Ah, the sounds of the fair – wild screams from the roller coasters, clowns talking from the dunk tank, the announcer at the pig races, and lots of laughter from little ones. And the smells – deliciousness fills the air of greasy, fried fair food like funnel cakes, donut burgers, and deep-fried Oreos. But what do you see when you look around? Bright lights, flashing signs, rides sky high in the air, and tents.
Yes, craft tents full of goodness all just waiting for you and your friends to enjoy!
Food Tents
Just about everyone goes to the fair for some sort of fair food. It is a staple of fair attendance. You must have a slice of greasy pizza, an elephant ear, a turkey leg, popcorn, cotton candy, caramel apples, deep-fried anything, and ice cream. What makes it even more enjoyable is eating these items immediately after riding the fastest spinning ride at the fairgrounds!
Many state and local fairs use tents to house some of the food. Of course, there are many food trucks, but there are also many other gourmet-type fair foods from local vendors. Rather than allowing a bunch of outside food trucks, most of these vendors are housed under a tent.
Food tents allow vendors to focus on making satisfied customers, rather than what the weather is doing. With a tent overhead, they know they are protected from many outside elements. Their products, funds, and any electrical equipment are not at risk.
Fair patrons enjoy taking cover in these tents, too. Because they can come in all sizes, many are big enough to house the vendors and a seating area for customers. Walking the fair can make your feet tired and the sun can get hot, but having a shaded table to sit and regroup is often appreciated.
Artisan and Craft Tents
Many locals wait for the fair to show off all their hard work throughout the year. These crafters and artisans make many handmade, unique products. The last thing they want to do is sit outside, wide open and exposed, for Mother Nature to attack, so they often use tents.
Tents are almost always used to house these craft artists and their products. In fact, because of the precious merchandise, many of these craft tents are enclosed and are climate controlled. This means that they have sidewalls to keep out any blowing rain or dust (and provide an additional level of shade) and they also have the ability to cool and heat tents as needed.
Much craft and artistry work requires particular care. Exposing it to the outdoor elements could cause damage. In addition, to see the full effect of what is being offered, many displays are set up and use various lighting techniques. This is all kept safe under the protection of craft tents.
Animal and Rodeo Tents
While some folks go to the fair for rides and food, others prefer the animals. Most fairs have rodeos and other shows involving animals. For example:
- 4H Club shows, including the showing of livestock animals raised by those within the community.
- Bull riding.
- Pig races, weenie dog races, rat races.
In addition to the animals, there are many events that take place involving all aspects of farming and agriculture. Tents are almost always involved in these. Fair patrons want to be protected and livestock owners want their prized animal kept safe and out of harm’s way. While they likely will lack climate control, the overhead covering provided by these tents can give a sturdy sense of shade and protection.
Petting Zoo and Animal Housing
When kids see animals at the shows, they are going to want to pet them. So, since the animals will need to have a place to be housed, they may as well have a petting zoo too, right? Tents come in all sizes which means that, depending on the livestock portion of your fair, you will be able to find the size you need.
The animal tents get a lot of traffic at the fair so they need to be strong and sturdy and able to handle the ruggedness that livestock brings.
Concerts and Entertainment
A huge part of fairs revolves around the entertainment. In fact, many local people often find that they get their name out there by performing at the fair. For example, singers, dancers, marching bands, local rock bands, magicians, jugglers, and comedians are just a few of the most common.
Generally, a fair schedule will include a list of all of the entertainment for each day. That can include a lot of entertainers! To designate a spot, tents are usually set up with a stage and – if you are lucky – a seating area. Then, as the gates open for the day, the entertainment starts. This continues all day, which means those tents see a lot of traffic!
Concerts of well-known musicians are also quite common. These concerts can draw huge crowds and therefore require a huge space. Many nighttime fair concerts can get rowdy – again reinforcing the need for a sturdy structure.
The tents that are used for entertainment are large and solid. Many times, they have sidewalls for protection from the elements, especially since there is a high usage of electricity that gets used for each show. It is also recommended to rent a tent that has no poles throughout the open space. Poles will be used to keep the tent sturdy and intact, despite the amount of traffic. By removing them from the center of the tent, it increases safety for fair patrons as well as makes sure there is not a blocked view in the house.
Why You Need a Tent
Fairs are a fun time for those who attend and those who get to entertain and sell their livestock, food, and crafts. From craft tents, to food tents, to concert tents, the fair houses all of these tents. Having a tent for protection for all involved means that attention will no longer have to be on protecting assets, but rather on making people smile. Because, in the end, that is what a long day at the fair is for, right?