Vendor Fees Double at Racine Festival | Milwaukee News

Racine’s beloved Party on the Pavement festival is sparking controversy after organizers doubled vendor fees—pushing small businesses like Maria Castillo’s crochet stall and Jose Perez’s food cart to the brink. With costs now $250 and $600 respectively, many vendors are walking away, saying it no longer makes financial sense to participate—even though the event draws huge crowds. The Downtown Racine Corporation defends the move, citing last year’s vendor overload and a desire to spotlight local brick-and-mortar shops, while stressing the event remains free for attendees. But struggling vendors feel sidelined, questioning whether their contributions are being undervalued as they scramble to find alternative markets. The festival still goes ahead on September 19th, with hopes of 100 vendors—and plenty of free fun for the public. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0d4013e2ca75f870