The Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce, Arizona State Parks and the Northern Arizona Audubon Society along with all our sponsors and partners are pleased to invite you and your agency to participate as an exhibitor in the 9th Annual Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival.

The festival will be held at Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood, AZ from
Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26, 2009.

The festival includes guided walks, field trips, workshops, educational exhibitors, vendors, kids games, and other nature related activities. Our theme this year is “The River is the Reason”. We wish to make aware the importance of protecting the Verde River system for the benefit of man and wildlife.

We require all exhibitors to have an educational component to their display that addresses wildlife and/or the environment. We welcome any donations for our raffle which supports our educational programs. Proceeds are used to help cover the cost of purchasing awards for the student essay and poster contests.

Non-partnering Organizations:
There is a $50 charge for educational exhibits. This includes electricity if requested and a 10' x 10' booth space in the exhibit tent during all four days of the festival. We provide one table and chairs. A booth space can be reserved for any one day for only $25 a day.

Un-manned exhibit table: $25 for all four days. Materials will not be returned unless picked-up by the exhibitor.

Birding Associations and Festivals: Booth cost is $25. Electricity - additional $15.

Items may not be sold at exhibit booths. If your organization is interested in selling products, please contact us. The cost for a vendor booth is $150 ($100 for non-profits or a business under $1M annually).

There will be a welcoming reception on Thursday evening from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the main tent where community leaders welcome festival participants. Soft drinks, wine and snacks are served. Friday is school field trip day and Saturday is Family Fun Day. We plan free activities, walks, and special presentations for children attending with their classes and families. We encourage exhibitors to have a kid friendly activity prepared for these days as they will be visiting the booths.

Exhibitor hours will be:
Thursday, April 23 noon to 7:00 pm (5pm – 7pm reception)
Friday, April 24 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday, April 25 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 26 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Booths are set up in a large circus type tent. Although we will be providing security for the tent during the evening and nighttime hours, it is recommended that you not leave anything of value behind. The festival committee is not responsible for any theft or damage.

If you would like to participate in the 2009 festival please complete the enclosed form and return it as soon as possible. Space is limited and we will accommodate on a first come-first served basis. If you have any questions or special requests, please contact Barbie Hart at (928) 282-2202 or bhart@azstateparks.gov.

Thank You
The Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival Committee