Community events play a vital role in bringing people together, creating civic pride, and celebrating local culture. From neighborhood festivals and public concerts to city-sponsored markets and seasonal celebrations, Colorado municipalities host a wide variety of outdoor gatherings each year. These events require careful planning—particularly when it comes to guest safety, weather protection, and logistical coordination.
At Mountain View Tent Company, we’ve partnered with cities, counties, and public institutions throughout Colorado to provide dependable tenting solutions for outdoor community events. Whether your goal is crowd comfort, directional flow, or vendor support, the right tent setup is essential to event success.
If you’re organizing a city-sponsored event this summer, here are key planning insights to help ensure compliance, comfort, and community engagement.
Step One: Define the Event Scope and Site Requirements
Before choosing any infrastructure, municipal planners must first assess the scope of the event. Will it span multiple blocks, occupy a public park, or support both passive and active programming (e.g., music, vendors, and family activities)?
Questions to address early:
- What is the projected attendance?
- Will the event be free-flowing or scheduled (e.g., performances, speeches)?
- Are there food and beverage components requiring covered service areas?
- Will the event include public-facing staff, vendors, or community organizations?
These details will determine the tent size, type, and quantity needed. Large, open festival-style events may require high-capacity tents for shelter and stage coverage, while smaller, neighborhood-scale programs may benefit from multiple frame tents positioned throughout the venue.
We recommend requesting a site assessment from our team. This allows us to help you determine:
- Tent placement to avoid underground utilities and public infrastructure
- Traffic flow patterns for safety and accessibility
- Anchor method suitability based on surface (grass, pavement, etc.)
- Emergency exit routes and ADA compliance
Step Two: Select the Right Tent Types for Public Safety and Comfort
Each tent style serves a different purpose. For city events, the priority is typically a combination of sun protection, visibility, wind resistance, and ease of access.
Festival Tents
- Best for: Large-scale public gatherings, main stage cover, and communal seating
- Why it works: High peaks allow for airflow, and the size is scalable to match the crowd
- Note: Includes center poles, which can be integrated into layouts for tables or vendor booths
Super Tent (Clear-Span)
- Best for: Vendor rows, activity areas, and public health stations
- Why it works: No interior poles, offering maximum open space and easier navigation
- Bonus: Ideal for covered programming like resource fairs or family zones
Unique Frame Tents
- Best for: Information booths, entry stations, security zones, or shade pods throughout a site
- Why it works: Smaller footprint, flexible sizing (10’, 20’, and 30’ widths), and no center poles
- Popular uses: Staff headquarters, merchandise sales, sponsor booths
We do not use pop-up or quick-set tents. All our structures are fully anchored, installed by trained crews, and inspected to ensure compliance with Colorado event regulations. These tents are suitable for multi-hour and multi-day events and are engineered to withstand standard summer weather conditions.
Step Three: Understand Municipal Compliance and Permitting
Public events must adhere to a range of safety regulations. Our team regularly works with city planners and event coordinators to ensure all tenting meets state and local compliance requirements.
We can support the following documentation and protocols:
- Fire retardant certification (as required by the Denver Fire Department and others)
- Load-bearing specs and structural details for public record
- Site logistics for setup, takedown, and emergency access
- Recommendations for egress spacing and maximum occupancy per structure
If your event is held on public property, be sure to allow sufficient time for permit processing. In Denver and most Colorado cities, tent permits must be secured several weeks in advance—especially for tents over 400 square feet or those used for assembly purposes. We are happy to supply all required documentation to support your city’s application process.
Step Four: Plan for Public Comfort and Staff Needs
Community events are more enjoyable and more successful when guests and staff have access to shaded, functional spaces. Tents are more than just coverage—they are infrastructure that supports the entire event layout.
Key tent uses for summer community events:
- Cooling zones and hydration stations
- Information or welcome booths
- First aid and public safety areas
- Vendor and sponsor stalls
- Live performance shelters or sound/lighting gear protection
- Volunteer coordination tents
- Lost-and-found and family gathering points
We offer select accessory rentals when included with a tent rental package, such as sidewalls or lighting. For events requiring restrooms, fans, or furniture, we can connect you with trusted local providers experienced in serving city-scale functions.
It’s also important to ensure adequate shaded spaces are provided for staff, volunteers, and emergency services personnel—especially for longer-duration or multi-day events.
Step Five: Coordinate with Other Vendors for a Cohesive Event
Mountain View Tent Company works alongside city-approved vendors, event producers, and public works departments to ensure seamless integration of our tenting structures with the broader event plan. Whether you’re coordinating with traffic control, sanitation, food vendors, or entertainment companies, we provide:
- Precise setup and takedown schedules
- Coordination with staging or AV teams
- Recommendations on layout for optimal crowd control
- Anchoring strategies that respect park guidelines or surface limitations
Our experience with multi-departmental city events means we understand the importance of communication, safety, and flexibility. We serve as a partner—not just a provider.
Start Early to Secure Dates and Support
Tent inventory fills quickly during the summer event season in Colorado. We recommend reaching out three to six months in advance for city events and festivals. Early planning ensures better site access, smoother permitting, and more options in tent size and layout.
Mountain View Tent Company is committed to providing reliable, weather-resistant tents that meet the highest safety standards. Whether your city is planning a single-day neighborhood celebration or a multi-week festival, we’ll support your team with clear communication, compliance-driven documentation, and experienced installation crews.
Contact us today to schedule a site visit or receive a quote for your upcoming community event.
