Events Trader Information

St Albans District Council delivers large-scale events every year in St Albans City Centre, typically attracting in the region of 10,000 visitors or more.

The events comprise

• A market with roughly 100 traders
• One or more music stages
• Street entertainers
• Crafts, games and other activities for children

This year we will be delivering two outdoor street events:

• St Albans Spring Festival on Sunday 17th May from 12:00–1800
• St Albans Christmas Cracker on Sunday 22nd November from 12:00–18:00

St Albans Spring festival is a celebration of food, well-being, community spirit and sustainability with activities and entertainment for all. The event will include many of the popular elements of our street festivals such as the fantastic array of street food, stage entertainment and arts and crafts - along with fresh opportunities for the whole community to learn, play and create with spring-inspired activities.

St Albans Christmas Cracker is family-friendly event designed to begin the festive shopping season in style. We welcome applications to trade from makers, crafters and small-scale manufacturers of gifts, toys, decorations and homewares. Usually a larger road closure than for the other two events, which will include Chequer Street, where a funfair usually operates.

Key dates:

Prices per pitch depend on the category of goods being sold.

You must apply for the number of pitches you need to fit your full trading setup, including staff, stock, access to vehicles, equipment, tow bars, all merchandising etc. 

A discount of 10 per cent is available for traders whose businesses are registered in St Albans District, and those who are regular (not casual) traders on St Albans Markets. 

Traders may opt for priority pitches at a cost of £60 per pitch. 

There are some power pitches available, these are charged at £70 per pitch.

Please note that for the Christmas Cracker 2026, payments will be made through the St Albans Markets payments processing system. Further information will be available when the application form goes live. 

By applying to trade at a street event or Festival, you are agreeing to adhere to this Policy.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you also refer to the St Albans City and District Council Market Rules document linked below. 

Please note that:

Part One rules will be applied to all Festival markets.

The rules in Part Two which apply to allocations and fees are replaced by this festival-specific policy.

Traders should take particular note of the rules in Section 14 of the Market Rules – Conduct of Traders.

Please refer to the information elsewhere on this page for further information on pricing, food hygiene information, guidance on writing risk assessments, generator policy and sustainability.

Definitions used in this document:

The application process

All potential traders must complete the application form and provide the trader documentation listed at Point 3 of this Policy.

By applying to trade at a festival, you are agreeing to adhere to this Policy.

The cut-off dates for applications and up-to-date prices for each event are listed on these Events Trader Information pages

If you submit your application after the closing date, it will not be considered or processed.

Trader selection

We typically receive many more applications than we have space for. Decisions regarding the allocations of pitches will be carried out in line with this Policy. We reserve the right to make the final decision on allocation of pitches.

When determining the application to trade, we will consider some, or all of the following, not necessarily in this order:

The look and feel of the event 

For example:

Spring Festival – emphasis on food. Actively seeking traders in the gift food space, such as ambient food for consumption at home. Strong emphasis on eclectic, quirky, interesting, ‘artisanal’ foods, both hot and cold. 

Christmas Cracker: Preference for ‘gift’ and non-food traders. Any demonstrably ‘Festive’ offering is welcome. Some food and drink traders where they provide hot food, hot drinks, mulled wine.

The commodity mix. To ensure traders’ and visitors’ interests are well served, we will aim to ensure a reasonable mix of commodities, with no one type of stall over-represented.

Innovation and additionality. We would like to create opportunities for new traders and also encourage traders who offer visitors additional experiences.

Loyalty. We value long-term traders and want to reward loyalty, so are likely (but not bound to) look favourably on your application if you have traded at previous events or trade regularly on St Albans Charter Market.

Where traders’ businesses are registered. We think it’s important, where possible, to support local traders – i.e. those registered within St Albans District.

Sustainability. We aim to support business that are sustainable and eco-friendly. We support traders who use minimal packaging and offer ethical/sustainable options.

Diversity and Inclusion. We appreciate traders who give consideration to making their pitch accessible and welcoming to a diverse audience.

We will inform successful traders they have been allocated a pitch six weeks prior to the event and will issue a reminder of the trading terms and conditions and policies as part of that correspondence.

