GFree Fest
Description
GFree Fest is a fully gluten free festival held annually in Providence, Rhode Island, showcasing gluten-free products, food, and beverages on March 20th and 21st, 2027 at WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, RI.
Founded by a celiac and long-time festival planner, it is the perfect opportunity for gluten-free food lovers to explore new products, meet gluten-friendly businesses, and have a gluten-free cocktail, mocktail, or beer.
GFree Fest is brought to you by the events team at Ampersand Creative Co.. Be sure to check out other Ampersand events like, RI VegFest, Little City Thrifty, The Good Trade Makers Market, and our partner event, Bloom Flower and Home.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
We recommend reading the list of FAQs below and reviewing our website to learn all about GFree Fest. This event is a fun and educational fully gluten free indoor event featuring restaurant popups, local and national food and beverage brands, gluten-free/celiac makers, and more. Restaurants will have full meals for sale, and some may offer samples. The Inside Voices bar will be fully stocked with gluten free beer and gluten free cocktails and mocktails.
TICKETS:
Tickets to this event are non-refundable, but you are welcome to give them to a friend if you are unable to attend. Simply forward your tickets to another person via email or send them a screenshot. Each ticket has its own unique QR code and we MUST be able to see the QR codes at check-in. We cannot look up tickets for someone if the tickets are not in their name. Please note that this event has several entry times over the weekend, and that your ticket is good for entry at a specific time. We cannot allow you to enter earlier than your ticket entry time, but you are welcome to enter later than your ticket time. Early entry VIP tickets allow you to enter an hour before General Admission opens, and they come with a tote bag full of coupons and giveaways from local and national GF brands.
WEATHER:
This event is held indoors and will take place rain or shine. There may be a short wait to get in, which we will work through quickly, but plan to be outside for a bit and dress accordingly just in case!
SHOPPING:
We recommend bringing your reusable tote bag! Most vendors will accept cash, cards, and cash app payments, but please be aware that there is no ATM on site.
DRINKING:
Bring your ID if you plan on having delicious gluten free cocktails and beer at our bar! Coffee and mocktails will be available, too. We recommend bringing your reusable water bottle, as the venue has several water bottle filling stations.
PETS & ANIMALS:
We love our rescue pugs, but this event is not pet friendly, per the Department of Health. Please leave your pets at home. This includes pets/animals in carriers, strollers, and bags. Service dogs that are specifically trained to assist with disabilities are welcome. Animals whose sole function is to provide emotional support or companionship are not considered service service animals, under federal or Rhode Island state law, and are not permitted at this event.
KIDS:
This event is, as always, family friendly! Children under 4 are welcome to attend at no cost, but anyone 4 years old and older requires a ticket for entry. Strollers are welcome, but please be careful of our vendors and other attendees, as this event does get busy.
ACCESSIBILITY:
The WaterFire Arts Center and this event are accessible to those with mobility aids, though the event does get busy. If you use a mobility aid, please look for our security guard outside so that he can direct you to enter the venue and wait in a reserved seating area. Handicap parking is located right out front.
PARKING:
Parking is free and plentiful in the WaterFire Arts Center on-site parking lot. There are many handicap parking spots available. Please do not park in handicap spots unless you have the legal authority to do so - you will be towed.
OMG, A BOOK SWAP!
Bring your gently used books (cookbooks, fiction, non-fiction, whatever you like!) to the event and swap them at our book swap table. At the end of the event, we will donate whatever isn't claimed. Please, no religious text, dictionaries, encyclopedias, or text books.
GLUTEN FREE FOOD & BEVERAGE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
GFree Fest is owned and hosted by a person with celiac disease, and maintaining a fully gluten free event is central to our mission. All participating vendors have agreed that every food, beverage, and product offered at GFree Fest must be gluten free and have acknowledged the importance of following appropriate practices to minimize the risk of cross-contact with gluten.
Products available at GFree Fest are prepared in a variety of environments. Some vendors operate from dedicated gluten free facilities or kitchens. Others prepare gluten free products within facilities where gluten-containing ingredients may also be present or used at other times. These vendors have agreed to use appropriate cross-contact prevention procedures in the preparation, handling, storage, transportation, and service of products offered at GFree Fest.
Some participating businesses may hold gluten free, celiac-safe, or similar third-party certifications; however, certification is not a requirement for participation. Such certifications can be difficult or financially impractical for small businesses to obtain and should not be interpreted as the sole measure of a vendor’s gluten free practices.
To help attendees make informed decisions, each vendor will display an information sheet at their booth describing the type of facility or kitchen in which their products are prepared and providing relevant information about their gluten free practices. Attendees are strongly encouraged to speak directly with vendors regarding ingredients, preparation methods, cross-contact procedures, allergies, sensitivities, or other dietary concerns before consuming or purchasing any product.
