Tales, Tails & Ales Welcome Package
What’s in this package (new items bolded with green check ✅):
✅ Booth Assignments & Set Up Windows
Vendor and Brewery Information
Event Highlights & Opportunities
How You Can Help Us Run A Smooth & Successful Event
Promotions/How You Can Help Spread the Word
✅ Info for Community Poetry Wall Participants
Welcome!
We're so excited to welcome you to Tales, Tails & Ales at Bolton Spring Farm!
Created in partnership with Brew Biscuits, this one-of-a-kind fall event brings together artists, makers, authors, craft beer and wine, dogs, rescues, live music, great food, and plenty of fun, all during the heart of Pick-Your-Own apple season.
Below you'll find important information and tips to help you prepare for a successful, and FUN, day in the orchard.
We're so grateful to have you be part of it and can't wait to see you (and lots of wagging tails!) on September 19!
KEY DETAILS
Expected attendance: 750
Food Truck Information
We're excited to welcome you to Tales, Tails & Ales at Bolton Spring Farm!
Key Details for Food Trucks
Please plan to be onsite, parked, and ready to serve by 10:45 a.m.
We have carefully reviewed your setup requests and will position your truck in the location that best accommodates your operational needs while supporting the overall event layout.
Additional information regarding attendance, demographics, marketing efforts, and event details can be found later in this packet.
Arrival & Parking
Food trucks will enter via the road located directly across from the Bolton Spring Farm Country Store and proceed onto the event field. Once you arrive, a member of our team will direct you to your assigned location.
CHANGE: Please enter through the main field entrance. Fencing installed for Pick-Your-Own is blocking entrance via the gravel road entrance.
The yellow area on the map represents the fair area. Unlike past events you will be positioned outside of the gated event area. We are doing this to maximize traffic to your truck so you get both fair and regular farm visitors as customers.
Matt Regan will be your primary contact for food truck arrival and placement. Having operated a food truck himself for several years, he understands the logistics involved and will help ensure your arrival and setup go as smoothly as possible.
Utilities
Please note that water and electricity are not available onsite. Food trucks should plan to be fully self-contained.
Trash Removal
Food trucks are responsible for removing all trash, recycling, cooking waste, grease, boxes, and other materials generated by their operation during the event.
Please plan to leave your space in the same condition in which you found it. Bolton Spring Farm does not have dumpster facilities available for vendor use, and food truck trash may not be left in event trash receptacles intended for guests.
Any bags, boxes, or waste materials left behind will be considered vendor refuse and may impact participation in future events.
Thank you for helping us keep the farm clean, safe, and welcoming for our guests, vendors, and staff.
Booth Assignments & Set Up Windows
Vendor Information
Set up & Breakdown
Booth Setup Guidelines for All Participants
All booths must be set up by 10:45 a.m. and ready to go by 11:00 a.m.!
Business name and/or logo must be clearly displayed.
Vendors to provide their own tents, tables, and chairs (we prefer white pop-ups, but it is not required)
All display tables must be covered with floor-length tablecloths.
Packing materials must be kept out of sight and stored under tables with clothes.
Tents must be secured to the ground by weights and/or stakes. If your tent is not properly secured, you will be asked to remove it.
General Logistics for All Participants
'IMPORTANT CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS EVENTS
ENTRANCE & EXIT. This is the first event we will host during our Pick-Your-Own Season. Apple picking opens at 9:00 a.m. so there will be guests entering the orchard during set up. Vendors will have a dedicated and marked space that will serve as both your entrance and exit. We please ask that you are be extra aware and cautious as there will be pedestrian activity on the field at the time of set up. See map below.
There will be signs marking booth rows
Each row starts with 1 at the top
Each space is marked with your number on the ground
The right and left corners of the front of your booth are also marked on the ground
While your booth space is 10x10, we allow extra breathing room between spaces so center your booth between the two corner marks to benefit from that space
Booth breakdown cannot start until after 5:00 p.m. No vehicles are allowed on the field until all guests have exited.
Vendor parking is located at 115 Main Street. It is about a 5-minute walk from the event field (it is a front yard area of a home on the Bolton Spring Farm property). Here is a link to a Google Map that shows the route to the parking area. IF YOU REQUESTED HANDICAPPED PARKING PLEASE CONNECT WITH KAREN UPON ARRIVAL.