Trader documentation

You are required to provide the following documentation in order to be able to trade at the events:

Evidence of Public Liability Insurance for £5m

A photograph of your structure/stall or vehicle at a similar event

Evidence of Employers Liability Insurance (where applicable)

Food hygiene certification (where applicable)

Personal Licence (where applicable)

Brief Risk Assessment

Applications will not be considered complete until you have provided the above.

Pitch locations

The allocation of Pitches will be at our discretion and are final. However, we reserve the right to make changes to the location of trader pitches on the day of the event as circumstances dictate.

Payment terms

Cleared funds must be in our accounts three weeks ahead of the event.

Two attempts will be made to contact you to chase payment, after which the Pitch will be reallocated.

Cancellation policy

Traders who cancel giving less than two weeks’ notice before the event will be ineligible for refunds.

Trader no-shows will not be eligible for refunds.

We may have to cancel an event in exceptional circumstances. In the event this happens prior to the event day, a full refund, or the chance to move your booking to a future event will be offered.

If the event is cancelled while it is taking place, you must vacate your Pitch as soon as possible. If you continue to trade after we have instructed you to leave, we may impose a permanent ban preventing you from trading at the markets and events again. You should note that Trader insurance is generally invalid if the market is closed. A partial refund on your pitch fee will be considered, taking into account the timing of the cancellation and the reasons for the cancellation.

Weather

Events will usually go ahead if it rains.

Market closure in advance due to weather warning: If the Met Office issues an advance weather warning, we will consider closing the event. If a weather warning is issued by the Met Office where speeds or gusts of wind are predicted to reach 35mph or above, the event will be cancelled and traders notified by email

Weather change on the day (e.g., same day weather warning, flooding, heavy snow): If we cancel the event on the day of the event a partial refund will be considered – please above.

You are responsible for carrying out an assessment of the risks of trading in all weathers, in line with the needs of your insurance policy

Power and generators

You may bring your own silent generator, but it MUST be compliant with our generator policy (see link, below) and it must be cordoned off using barriers that will be available on the day.  

Strict adherence to the Policy will be enforced. Traders who do not adhere to the policy or have a non-compliant generator will be instructed to turn off the generator and may be asked to cease trading. Traders not adhering to the policy will not have their pitch fee refunded and may not be allocated trading space at future events

There will be a limited number of pitches available with access to power either from SADC/Markets supply or from a shared generator. There will be a cost associated with this, which will be published along with the pitch and pricing information.

Alcohol

Alcohol can be sold for consumption by customers on-site and sold for consumption as an off sale. All traders serving alcohol must state whether they intend to sell alcohol as an on or off sale on the application form. If you intend to sell alcohol you will need to hold a personal licence and provide a copy of that licence to prove that you understand the law surrounding alcohol sales. You will be required to sign a declaration in the application form.

Health & Safety

Structures supplied by traders must meet the expected standards of safety.

All Gazebos and pop-ups must be weighted, regardless of the weather. It is your responsibility to ensure they have enough weights to make all your equipment safe and compliant with your Public Liability Insurance (weights will not be available on the day).

Any traders using a barbecue must provide a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket. The barbecue will need to be cordoned off for public safety. Barriers will be available to borrow on the day of the event.

Traders are responsible for the health and safety of themselves and their staff on site and should provide accident and incident report forms to the event coordinator should accidents or incidents occur on site. Please ask staff for a report form should you require one.

Waste and Sustainability

We take sustainability seriously. Please refer to our policy here: https://www.stalbans.gov.uk/sustainability-council-run-markets-and-events

Conduct of Traders

You are required to comply with the conduct provisions set out at section 14 of the Market Traders Rules set out below.

Event day logistics

Rules for the event day including event access and set up, site plan, arrival times, parking and all logistics, will be sent to you via e-mail one week before the event. These may differ for each event, so please check these carefully each time. You will be expected to adhere to these.

Compliance with this Policy

You must comply with this Policy and with all our instructions on Event days.

If you do not comply with this Policy, we may suspend you from trading and pitch fees will not be refunded in those circumstances.

