Zimfest 2025 will be held at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington, from August 7 to 10. Please read the information below carefully. This information pertains to vendors of merchandise and musical instruments only; food vendors are not allowed on the CWU campus.
Vendor applications are open. APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 17, 2025. Please submit your application before the deadline. Late applicants will be charged a $25 late fee, and may not be able to rent chairs or tables.
Zimfest African Market Criteria
Zimfest is an annual celebration of Zimbabwean music and culture. In keeping with the spirit of this gathering, musical instruments and merchandise offered for sale at Zimfest 2025 should be of Zimbabwean or related African origin.
To be a Zimfest vendor, one must either be a US resident or have a visa that allows one to earn money in the US, which a visitor’s visa will not. All vendors and their helpers are subject to the same rules and regulations as other Zimfest participants. The application will ask that you have read and understood the Zimfest Code of Conduct.
The centrally-located CWU Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC) will be headquarters for Zimfest 2025, and the outdoor stage and African Marketplace will be located in a grassy, shaded area outside the northeast corner of the SURC. We know that vendors will be pleased with the ease of unloading and loading in this location. Secure storage will be available in Room 137a of the ground floor of the SURC. Volunteers will be available to help move wares in and out of storage at 9:00 AM Saturday and Sunday, and at 5:00 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Vendor Fees
Non-registered vendors: Vendors who do not register and pay the fees listed below for a marketplace booth will be charged a 5% commission fee on sales above $500. This rule applies to people selling wares such as new or used instruments on their own, or those sharing booth space with a registered vendor. Note that you will not be charged a fee if your sales are less than $500. Contact for information and/or payment onsite.
Vendor registration: Space in marketplace area, one 6’ table, and two folding chairs and a limited amount of secure indoor storage are included in the vendor registration fee. We have ample space in this location, so there is no need to limit yourself to a 10’x10’ canopy as has been the case in previous venues. Not every vendor will be guaranteed an unobstructed view of the stage, however. Please bring your own table coverings.
- $75 registration fee for each commercial vendor
- $50 registration fee for each non-profit organization (please provide documentation of IRS 501(c)(3) status with application)
- 5% commission on sales above $500. The sales commission will be collected on Sunday afternoon at the end of the festival, so please keep track of your sales on a daily basis. Zimfest relies on the honesty of vendors to accurately report sales and pay accordingly.
- Additional support is available at the following rates:
- Each additional (6-foot) table — $10
- Each additional chair — $2
- Electricity (110 volt) to table — $10
* Please note that Zimfest is no longer providing rented canopies as the rental price increases each year. It is far more economical to purchase your own and bring it with your wares.
Washington State Taxes: We are required to inform you that Washington State commercial vendors are responsible for collecting and paying state and local sales taxes (8.6% in Kittitas County). A 2018 Washington law holds non-resident temporary vendors at fairs and festivals liable to collect and pay sales taxes as well. Non-profit entities are exempt if their merchandise is sold for fund-raising purposes. Go here for further information and to sign up for a Temporary Business Registration Certificate.
Marketplace Dates and Hours
You are welcome to begin setting up your booth on Thursday August 7, between 12 and 5 p.m..
| Thursday Aug 7 | Marketplace setup noon – 5:00 PM; no sales |
| Friday Aug 8 | Marketplace is open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday Aug 9 | Marketplace is open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday Aug 10 | Marketplace is open 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Please note: All rented tables and chairs must be returned to the area indicated by the Stage Manager by 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug 10. The indoor storage area in the SURC, if needed overnight, must be emptied by 10 AM on August 11.
Marketplace Setup Information
Parking:
Details on where to park can be found at: Zimfest Parking and Disabled Access. Permits are required for most lots weekdays but not weekends, including the lot closest to the festival site.
Loading and unloading:
If you arrive on Thursday or Friday, you can get a permit to drive a vehicle along the sidewalk close to the Marketplace. To obtain a permit, you must visit the CWU Parking Services office IN PERSON, show your ID, give your license plate number, and sign an agreement. This permit is available at no cost (beyond the parking permit) and must be done in person during office hours 8-5 Monday through Friday. Once you have this permit, you may drive onto the sidewalk for loading or unloading 30 minutes at a time during the festival (at the beginning and end, or daily as you prefer).
Setting up:
Vendor booths will be on the east side of the field (no power) and north side of the Student Union and Rec Center (SURC) (power option) surrounding the outdoor stage and audience. Staking is not allowed in the vendor area.
Storage:
Overnight storage is available to all vendors in the SURC, next to the Marketplace. The room is on the ground floor, though on the opposite side of this large building. Remember, we will not have overnight security as we did in 2023 with outdoor evening concerts. You will likely find a cart or hand truck helpful for loading and unloading. We hope to have some to share but please bring one if you can.
CWU Parking Services
1211 Wildcat Way
(Google Maps use: 1211 N D St)
Phone: (509) 963-2667
https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/visit/parking/
Marketplace Vendor Application
Once you have submitted your application, you will need to return to this page to pay (see below).
Vendor Payments through PayPal
Once you have completed the Vendor Application, you may choose to pay your vendor registration fees through PayPal:
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