Breweries. Once you’re set up, please stop by Ticketing to pick up your tabletop brewery sign and tasting ticket collection jar. Each jar is labeled with your brewery name on the bottom. At the end of the event, please return both the sign and collection jar to Matt or Jeremy Regan at the the Bolton Spring Farm beer garden.
🚨 Please know your booth number and assigned row when you arrive.
🚨 All events are outdoors and run rain or shine.
🚨 All cars must be off the field and parked in vendor parking by 10:45 a.m.
SET UP INSTRUCTIONS
Additional setup and logistics details, including booth assignments and arrival windows will be emailed the week prior to the event.
Friday Setup Option
You can opt to set up your key booth infrastructure (tent, table, chairs, displays) on Friday between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. If you would like to set up on Friday, please let me know by September 10.
Saturday Setup
Setup Windows. On Saturday, there will be two set up windows:
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Booth Access. Vendors can drive directly to their booth. We ask that you please drop off your items, park in the dedicated vendor parking, and then come back and begin your set up. This will help minimize congestion and ensure everyone has access to their booth. Please also pull as close to your booth as possible so other vendors can drive by.
Booth Assignments. Set up windows will be sent with your booth assignments the week before the event, along with other details including parking instructions, etc.
Saturday Breakdown
Booth Access. To ensure a safe and efficient load out:
All guests must be off the field before any vehicles are allowed to enter for load out.
Booths must be completely packed up before you can bring your vehicle on-site.
Then head to the vendor parking to grab your vehicle.
Drive back to the event and load out.
Our events are continuing to grow and we are implementing additional procedures to ensure the safety of our partner vendors, staff, and guests 🤗.
Vendor Placement Considerations
As part of our event planning, we work to thoughtfully place vendors throughout the market to support safety, accessibility, and the overall guest experience.
If your booth includes items such as latex balloons, strong fragrances, generators, propane equipment, smoke-producing cooking elements, amplified sound, or anything else that may impact nearby vendors or guests with sensitivities or accessibility needs, please let us know in advance so we can consider this during booth placement planning.
Event Highlights
Tales, Tails & Ales brings together books, dogs, craft beer, live music, local makers together to celebrate during peak Pick-Your-Own apple season for a relaxed fall day in the orchard.
This isn’t a traditional festival where guests simply make their way through rows of booths. We’ve created experiences throughout the farm that encourage people to explore, interact, grab something to eat or drink, listen to a reading or live music, meet a rescue dog, pick apples, and settle in for a while. We hope that means plenty of opportunities for guests to discover, and return to, our artists, makers, authors, and food artisan booths throughout the day.
Also happening around the orchard:
New England authors & live readings. Six authors will join us for readings and conversations throughout the day, bringing the “Tales” in Tales Tails & Ales to life. You can check out the author line up on our event page.
Craft beer & wine tasting. Guests with tasting tickets can sample a selection of craft beers and wine while enjoying the orchard. We have 12 craft breweries thus far but are targeting 25 for the event. Check our event page for updates as new breweries are added. Any unused tickets will be redeemed and donated to our selected rescue partners.
Bolton Spring Farm Beer Garden. For those looking for more than a taste, the Bolton Spring Farm Beer garden will be open with a nice selection of local beers to enjoy.
Wine Tastings. Our very good friends from Hardwick Vineyard & Winery will be offering wine tastings, wine by the glass, and bottle sales throughout the day. And don’t forget the wine slushies!!
Friends of the Bolton Public Library. We’re delighted to welcome the Friends of the Bolton Public Library to Tales, Tails & Ales! They’ll be bringing a little extra literary fun to the orchard with activities that invite guests to read, discover, and connect, including:
Hosting our author readings throughout the day.
A used book sale with plenty of treasures to browse.
AND running our Take a Book, Leave a Book table, where guests can bring a book, find a book, or simply discover something new.
Community Poetry Wall. Guests can add their own words to the day, with winning poems about their beloved dogs or pets, selected and shared from the stage throughout the afternoon (at 12, 1, 2, 3 & 4). Visit the promotions section in this welcome package for ways you can become involved.