Communications

Please refer regularly to the these web pages, where all our policies and any updates will be linked. Please check here to see whether your question is answered before contacting us, but if you do need to get in touch, please do so by email at festivaltraders@stalbans.gov.uk

Amendments to the rules

We will review and reissue Street Event Trading Policy every three years or sooner if we consider it necessary. We may add to, or otherwise amend the Policy, in the light of changing circumstances, or for any other reason, and we will advise you in writing of any changes.

Procedure for exclusion from trading

If you fail to adhere to trading rules or instructions given by us, we will issue a verbal warning for the first instance. For a second incident we will issue a written warning. Any further failure will result in a permanent ban from trading on any St Albans City and District Council events and markets.

If we consider the first failure to adhere is serious, we will issue a permanent ban from trading on any St Albans City and District Council events and markets immediately. Serious failures to adhere could include verbal or physical abuse towards public, other Traders, or the Markets or Events team.

We will issue all second warnings and permanent bans in writing, and they will be effective immediately.

Complaints

If you wish to complain about this Street Event Trader Policy or our enforcement of the rules, you can make a complaint in writing to festivaltraders@stalbans.gov.uk. 

If you are not happy with our resolution of your complaint, you can make a Corporate Complaint to our Complaints Team, Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE, or to make a complaint online, see Complaints and Compliments.

• Market rules and Code of Conduct

If you would like to support one of our street festivals with sponsorship, we welcome approaches from local and national organisations. A presence at one or more of our events could enhance an organisation's visibility in the District demonstrate their alignment with the Council's commitment to community. Please contact events@stalbans.gov.uk to discuss this further.

Trading hours, access and setup times, and parking

The event will take place between 12 noon and 6pm. If you are trading from a trailer or vehicle, please ensure you arrive to set up between 7 and 8am. If you arrive after this time, it will be at your own risk, and you may not be able to fit into your allocated pitch. 

All other traders may access the site from 8am. Please wait until there is a member of event/security staff available to walk you to your pitch position.

Please do not attempt to access the site before your time slot. The reason we have two arrival times is that it is difficult to slot vehicles and trailers into position after gazebos have already been set up on both sides of them. For this reason, it is essential that you keep to these timings and do not arrive early to set up. If you do arrive early, you will be turned away by the security team.

Please note that the expectation is that traders will unload their vehicles and move them straight away before coming back to start setting up their pitches. If you need somebody to watch your goods for you while you park your car, please ask a member of the security or event staff. 

All vehicles must be off the site by 10.30am at the latest. 

You can start trading as soon as you are set up and ready even if this is before 12. Please note that 6pm is the time at which you should stop serving. Please be sure to manage your queue such that you are able to start packing away promptly at 6pm, ready for vehicles to be readmitted as soon as the site is clear enough for this to be safe. This will be at the discretion of the Event Manager, Katherine Crafer.

Parking is available nearby at:

Parking charges (£2.50 all day on Sundays and Public Holidays) will apply and are the responsibility of the Trader. The events team are not responsible for any fines received for adequate parking charges not being paid.

Please access the site to pack up via the same route as you did for set-up.

NOTE THAT PITCHES WILL NOT BE MARKED. Please set up carefully and with consideration to traders sharing the space with you. If you need help finding your pitch on the day, please ask for a member of the events team. Gazebos need to be set up with no gaps between them unless the map indicates that you are on a walkway. All walkways need to be kept clear of items. 

Please refer to the Pitch Plan for Traders - SpringFest 2026 linked above which shows the pitch locations and gives the details of entry/exit points Please do not rely solely on SatNav to get you to where you need to be – remember there are road closures in place from 6am to 9pm.

If you choose to trade with a generator, please ensure that the generator that you are using complies with our generator policy. All generators will need to be cordoned off for public safety. Barriers will be available to borrow on the day of the event. Please help yourself from collection points along the street.

We have published general information about our events and our events rules. By agreeing to trade at the event, you are agreeing to adhere to these rules.

Your pitch, equipment and stall set-up

Each individual pitch is 3m×3m. Your pitch area needs to accommodate all staff, stock, equipment etc and allow for tow bars, door openings, etc. Please do not spread outside your designated area, as this may cause an obstruction and could impact on other traders.

