4th Annual Maynardville Evening Food Market (2026):
Food Truck Vendor & Partner Application, Criteria, and Onboarding Process

Celebrating 70 Years of Maynardville

As Maynardville celebrates its 70th anniversary, the 2026 Maynardville Evening Food Market (MEFM) enters its fourth year with exciting growth. Building on a 22% attendance increase and record ticket sales in 2025, MEFM is expanding to run longer—from 13 January to 8 March—with 670 seats nightly and the return of ballet by Cape Town City Ballet and Cape Ballet Africa. With headline shows like Twelfth Night, jazz, opera, and orchestral concerts, the festival draws a diverse, engaged audience eager for quality food alongside great entertainment. We will also be adding a VIP area to resolve the seating issue. 

This extended season means more trading days and thousands of attendees each festival, giving food vendors an excellent opportunity to increase sales and grow their brand at one of Cape Town’s top cultural events. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this vibrant, thriving marketplace in 2026!

You can download the full trading day schedule here.  For programming details, please visit the official Maynardville site.

How we work

At OAC, we’ve built more than a festival—we’ve built a community. We value our vendors and are committed to seeing you succeed. Each year, we elevate the front-of-house experience to draw full houses, supported by world-class performances that deliver a truly unforgettable night for every guest.

Vendor space is purposefully limited to ensure exclusivity that not only sets you apart but also helps you make real money. Drawing crowds of up to 670 per night over an extended run, MEFM gives selected vendors premium exposure, minimal competition within their category, and the chance to grow their brand in one of Cape Town’s most iconic and high-traffic cultural events.

Our culture

Our mission is to reconnect Wynberg Park with the broader Cape Town community by revitalising this historic festival and celebrating underused green spaces as places of connection, safety, and care.

We champion producers who prioritise sustainability, quality ingredients, and community impact. Vendors are expected to follow green practices and embrace conscious eating, helping us push ethical, inclusive food culture into the mainstream

Application process

We also ask that you honour our ethos of using the arts to bridge and uplift communities. Our goal is to ensure that every vendor, partner, sponsor, and guest experiences the unique magic of the Maynardville Open-Air Festival and leaves feeling enriched. For returning applicants, know that your feedback has directly shaped this year’s approach.

First come, First serve

We typically receive high-quality applications and operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This means, for example, if two vendors offer the same food category and you apply first (with all other factors being equal), you will secure the spot. To ensure your participation, we encourage you to apply early.

Fee classes

We have two FEE classes, namely:
Class 1 – FOOD VENDOR: Vendors whose core business is a Food Truck or operates from an established food market.
Class 2 – OAC COLLAB/MEFM PARTNERS: Established concerns not operating in the Food Vendor space but can benefit patrons by offering a unique food experience. This class includes food innovators, food labs, unique restaurants, training colleges, and identified high-volume Vendors.

Apply

APPLICATIONS for 2026 MEFM are NOW OPEN!

To be considered, please complete your application below. Only applications with PAID
application fees will be processed. Contracting for the first round of food vendors will
begin as early as August 2025.

2026 MEFM - APPLY HERE

Application Q&A

Q: What is the application fee?
A non-refundable administration fee of 750 ZAR is required when submitting your application. Payment details can be found on the application form. If you are submitting a second application for the same season, the fee for the additional application is reduced to 500 ZAR.
Q: Do I need to submit separate applications for multiple food trucks?
Yes, each food truck must have its application. If you’re applying for more than one truck, please complete a separate application for each.
Q: What certifications do vendors need?
A: Vendors must have a valid Certificate of Authority (COA) and a business license. If using gas, a gas certification is also required.
Q: What are the participation fees?
A: In addition to the application fee, the daily Evening Market vendor rates* for 2026 are:
-Monday to Thursday: 450 ZAR per day (except on School Booking Nights, see below)
-Friday and Saturday: 650 ZAR per day
-Sunday: 850 ZAR per day
-School Block Booking Nights: 350 ZAR per night (typically Mondays and Tuesdays, specifically for Shakespeare performances)
Q: When does the festival take place?
The festival runs from 13 January to 8 March 2026.
Q: Are vendors required to operate on show days?
Yes, vendors must commit to being open on all show days and operating for the full duration of the festival.
Q: How can I obtain the vendor agreement, and what are the next steps?
If approved, we will email your agreement—return it promptly with your deposit to secure your slot.
Q: Whom should I contact for more questions?
A: For additional questions or assistance, please reach out to our support team via the contact information on our website.

Resources

-Festival Website: click here.
-Festival Programme, click here.
-Trading Days Schedule, click here.

Contact Us

Vendor Queries

For Vendor applications and related queries, please email foh@openaircollective.co.za; please note that during the Festival, our response times are 4-8 hrs, pre- and post- the Festival 3-5 days.

Sponsorship Queries

For sponsorship queries, please email kb@openaircollective.co.za; please note that during the Festival, our response times are 4-8 hrs, and pre- and post-festival 3-5 days.

*The rates listed apply exclusively to Evening Market activities. Any additional activities during this period not covered by these rates will be billed separately. Rates are subject to change without notice.
-
Disclaimer: We reserve the right to change any terms and conditions at any time on any platform. We also reserve the right to change or add to these terms and conditions from time to time for legal, safety or other substantive reasons or to assist the event organiser, or to ensure the safe delivery of the event. We will update this site with any such modifications as and when these modifications take effect.

© 2025/2026 WORLDCODE | OpenAirCollective is a Division of WORLDCODE PTY LTD