GFree Fest will also operate a bar offering gluten free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which may include cocktails, beer, mocktails, and other beverages. Bar staff will be available to answer questions regarding ingredients and preparation.
While GFree Fest and its participating vendors take gluten free requirements and cross-contact precautions seriously, individual sensitivities, allergies, medical conditions, and dietary needs vary. GFree Fest cannot guarantee that any particular product or preparation environment will meet every attendee’s individual medical or dietary requirements.
By purchasing a ticket and/or attending GFree Fest, you acknowledge and understand the information above and accept responsibility for asking vendors and event staff any questions necessary to determine whether a particular food, beverage, or product is appropriate for your individual dietary needs before consuming or purchasing it.
NOTICE OF FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY:
Our events are documented by professional photographers and videographers, as well as local media and members of the press. By attending GFree Fest, you are entering an area where filming and photography occur. By attending this event, you understand that you may be photographed, filmed, or videotaped and you hereby give GFree Fest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC the unqualified right to take pictures and/or recordings of you and grant the perpetual right to use your likeness, image photo (collectively, “image”), without compensation, for broadcast or exhibition in any medium and to put the finished pictures/recordings to any legitimate use without limitation or reservation. You hereby waive, release and forever discharge GFree Fest/Ampersand Creative Co LLC from and against any and all claims or actions arising out of or resulting from any use of your image.
In the event that GFree Fest needs to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 or any other reason, tickets will not be refunded and will be valid for a rescheduled date in the future.
FAQs
- Are tickets refundable or transferrable?
Tickets to this event are non-refundable, but you can give them to a friend if you are unable to attend, via email or screenshots work, too - so long as we can see the QR code at check-in. Tickets cannot be transferred to a different date, time slot, or a future event.
- Is this event handicap accessible?
The WaterFire Arts Center and this event are accessible to those with mobility aids, though the event does get busy. If you use a mobility aid, please look for our security guard outside so that he can direct you to enter the venue and wait in a reserved seating area.
- Do children need a ticket? Can I bring a stroller?
Children under 4 are welcome to attend at no cost, but anyone 4 years old and older requires a ticket for entry. Strollers are welcome, but please be careful of our vendors and other attendees, as this event does get busy.
- Where do I park?
Parking is free and plentiful in the WaterFire Arts Center on-site parking lot. There are many handicap parking spots available. Please do not park in a handicap spot unless you are legally authorized to do so - you will be towed.
- Is this event pet friendly?
This event is not pet friendly, per the Department of Health. This includes pets in carriers, strollers, and bags. Service dogs that are specifically trained to assist with medical needs are welcome, but emotional support and/or therapy animals are not permitted.
- What if the weather is bad?
This event is held indoors and will take place rain or shine. There may be a short wait to get in, which we will work through quickly, but plan to be outside for a bit and dress accordingly just in case!
- Is everything gluten free?
Yes. All vendors sign contracts stating that they will bring ONLY gf items to the event, and all will have table signage indicating how/where their food is prepared. Please ask vendors questions, to ensure you're making the right choices for yourself and your family.
- Will this event sell out?
It is very likely to sell out - plan ahead to avoid missing out! We are unlikely to have tickets available at the door.
- I bought tickets from a third party - can you confirm that they're real?
Due to extensive fraud, we can’t ever guarantee that tickets bought on the re-sale market are valid. We recommend buying tickets directly from Humanitix.
- What kind of payments do vendors accept? Is there an ATM on site?
There is no ATM on site. Most vendors accept cash, cards and Venmo/Paypal/Cash App.
- Is everything gluten free?
GFree Fest is owned and hosted by a celiac, and all products at the event will be gluten free. All of the vendors who are participating in the event have agreed to, and understand the importance of, adhering to a fully gluten free menu. The food and products that you’ll find at GFree Fest are prepared in a variety of settings. Many of the vendors work in dedicated gluten free facilities, while others work in dedicated gluten free kitchens within larger facilities that are not fully gluten free. Some businesses will be offering gluten free products made in kitchens where, at other times, gluten is also used, but strict cross contamination measures are in place and taken seriously. Some vendors do have celiac and/or gluten free certifications, but these certifications are not always easy or financially accessible for small businesses to obtain - even those who are operating fully gluten free businesses.
To help you, each vendor will display an info sheet at their table during the entirety of the event. This sheet will be a quick way to view how and in what setting their products are prepared. With that said, we encourage you to talk with each vendor at the event. They’ll be ready and happy to tell you about their food preparation protocols and ingredients so that you can make the best decisions for your personal dietary needs.
GFree Fest will also host a bar with gluten free alcoholic and non-alcoholic options, including cocktails, beer, mocktails, and more. The bar staff will be fully prepared to answer any questions regarding ingredients.
At the end of the day, we’re serious about two things - throwing an awesome party that brings kind and enthusiastic people together AND avoiding gluten!
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
