Vendors

Taste of Texarkana

Harvest Regional Food Bank

Come Get a Taste! Voted one of the top 5 Best Charity Events in Texarkana, the 33rd annual Taste of Texarkana will be Tuesday, October 13th, 5-8 p.m., at the Four States Fairgrounds arena. Each restaurant or beverage distributor will have the opportunity to showcase their specialties for over 2,000 attendees. All proceeds will benefit the hunger relief programs of Harvest Regional Food Bank.

The Taste of Texarkana is a festive, family friendly atmosphere with live entertainment on a center stage. Each vendor is encouraged to decorate their booth to add to the atmosphere and be eligible to be named "best of" in several categories. Vendors are not charged for their booths but are required to provide at least 2,000 food samplings.

Please complete the Vendor Application to reserve your booth and request any additional accommodations. Return your form to Harvest Regional Food Bank, 3120 East 19th Street, Texarkana, Arkansas, 71854 by October 5th. You may also email your form to development@hrfb.org.



If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email, or call 870-

774-1398, Hope to see you there!

Vendor Application

Set-up time begins at 9 am on October 13th. Overhead doors will be closed at noon in order to cool the building and ALL SET UP MUST BE COMPLETE BY 4pm.

Each exhibit will have the electrical and table amenities specified. If you have special electrical needs, they must be requested. Electrical needs should be kept to a minimum to prevent blown breakers and other issues. You must bring your own ice if needed - a limited amount will be provided.

The number of worker passes per size is listed-more worker passes may be purchased from HRFB staff for half price until 4 pm on the day of set up.

Tents are available on a first-come-first-serve basis (if you bring your own tent you are responsible for taking it with you after the event). Christmas-style lights will be available to use for decorations. All other decorations must be provided by the vendor and are encouraged.



Awards will be given to the "best of" in several categories. So all guests can enjoy the live band, no external music please. Harvest Food Bank will provide napkins, plates and forks for patrons.

High-Volume Exposure in a Community Atmosphere

Vendor opportunities at Taste of Texarkana in Texarkana for restaurants and distributors reaching nearly 2,000 local food enthusiasts

Restaurants across Texarkana face the challenge of introducing menus to new customers beyond their regular dining rooms. Taste of Texarkana creates a concentrated environment where 35 to 40 local food and beverage vendors present samples to festival attendees who specifically attend to discover new flavors and dining options. This setup removes the barrier of committing to a full meal at an unfamiliar restaurant, allowing chefs to showcase signature dishes in tasting portions that demonstrate quality and creativity without requiring attendees to travel across town or make reservations.

Participation requires providing sufficient sample quantities to serve high foot traffic during peak hours, maintaining booth presentation that reflects your brand, and engaging directly with attendees who ask about ingredients, preparation methods, and restaurant locations. Vendors who bring limited-availability or new menu items generate the strongest booth traffic and word-of-mouth recommendations that extend beyond the event itself. The festival charges no booth fee, but participants commit to staffing their station throughout event hours and contributing to the collaborative atmosphere that keeps attendees moving through the vendor areas.

Apply for a vendor space to confirm participation before the 40-booth limit fills.

Why Restaurants Choose This Event

Vendor booths at Taste of Texarkana position restaurants in front of attendees who self-select as adventurous eaters willing to try unfamiliar cuisines and new establishments. Unlike passive advertising, this format creates direct interaction where chefs explain cooking techniques, answer dietary questions, and build personal connections that turn first-time tasters into repeat customers. Award categories recognize standout vendors in multiple divisions, which generates additional publicity through local media coverage and social sharing when winners are announced at the conclusion of the event.

After the festival, participating restaurants typically report increased reservation requests and takeout orders from attendees who discovered them through tastings. Brand visibility extends through event marketing that lists all vendors on promotional materials, website directories, and social media posts leading up to the festival date. This exposure reaches community members who may not attend but become aware of your restaurant through the association with a popular local event.

Booth placement within the festival footprint creates natural flow patterns that distribute attendee traffic across all vendors rather than concentrating crowds in isolated areas. Organizers coordinate vendor types to avoid redundant offerings and ensure diverse cuisine representation that appeals to varied palates. The collaborative environment encourages vendors to cross-promote and build networks with other local food businesses beyond competitive restaurant operations.

Vendor Application