TERMS OF
SERVICE

Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") are entered into between you ("User", "Vendor", "Sponsor", "Attendee") and Area Code Gear ("ACG", "we", "us", "our"), the organizer of the 229 Festival. These Terms govern your use of the 229 Festival website (the "Site") and all related services.

By using this Site, submitting any application, or attending any ACG event, you confirm that:

• You are at least 18 years of age, or have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
• You have the legal authority to enter into these Terms on your own behalf or on behalf of the organization you represent.
• You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

These Terms are effective as of May 28, 2026, and apply to all interactions with ACG and the 229 Festival from that date forward.

Use of the Site

You agree to use this Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. You agree that you will not:

• Use the Site to transmit spam, unsolicited communications, or any content that is harassing, defamatory, obscene, or fraudulent.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site, its servers, or any related systems or networks.
• Use automated tools (bots, scrapers, crawlers) to extract data from the Site without our prior written consent.
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Site or its content.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any other malicious code.
• Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits any other user's enjoyment of the Site.

We reserve the right to terminate your access to the Site at any time, without notice, for any conduct we determine to be in violation of these Terms or otherwise harmful to users, third parties, or the interests of ACG.

Vendor Applications & Agreements

Submission of a vendor application does not guarantee acceptance. All applications are subject to review and approval by ACG in its sole discretion. ACG reserves the right to reject any application for any reason, including but not limited to booth category saturation, product conflicts, or failure to meet event standards.

Upon acceptance of your vendor application, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information in your application, including business name, product/service type, and contact details.
• Pay any required deposit and remaining fees by the stated deadlines.
• Comply with all event rules, booth setup guidelines, and operational requirements communicated by ACG.
• Maintain your booth in a clean, professional, and safe condition throughout the event.
• Hold all required business licenses, permits, and food handler certifications where applicable.
• Carry appropriate liability insurance and present proof upon request.
• Not sub-lease, transfer, or share your assigned booth space without prior written consent from ACG.

Vendors are responsible for all their own equipment, inventory, and staff. ACG is not responsible for theft, damage, weather events, or losses incurred at the event.

Sponsorships

All sponsorship inquiries are subject to negotiation and must be confirmed in a separate written sponsorship agreement signed by both parties. These Terms apply in addition to any specific terms contained in that agreement.

As a sponsor, you agree to:

• Provide accurate brand assets (logos, copy, creative) by the deadlines specified by ACG.
• Not engage in any on-site activations, signage, or marketing beyond what is outlined in your sponsorship tier or written agreement.
• Ensure all sponsored content complies with applicable advertising standards and laws.
• Pay all agreed sponsorship fees by the specified due dates.

ACG reserves the right to refuse or remove any sponsor content that is deemed inappropriate, misleading, or inconsistent with the 229 Festival's brand and community standards. Sponsorship fees are non-refundable once event production has begun.

Payments, Deposits & Refund Policy

All fees, deposits, and payments are subject to the following conditions:

• Deposits are non-refundable. Vendor deposits ($50–$250 depending on booth type) secure your spot and are non-refundable under any circumstances once processed.
• Remaining balances must be paid in full by the deadline stated in your application confirmation. Failure to pay by the deadline may result in your spot being released without notice.
• Cancellation by Vendor/Sponsor: If you cancel your participation more than 30 days before the event, you forfeit your deposit but will not owe remaining fees. Cancellations within 30 days of the event forfeit all fees paid.
• Event Cancellation by ACG: If ACG cancels the event due to circumstances within its control, paid fees (excluding deposits) will be refunded or applied to a future event at ACG's discretion. ACG is not liable for cancellations due to force majeure (see Section 8).
• Payment disputes must be raised in writing within 14 days of the disputed charge. After 14 days, all charges are considered final.

Event Rules & Code of Conduct

All vendors, sponsors, partners, and attendees are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful, professional, and consistent with the 229 Festival's values of community, culture, and commerce. The following are strictly prohibited at all ACG events:

• Harassment, discrimination, or threatening behavior toward any person based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, or any other characteristic.
• Sale or distribution of counterfeit goods, illegal substances, or unlicensed products.
• Unauthorized use of the 229 Festival name, logo, or branding for commercial purposes.
• Weapons of any kind on event grounds unless authorized by ACG and applicable law.
• Violation of any applicable local, state, or federal law.
• Excessive alcohol consumption or conduct that endangers others.
• Setting up signage, banners, or marketing materials outside your designated booth area without permission.

ACG reserves the right to remove any individual or vendor from the event for violation of these rules without refund. ACG's decisions on conduct matters are final.

ACG is not responsible for the actions of third-party vendors, attendees, or performers. Each vendor is solely responsible for the conduct of their own staff, agents, and representatives at the event.

Intellectual Property

All content on this Site — including but not limited to the 229 Festival name, Area Code Gear brand, shield logo, graphics, text, photographs, video, and design — is the exclusive property of ACG or its licensors and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

You may not:

• Reproduce, distribute, or publicly display any Site content without prior written permission from ACG.
• Use the 229 Festival or Area Code Gear name, logo, or branding in any marketing, advertising, or social media post without written authorization.
• Create derivative works based on ACG content.

By submitting photos, videos, or other materials to ACG (including via application forms or social media tags), you grant ACG a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, and display such content for promotional and marketing purposes related to the 229 Festival, without further compensation to you.

Disclaimers & Force Majeure

The 229 Festival website and services are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

ACG does not warrant that:

• The Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
• The information on the Site is complete, accurate, or current.
• Results obtained from use of the Site will meet your expectations.

Force Majeure: ACG shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance of its obligations due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic or public health emergencies, government orders, civil unrest, or venue unavailability. In such events, ACG will make reasonable efforts to reschedule the event and communicate updates to all registered parties.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, ACG and its officers, directors, employees, agents, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to:

• Your use of or inability to use the Site or our services.
• Any unauthorized access to or alteration of your data.
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities.
• Personal injury or property damage sustained at the event.
• The conduct of third-party vendors, performers, attendees, or sponsors at the event.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Area Code Gear and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and service providers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your violation of these Terms.
• Your use of the Site or participation in any ACG event.
• Any content you submit, post, or transmit through the Site.
• Your violation of any third-party right, including intellectual property, privacy, or contractual rights.
• Any claim that your participation in the event caused damage to a third party.

ACG reserves the right to assume exclusive control of the defense of any claim subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate fully with ACG in asserting any available defenses.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the 229 Festival shall be resolved as follows:

• Informal Resolution First: Before initiating any formal proceeding, you agree to contact ACG in writing and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.
• Binding Arbitration: If the dispute is not resolved informally, it shall be submitted to binding arbitration administered in Tift County, Georgia, under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding.
• Class Action Waiver: You agree to resolve disputes with ACG on an individual basis only and waive any right to participate in any class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.
• Jurisdiction: For matters not subject to arbitration, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Tift County, Georgia.

Changes to These Terms

ACG reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where required, notify registered users by email.

Your continued use of the Site or participation in ACG events after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Site and notify ACG in writing within 14 days to cancel any outstanding applications.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates.

Contact Us

For questions, concerns, or notices regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us:

These Terms of Service constitute the entire agreement between you and Area Code Gear with respect to your use of the Site and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.