Food Trucks

Otafest brings food trucks right outside to Stephen Ave, with service exclusively for attendees, volunteers, and staff.

Food Trucks

Feed the Fans

Get ready to park your truck at the epicenter of Calgary’s best Japanese pop culture festival. For one weekend, Stephen Avenue transforms into a bustling hub dedicated to feeding thousands of passionate, hungry fans. This is a unique opportunity to connect your brand with an energetic audience and become a highlight of their festival experience. We’re looking for Calgary’s best, most creative, and most delicious food trucks to join us.

What We're Craving

We’re curating a diverse and exciting lineup of food trucks to satisfy every craving. We are especially interested in vendors who offer:

The Nitty-Gritty

Food Vendor Terms & Conditions

In these terms, “You” means the Vendor. “We”, “us”, “our”, and “Otafest” mean the Otafest Film & Cultural Festival Planning Committee.

  1. General Conduct & Agreement: All vendors and their staff must adhere to Otafest’s Festival Policies in addition to these vendor-specific terms. A professional and respectful demeanor towards attendees, staff, and other vendors is expected at all times.
  2. Permits: You will have all required permits and licenses as required by law to operate your business and offer your services. You must also submit a copy of your City of Calgary Business License and a copy of Alberta Health Services (AHS) inspection approval to Otafest. All information must be received by Otafest no less than three weeks prior to the event date.
  3. Hours of Operation: You will be present, open, staffed, and fully operational for a minimum of 5 hours on each day of the Event between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  4. Truck Space: We will provide you with a designated space from which to provide services from your food truck. You will work from the space we assign to you and arrive at the time you are assigned.
  5. Fees: There is a $1000.00 CAD (GST incl.) fee to participate in the event. Your space is not reserved, and may be reassigned, until Otafest receives the fee. The fee can be waived as part of a sponsorship agreement between the Vendor and Otafest. Please contact us for details about available sponsorship packages if interested.
  6. Alcohol: You may not sell, distribute, or in any way disseminate alcoholic beverages at the event.
  7. Sale Restrictions: You may sell only to Otafest staff, volunteers, and patrons as per our permit for the space. You cannot sell to the general public while you are participating in the event.
    1. You must verify that customers are either an Otafest staff member, volunteer, or patron by asking them for proof of admission before selling to them (they will be wearing either an Otafest wristband or an Otafest badge).
  8. Food Restrictions: As required by our permit for the space, Otafest reserves the right to deny menu items that compete with food service offerings offered along Stephen Avenue (e.g. Milestones).
  9. Load-In/Set-Up: Load-in and set-up times vary based on truck location. To assure truck parking and set-up goes smoothly, load-in and set-up must be completed between the hours of 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. each day of the event. All setup must be completed by 9:30 a.m.
  10. Space Condition: You will return your assigned space in the same condition as when you arrived. Any damage to the space, including but not limited to staining from the operation of the food cart or truck, will be remedied at your expense.
  11. Inspection: You must comply with all health and sanitation practices as legally mandated by Alberta Health Services. Trucks are subject to inspections by environmental health officers at any time. For information please visit the AHS website.
  12. Cancellation:
    1. If Otafest cancels the Event, you will be entitled to a full refund of your fee. If you have sponsored the event, Otafest’s Sponsorship Team will work with you within the terms of your sponsorship agreement.
    2. If you cancel your participation at the event for any reason, or if Otafest cancels your participation in the event due to an order from AHS, your violation of any law, violation of any AHS mandated practices, or conduct which may reflect unfavorably on Otafest, you will not be entitled to any refund.
  13. Security: Otafest does not provide security for vendor property. You are solely responsible for your truck, equipment, and any belongings. You must obtain your own insurance.
  14. Photography & Video: You consent to photographs, audio recordings, and/or video recordings taken of you or your staff during the event. You understand that any such photographs, audio recordings, and/or video recordings become the property of Otafest and may be used by Otafest, or others with their consent, for educational, commercial, instructional, or promotional purposes determined by Otafest in broadcast and media formats now existing or created in the future.
  15. Indemnity: You agree to indemnify, defend, and forever save and hold harmless Otafest and its affiliates or related entities, and their respective principals, stakeholders, members, partners, officers, directors, employees, representatives, tenants, agents, contractors, and volunteers, from and against any and all damages, claims, losses, demands, costs, expenses (including attorney’s fees and costs), obligations, liens, liabilities, actions and causes of action, threatened or actual, which any one of the Indemnities may suffer or incur arising from your acts or the breach of any agreement, obligation, warranty or representation made herein, or for claims not closely related to our duties under this Agreement, except to the extent such claims arise from our negligence or willful misconduct. The foregoing indemnification shall survive any termination or the expiration of these terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

You are responsible for securing all necessary permits. A copy of your City of Calgary Business License and your current Alberta Health Services (AHS) inspection approval must be submitted to us no later than three weeks before the festival.

This is very important. Due to our permit for the space, you may only sell to Otafest attendees, staff, and volunteers. You cannot sell to the general public. You are required to verify that a customer has an Otafest badge before completing a sale.

To respect our neighbors on Stephen Avenue, we reserve the right to deny specific menu items that directly compete with the offerings of adjacent brick-and-mortar restaurants. You will be asked to submit your proposed menu for review upon acceptance.

Our preferred method is E-Transfer. Details will be provided upon acceptance of your application. Your space is not guaranteed until the fee is received in full.

Application Form

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Application Delay

Please note that the application is not currently available due to planned construction along Stephen Ave in 2026. Once we receive an update from the city, we will be able to open applications.