The Orchard Challenge. Our new friend Marchela Corolla will be logging 16 miles around the orchard as part of her fundraising journey for the MSPCA while training for the Honolulu Marathon. Guests can cheer her on, follow her progress, and help support animals in need. Donate to her cause during the event and get a cowbell you can decorate and ring to cheer her on when she laps the event field! Check out her story and donation page here. Note to the authors and Friends of Bolton Public Library, Marchela is going to pace her run to not interfere with your scheduled readings. However, it is a live event and if the two activities do coincide, just simply pause your reading as she runs by as it will only be a moment until she disappears back into the orchard for the rest of her run 🤗
Animal rescue & adoption organizations. We are working with two animal rescue partners to be on site introducing guests to their work, sharing ways to help, and, we hope, bringing along a few very special four-legged visitors who are seeking their furever homes!
Working dog presentations. Phoenix Rising will be offering a series of educational presentations throughout the day that will give guests a fascinating look at working dogs, their training, abilities, and the important jobs they do. Founder Lee Atherton will also run a raffle during the day for a gift basket to raise money for Phoenix Rising, a foundation dedicated to getting life-saving service dogs into the hands and hearts of those whose lives are at risk.
The Pawsport Game. — A playful, dog-inspired tasting experience that sends guests exploring participating dog treat booths while raising money for our rescue partners. Current participants include Brew Biscuits,Squirrel - a Dog Bistro, and Crazy for Canines. Completed tasting tickets will be entered into a raffle to win treats donated by these vendors (drawing is on Monday, September 21).
Pet Portrait Mini Sessions with award winning photographer Courtney Hizey. Courtney will be returning to Tales, Tails & Ales to offer a special opportunity for guests to capture a beautiful pet portrait or photo with their favor four legged friend.
The Puppy Potty Area, sponsored by Scoop Brothers. Because even our four-legged guests deserve thoughtful event amenities! Scoop Brothers is donating a dog waste station that pups and their owners can use during the festival. They will also have a booth for any of you interested in their pet waste solutions.
Live music in the orchard. Aunt Mimi will be delivering the hits once again throughout the day creates the easygoing, stay-awhile atmosphere that has become such an important part of our farm events.
Food for humans AND dogs. A small, yet mighty, lineup of food trucks will be serving throughout the day, including Wheelie Good, Brewed2Perfection, and Squirrel – A Dog Bistro, New England's only food truck just for dogs!
Decorate Your Own Dog Bandana. The team from Alta Nashoba Valley will join us with a booth offering a fun activity - decorating your own dog bandana! We are working out a few other details on how they plan to generously support our event and will update you when the details are finalized.
Dog Nail Clipping/Donation to Buddy Dog. Bolton’s Posh Pup, dog day care, resort, and grooming spa will host a booth where they will offer information about their business as well as dog nail clipping, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to Buddy Dog in Sudbury.
Peak Pick-Your-Own apple season. September 19 lands right in the heart of apple season at Bolton Spring Farm. Guests can head into the orchard to purchase a PYO bag and pick apples during their visit. Tasting-ticket holders will also receive a $5 coupon toward a ½-bushel PYO bag, valid that weekend.
And, of course, there will be artists, makers, specialty food artisans, dog-focused businesses, authors, and community partners throughout the property, the people who truly make the day what it is.
With so much happening, we're encouraging guests to come for the festival and stay for the orchard: shop, taste, listen, read, meet some dogs, grab lunch, pick apples, and spend a beautiful September day at Bolton Spring Farm.
Public restroom facilities will be available for vendors and guests during the event. Due to the fencing being installed for the Pick-Your-Own season, we will not be able to offer a vendor only restroom as we do for our other events.
Event Opportunities
Community Poetry Wall
As mentioned under “Event Highlights,” guests will be invited to share short, fun poems about their favorite fur babies on our Community Poetry Wall, with a winning poem selected at the top of every hour from 12–4 p.m. We thought this could also be a fun way to give a few of our artists and vendors a little extra visibility during the event! Five participants will have the opportunity to host one of our hourly Poetry Wall winners.
If you’d like to participate:
You’ll be assigned one of five time slots: 12, 1, 2, 3 or 4 p.m.
