What is Summer Free For All?
Each summer, Portland Parks & Recreation’s Summer Free For All program partners with community groups, artists, nonprofits, culturally specific groups, and more to produce free concerts, movies, and cultural events throughout Portland. Local food vendors help to make each event a special experience for the audience. Learn more about Summer Free For All here: Summer Free For All-Cultural Events
What’s It Like At An Event?
Crowds
Depending on the event, our audiences range from 300-2000 people onsite. We will provide you with an estimated attendance # well in advance of the event.
Time of Service
Although our events vary in start/end time, a three-hour service time between the hours of 5:00pm-9:00pm is typical.
Number of Vendors
Events have 1-4 food vendors onsite, depending on the expected audience. To provide the best opportunity for each vendor, we balance the needs of each event with the number of food vendors onsite.
What Does Summer Free For All Provide?
- Vending Area
- Most parks can accommodate large setups/food trucks. However, if your footprint will be larger than 20’x20’, please contact Summer Free For All.
- Park permits
- Noise variances
- Portable restrooms
- No vending fees
What Does My Business Need To Provide?
- Power source
- Electricity is not provided. For generator power, a “whisper” (relatively quiet) generator is required.
- Water source
- Trash receptacle(s) and trash disposal
- Wastewater disposal
- Compliance with all current city, county, and state health department regulations
Insurance Requirements
For all onsite food vendors, a Certificate of Liability Insurance naming Portland Parks & Recreation/Summer Free For All as an additional insured will be required. We are happy to work directly with your insurance company to obtain this information. Specific insurance requirements will be provided upon acceptance.
If you have questions about insurance requirements before submitting your information, please get in touch!
Health Department Licensing and Inspections
Licensing
Specific licenses are required to serve food to the general public at special events. Existing mobile food carts have separate requirements from non-mobile businesses seeking to set up a tent/table and serve food (known as “Temporary Restaurant Operators”). Please make yourself familiar with the different types of licenses at Multnomah County’s Inspections and Licensing website.
Inspections
The Multnomah County Health Department regularly sends health inspectors to each of our events. As such, it’s a requirement that your licensing is current, and you are in compliance with all health department regulations.
How to Submit
If you are ready to submit your information to be considered for the 2023 Summer Free For All season, please complete the Summer Free For All-Food Vendor List. If you need help completing the form or have additional questions, please contact us at sffa@portlandoregon.gov
This is not an application. By completing this form, you will become part of Summer Free For All’s Food Vendor List. We use this list to match food vendors with the requests of our community partners for their summer events and to also meet the overall goals of the Summer Free For All program.
Summer Free For All Food Vendor List
Submission Timelines
- March 2023: Consideration of food vendors begins for the 2023 season
- May 2023: Estimated notification date for accepted food vendors
Join Our Food Vendor Mailing List
If you are a food vendor that’s not ready to apply this year and/or you’re a group that just wants to stay up to date on the opportunities available for local food vendors, join our mailing list!