Can You Use A Freestanding Shelter For A Summer Festival?

It’s estimated that there are hundreds of festivals that happen across the UK every summer and now is the ideal time to get your final plans in place if you are organising or attending one – or more – of these events as a vendor.

Research carried out by the Association of Independent Festivals last year found that, in 2025, there were 592 festivals held across the UK, of which almost 400 were classed as “green field festivals”.

The vast majority of these are classed as small or micro festivals, attracting 1,000 to 19,999 attendees or fewer than 1,000 attendees respectively. 

But even small festivals can attract thousands of people and if you’re setting up a bar, food stall or selling goods at one of these then you’ll know that you can’t rely on the British weather to always deliver dry conditions and sunshine.

That’s why investing in freestanding shelters is advisable, because it means you can protect your wares and continue to support and serve festival attendees, no matter what the weather does. 

There are some exciting new festivals on the bill for this summer in the UK, including Where It All Began in Cambridgeshire and The Great British Farm Fest that is due to take place in Stoneleigh in late May.

One of the biggest new festivals to be announced, meanwhile, is State Fayre in Chelmsford which will have a 30,000 capacity and be a celebration of music and BBQ. 

How are freestanding shelters different from tents?

Our freestanding shelters are designed for durability. Regardless of the size of shelter you choose or its shape, it will come with galvanised steel arches to support it, which makes it much more robust in windier conditions than a standard tent would be.

What’s more, the PVC cover that forms the shelter is designed to withstand all manner of conditions and to ensure that the space inside stays dry. 

This is particularly important if you need a freestanding shelter to provide additional storage space for merchandise, food or drinks products, for instance, as you want to be able to rely on it no matter the weather. 

In addition, our shelters can be safely erected on hard surfaces like concrete using weight plates, which means they are not only properly anchored, but also leave no trace when you pack up after the event. 

This is a much safer and more robust approach to creating temporary storage than a tent with flimsy guy ropes and tent pegs!

What sizes of freestanding shelters are available? 

Our smallest shelters are 4m wide, which makes them perfect for smaller events and tighter sites. We also offer shelters with a width of 6m, 9m, 12.2m and even 15m, so there really is an option to cover most eventualities. 

For festivals, you’re likely to be seeking a shelter that’s at the smaller end of the spectrum – but speak to our team about how you’ll be using it as they will be able to provide you with advice on the best option for your needs.