At your assigned time, you’ll visit the Poetry Wall and select that hour’s winning poem.
You’ll head to the stage to announce the winner and read their poem aloud.
You’ll provide a small prize for the winner, valued at approximately $20–$25.
While you have the mic, you’ll also have a moment to introduce yourself and let guests know where to find you at the event
For example:
“Hi everyone! I’m Karen Regan from Bolton Spring Farm, and I had the honor of choosing this hour’s Poetry Wall winner. Our winning poem is Fleas by Strickland Gillilan: ‘Adam / Had ’em.’ Congratulations! You can pick up your prize at Booth 1, Row 1, and while you’re there, come say hello and check out all the great local produce we have for sale from the orchards and farm surrounding us today!”
A little extra visibility: We’ll also feature our five Poetry Wall hosts on the event website and through social media leading up to and during the event.
Interested in hosting an hour? Let me know by September 4. We have just five spots available, offered on a first-come, first-served basis!
How You Can Help Us Run A Smooth & Successful Event 🤗
Permitting. If you are serving any food items or samples, you must have a permit from the Nashoba Associated Board of Health. You can find all the information you need on our Vendor Application page (at the bottom of the page). All permit requests must be received by Nashoba Associated Board of Health by mail 14 days before any event. A copy of your permit must be emailed to events@BoltonSpringFarm.com a week prior to the event.
Be Prepared. You must know your booth number when you arrive. If you don’t, we will not check you in and ask that you go park and look up your number. By knowing your booth number you will help keep everything running smoothly and avoid delays for fellow vendors. We are always going to be there to help you, but we need everyone to do their part (and the majority of you certainly do!). We want to get everyone set up as safely and efficiently as possible and this small detail will go a long way in helping us achieve that goal.
Stop. Drop. And GO! Please unload your items and then move your vehicle promptly to vendor parking before setting up. This ensures all vendors can access their booths efficiently.
Use the Proper Entrance and Exit. We have a dedicated entrance and exit for vendor set up. Please enter through dedicated vendor entrance.
Early Arrivals. If you are planning to come earlier than your assigned set up time, you must let me know in advance. The morning is heavily scheduled to allow time for the event staff to set up, and then the vendors. This flow helps ensure that the venue is set up for a successful day while also allowing the vendors the time and space they need to make their booths shine!
Go Ahead and Wave Me Off! The rows and booths are all marked. If you know where you are going, just wave me off at check in and head to your spot.
Audience & Demographic
Guest Demographic
Tales, Tails & Ales is expected to attract a broad, highly engaged audience drawn together by a shared love of dogs, local experiences, craft beer, books, food, and supporting small businesses and community organizations.
While women ages 35–65 continue to represent a significant portion of Bolton Spring Farm's social media audience and event attendees, we have been tracking a younger crowd of 18- 34 age group, and a more heavily male-focused audience through the Tales, Tails & Ales promotions. This event will have an especially strong appeal among couples, groups of friends, dog owners, craft beer enthusiasts, readers and book lovers, animal advocates, and adults looking for a relaxed fall outing that they and their kids can both enjoy. Families and Pick-Your-Own visitors will also be an important part of the day’s audience.
Our guests tend to value experiences over simply attending events so we work to incorporate interactive opportunities to create a more complete day for them. We keep the setting open and airy, to benefit from the beauty of the outdoors and orchard and not a crammed festival vibe. Our guests enjoy discovering local makers and small businesses, learning the stories behind what they create, meeting the people behind the products, and finding things they won't see in a traditional retail setting.
For Tales, Tails & Ales in particular, we expect guests to stay and explore. Someone may arrive for the craft beer tasting and discover an artist they love; come to hear an author and stay for live music; bring their dog and meet a local pet business; or visit for Pick-Your-Own apples and discover an entire festival happening in the orchard.
That crossover is one of the things that makes this event special.
What Tends to Resonate
Artists and vendors offering products that are handcrafted, locally made, distinctive, giftable, dog-inspired, literary, seasonal, food-focused, or simply fun and unexpected should find a receptive audience.
Just as important, our guests respond well to interaction and storytelling. Don't be afraid to talk about what you make, demonstrate your process, introduce people to your products, offer samples where appropriate, or simply start a conversation. Tales, Tails & Ales is intentionally designed to encourage that kind of connection.
