, and takes nothing but good will and enjoyment from it.   We hope that you enjoy it as well!

If you have questions, please email us at exhibitors@hotcdogfair.org.

See you at the HOTC Dog Fair!

Sheila & Butch Norckauer
Booth & Display Co-Coordinators
HOTC Dog Fair 2011