Working with tents in the winter months

While Vancouver winter temperatures don’t usually drop below freezing, we are subject to dealing with rain, wind, and the occasional snow flurry during the winter.  During the fall/winter season of 2011/2012 The Finer Details has worked with numerous tents and offer a few pieces of advise.  There are a few key things to keep in mind when planning to use tents for events:

• Size & Location – These two factors will determine what type of permit (if any) you will need for an event.  Events in public spaces such as a park or street require that you obtain permits from the City of Vancouver.  Any tent that measures larger than 20 x 30 feet also requires additional permits and certification by an architect and engineer.
• Weather – Regardless of what Mother Nature throws at you on the day of your event, you should be ready for all possibilities!  Do you have a snow plan in place?  Does your tent have gutters to deal with heavy rain?  Is the tent anchored strongly enough to withstand heavy winds?
• Guest Comfort – Even though your guests are sheltered underneath the tent, you still need to make sure they are comfortable.  Make sure to order sufficient tent walls and ask your supplier what types of heating they can provide.  Depending on the size of your tent, they may suggest anything from small space heaters to large forced air heaters.

The best thing to do is to start the planning process early to ensure you have everything in place.  With weather that can change in the blink of an eye, it never hurts to include tents in your event plan!

~ Angela