Estimated Attendance
Tales, Tails & Ales takes place on Saturday, September 19, during the heart of Pick-Your-Own apple season, traditionally one of the busiest times of year at Bolton Spring Farm.
On an average peak-season weekend day, the farm can welcome approximately 600–900 visitors, even without a special event. Tales, Tails & Ales adds craft beer and wine tasting, live music, author readings, dog-focused activities, rescue organizations, food trucks, artists and makers, and other special programming to the farm's existing fall draw.
Based on typical Pick-Your-Own traffic and attendance at our previous events, we are currently planning for approximately 500–800 festival guests, with the potential for additional traffic depending on weather and day-of Pick-Your-Own visitation.
As with every outdoor event, Mother Nature gets a vote! But with peak apple season, a full day of programming, and so many different reasons to visit, we're looking forward to a lively September day in the orchard.
Promotion
Farm Fresh Events in partnership with Brew Biscuits has launched a full promotion plan, including:
Facebook event (Launched 7/22)
Instagram reminders (Launched 7/22)
Cross promotion at the Christmas in July event (7/18 & 7/19)
Door signage at Bolton Spring Farm (7/18)
Yard signs installed on Bolton Spring Farm property along Main Street (7/20). NOTE: I have extra yard signs so if you have a good spot to land one, please let me know
Flyers posted in key coffee shops and community areas within a 40+ mile radius of Bolton Spring Farm (7/6) You can download the flyer here - Color | Black & White
Participating artist, vendors, authors, and breweries will be spotlighted in social media posts leading up to the event
All confirmed artists, vendors, authors, and breweries are featured on the event webpage. If you see an error on your slide, please email me. The event is also posted on the Brew Biscuits website.
Ongoing social media campaign via Bolton Spring Farm and Brew Biscuits (follow our pages if you are not already):
Event description you can cut and paste:
Books. Brews. Dogs. Apples. One very good day in the orchard. 🍎🐾🍺📚
Tales, Tails & Ales brings together some of our favorite things for a relaxed fall day among the apple trees at Bolton Spring Farm.
📚 New England authors + live readings
🍺 Craft beer & wine tasting
🐾 Dog-friendly fun, rescues + working dog demonstrations
🎵 Live music in the orchard
🎨 Local artists, makers + specialty food artisans
🚚 Great food trucks — including one just for dogs!
✍️ Community Poetry Wall + interactive experiences
🍎 Pick-Your-Own apples during peak season
Saturday, September 19 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bolton Spring Farm | Bolton, Massachusetts
Bring your friends, bring your dog, grab a beer, discover a new author or artist, pick some apples, and settle in for a beautiful September day in the orchard.
Admission:
$5 Fair-Only | |Children 12 and under FREE
Visit tinyurl.com/TalesTailsAlesTickets for tasting ticket information.
Pick-Your-Own apple bags are purchased separately. Tasting Ticket holders receive a $5 coupon toward a ½-bushel PYO bag, valid September 19–20.
How you can help spread the word!
Please help us spread the word by liking, commenting on, and sharing event posts whenever you can. We also encourage you to engage with posts from your fellow artisans, makers, authors, vendors, breweries, supporting one another helps expand everyone’s reach and visibility online! Everyone’s social is included on the event page so click, like and follow!
Share your participation at the event on social and Tag @BoltonSpringFarm and @brew_biscuits_ma (we will add it to our story and highlights). Please tag instead of “add as collaborator.”
If you have a high visibility area (either traffic or foot traffic) where we can place one of our yard signs, please let me know as I ordered extra.
Logo Downloads
Instagram Square Post & Facebook Square Post (1080 × 1080 px)
Instagram Story/Reel and Facebook Story (1080 × 1920 px)
Instagram Carousel (1080 × 1350)
Event Page Link: farmfreshevents.com/tales-tails-ales
Ticketing link tinyurl.com/TalesTailsAlesTickets
🎵 Supporting Our Musicians
We're grateful to have Aunt Mimi providing the soundtrack for Tales, Tails & Ales once again! To make it easy for guests to show their appreciation, we've created small 4.25" × 5.5" signs featuring a QR code for digital tipping.