You should be operating from a self-supplied gazebo and tables, a vehicle, or a trailer as agreed with us.

Please ensure that you bring enough weights for all corners of your gazebo. If you do not have adequate weighting, you will not be able to trade, and we will not be able to refund your pitch fee or other charges. We will not have any weights to loan to you.

Please be aware that parts of the site are uneven, and in some places (notably on Market Place) there is a steep camber. Please bring anything you may need to safely level out your gazebo and tables, vehicle, or trailer.

All pitches should be facing into the road, rather than towards the shopfronts, though you may serve from both sides if you wish. Please ensure that your stall is lined up with neighbouring stalls and that you leave enough room between your pitch and the shopfronts in order not to block access.

Your pitch allocation is final. Event organisers will not enter into any discussions regarding changing pitch locations on the day of the event. Pitches will not be marked, but are indicated in terms of their location relative to nearby premises. There will be members of the security and event teams on hand to help guide you and support with any queries you may have. 

If you will be using a barbecue you must provide a fire extinguisher and/or fire blanket. If you do not supply this equipment, you will not be able to trade, and we will not be able to refund your pitch fee or other charges. 

The barbecue will need to be cordoned off for public safety. Barriers will be available to borrow on the day of the event. Please help yourself from collection points along the street. 

Please note that all traders selling open food are required to have a dedicated handwashing station available. A controllable supply of hot and cold (or warm mixed) drinking quality water is essential. This can be a purpose-built portable unit or a basic setup using clean plastic bowls and insulated flasks for hot water, provided an adequate supply is maintained. A suitable closed container must be provided for waste water and used paper towels. Waste water should not be poured onto the ground or into drains.

Food traders may be asked by members of site staff to provide receipts, as staff are entitled to claim for the cost of a meal if they are working a certain number of hours. We would be very grateful if traders could be ready to provide these. 

The festival site is covered by a premises licence that enables us to authorise you to sell alcohol. If you wish to serve alcohol, you must have stated your intention in your application form and submitted a copy of your Personal Licence to Sell Alcohol. We expect you to display a Challenge 25 poster.

There are a small number of pitches available with access to power. If you have been allocated one of these pitches, you will have been informed and charged. Connection to the power for these traders will be made by our on-site electrician. Any trader trying to access power who has not paid for it will be given a written warning and disconnected. 

Packaging and recycling       

Please note this event has committed to reducing its single-use plastic and would appreciate your support. You can view our sustainability policy for markets and events here. 

The event team will be doing a site walk round at the beginning of the event to check that traders’ packaging complies with our sustainability policy. 

Counter terrorism and event safety

You may be aware that the Government have increased the national threat level to SEVERE: this suggests that an attack is highly likely. This change is based on national intelligence. Please be reassured that the local police force has no intelligence to indicate anything has changed to the local landscape or for our event. However, in response to the change in threat level, we have reviewed the event safety protocols. With this in mind, please ensure you familiarise yourself with the Run, Hide & Tell and HOT protocols linked below. Remain alert during the event and if anything does not feel right or appears suspicious, please report this to the Event Manager and/or Security staff immediately.

• Run, Hide, Tell protocol 
• HOT protocol 
• Please see the evacuation plan attached below.
• Please also familiarise yourselves with the attached lost child policy. 

Event cancellation

At 05:00 on the day of the event, the Event Manager will check the weather forecast for the whole of the event day. If adverse weather is anticipated or a Met Office Red or Amber Weather Warning is in place, the Event Manager (in consultation with senior Council Officers) will make the final decision as to whether the event goes ahead. If the event is not going to take place, an alert will be sent to all traders via email, there will also be a notification posted on the St Albans Spring Festival and the Council’s Facebook and Instagram pages. 

Other unlikely circumstances under which the event may be cancelled prior to the event would be as the result of a direct and specific threat to the event; the loss of a major section of the Event site for which alternatives have not been planned; the loss of a major public transport element or a specific threat to the city of St Albans as a whole.

Cancellation during the event is also considered to be unlikely. Potential causes would be a last-minute major incident occurring or a specific threat, which would significantly affect the Event or un-forecasted thunderstorms or other adverse weather which may affect the Event or an element of the Event.