If you'd like to help support the band during the event, please stop by the Bolton Spring Farm Beer Garden after you've finished setting up and pick up one to display at your booth. It's a simple way to encourage guests to support the talented local musicians who help make the day so special.
Completely optional, of course.
Water
Make sure to bring a refillable water bottle. We will have a water station behind the Bolton Spring Farm Beer Garden where you can grab some icy cold water throughout the day.
🤗 Supporting YOU!
Brewery Information🍻
First and foremost, thank you for being part of Tales, Tails & Ales! We’re excited to have you pouring with us and appreciate your help in making the tasting such a great part of the day.
After you finish setting up your tasting station, please stop by the Bolton Spring Farm Beer Garden to pick up:
Your tabletop brewery sign
Your ticket collection container
Please keep your ticket collection container at your station throughout the event and return both the container and sign to the Beer Garden at the end of the day.
Chris is your primary brewery contact throughout the event. He’ll have extra ice available if you need help keeping your beverages cold. Our Farm Fresh Events and Bolton Spring Farm teams are also here to help, so please don’t hesitate to grab one of us if you need anything during the day.
Planning for the Crowd
We are currently planning for approximately 750 attendees and have built the event to accommodate additional guests if attendance exceeds that number.
For additional brewery-specific information and tasting details, please refer to the information sheet Chris provided:
EVENT-DAY REMINDER:
✓ Set up your tasting station
✓ Pick up your sign + ticket container at the Beer Garden
✓ See Chris if you need additional ice
✓ Return your sign + ticket container at the end of the event
✓ Have fun and enjoy the day!
Community Poetry Wall Participants Info📚
Your Poetry Contest Role
Please keep track of your assigned time and arrive at the Friends of the Bolton Public Library booth a few minutes beforehand. Their booth is located next to the stage. Here’s the rundown:
Before your scheduled time, please visit the Community Poetry Board and select a winning poem (the pin board attached to the side of the stage on the same side as the Friends’ booth).
Connect with Carolyn from Friends, who will coordinate with the band and help cue you.
When the band acknowledges you, head to the microphone, briefly introduce yourself and your business and let guests know where your booth is located (have fun with it!)
Announce the winning poet and read their poem aloud.
You may bring your prize to the stage to present to the winner or invite them to pick it up at your booth afterward.
We are recommending a prize valued at approximately $20–$25, but please do what works best for you.
Schedule
12 PM - Friends of Bolton Public Library
1 PM - Katy Fortman | Saltbox Baking Co. (Row X Booth X)
2 PM - Stephen R. Balzac, PhD | Author, Sound of Crickets
3 PM - Lee Atherton, Phoenix Rising (Row X Booth X)
4 PM - Bolton Spring Farm
Best in Treat Dog Tasting Participants Info🐶
Thank you to everyone participating in our Best in Treat Dog Tasting! This fun tasting trail invites our four-legged guests to visit participating booths, sample treats, and help us raise money for Sterling Animal Shelter and Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL).
Here’s how it works:
After you finish setting up, stop by the Bolton Spring Farm Beer Garden to pick up your paw-print stickers. At that time, please also drop off the item you are contributing to the Best in Treat winner’s basket.
Guests participating in Best in Treat will receive a tasting card featuring the logos of participating businesses. (See sample card below.)
When a dog visits your booth and completes your tasting, place one paw-print sticker over your logo on their card.
Once guests have completed the tasting trail, they can submit their completed card for a chance to win the Best in Treat prize basket, filled with goodies donated by participating businesses.
We’ll draw the winner on Monday following the event and contact them directly.
And the best part: 100 percent of donations collected through Best in Treat will be divided equally between Sterling Animal Shelter and WARL. Guests will also have the option to donate their unused beverage tasting tickets at the end of the day; Farm Fresh Events will cash those in and add the proceeds to the shelter donations.
Thank you for donating your treats, your time, and an item for the prize basket, and for helping us turn a fun activity for our canine guests into something that supports animals in our community. ❤️🐾
REMEMBER:
✓ Pick up your paw-print stickers after setup
✓ Drop off your prize basket contribution
✓ One completed tasting = one paw sticker on your logo
✓ Have fun meeting all those dogs!
Run of Show
