Fall festivals, holiday markets, school functions, community celebrations and fundraisers all have different needs, but they have one thing in common: people need to know where to go and what to do when they get there.
That’s where good event signage comes in.
Additionally, signage guides guests from the road to the parking area and toward the entrance. Planning those pieces together creates a better experience than treating each sign as a separate, last-minute need.
What Signs Do You Need for an Event?
Most events need a combination of identification, parking, directional, informational and promotional signage. Common event signs include entrance signs, parking and traffic signs, wayfinding signs, schedules, maps, vendor or activity identification, sponsor displays and banners.
The exact mix depends on the event’s location, size, audience and activities.
A basic event signage checklist may include:
- Event entrance or identification signs
- Parking and traffic direction
- Entrance and exit signs
- Directional and wayfinding signs
- Registration or check-in signs
- Schedules, maps and event information
- Vendor or activity identification
- Sponsor and community-partner recognition
- Safety or accessibility information, where needed
You may not need every item on the list. A good place to start is by walking through the event from your guests’ perspective.
Fall Festival Event Signage and Wayfinding
Plan Parking, Entrance and Event Wayfinding Signage
Start before guests even arrive. Will they know they’ve reached the right location? Is it obvious where they should park? From the parking area, can they easily identify the entrance?
Then follow their path through the event.
Where will they check in? How will they find restrooms, food, vendors, activities or performance areas? If the event covers a large space or includes several attractions, will people know how to get from one area to another?
The goal isn’t to put a sign everywhere. It’s to provide the right information at the point where someone is most likely to need it.
How the sign will be viewed matters, too. A directional sign intended for approaching vehicles needs larger, simpler messaging than a schedule guests will read while standing nearby. Thinking about viewing distance and location can help determine the appropriate size, design and amount of information.
Make Important Information Easy to See
Schedules, maps, prices, menus, rules, activity information and QR codes can all be useful, but trying to fit too much information onto one sign can make it harder to understand.
Think about what someone needs to know at that particular point in the event. Information that can be understood quickly is more useful than a sign people have to stop and study.
Consistency also matters. Using the same colors, fonts, logos and design elements throughout the event helps reinforce the organization or event brand while making the space feel more organized.
Sponsor and community-partner recognition can be incorporated into that system as well. Dedicated sponsor signs, banners or recognition displays can provide visibility without overcrowding signs guests rely on for directions and information.
Can Event Signs Be Reused?
Yes. Parking, directional, welcome, check-in and other general event signs can often be designed for use at multiple events.
This can be especially valuable for organizations that host events throughout the year. A municipality might need signage for seasonal festivals, Veterans Day ceremonies, holiday celebrations, summer concerts and other community events. Schools may have athletic events, concerts, open houses, fundraisers and community programs.
Leaving dates and event-specific information off certain signs can make them useful again. Recurring events can also create a consistent signage system and update only the pieces that change, such as schedules, dates or sponsors.
Not everything should be reusable. Some signs need to communicate a specific promotion, theme or message. The goal is to identify which pieces make sense as a longer-term investment and which are truly needed for one occasion.
Over time, that can turn a collection of individual signs into a useful event signage system.
When Should You Start Planning Event Signage?
Event signage should be considered once the event layout, major activities and attendee flow begin taking shape. Planning early gives you time to determine where signs are needed, how many you may need, what information they should communicate and how they will be displayed. Where and how a sign will be used also helps determine how it should be produced. An outdoor directional sign exposed to wind and weather has different requirements than an informational display positioned inside a registration area.
Consider whether signs will be mounted, hung, staked into the ground or placed on a freestanding display. This is also the time to determine where sponsors should be recognized, which pieces could be reused and what logos or artwork will be needed. It doesn’t mean every detail has to be finalized months in advance. It simply means making signage part of the event plan instead of something added after everything else has already been decided.
Better Signage Makes Events Easier to Experience
The best event signage often does its job without people thinking much about it. Guests know where to park. They know where to enter. They can find the activity they’re looking for, check a schedule and move through the event without constantly wondering where they’re supposed to go next. That creates a better experience for attendees and can mean fewer repetitive questions for the staff and volunteers keeping the event running.
Event Signage FAQs
What signage is needed for an outdoor event?
Outdoor events commonly use entrance, parking, traffic, directional, activity, informational and sponsor signage. The location, event layout and weather exposure also help determine what types of signs and display methods are appropriate.
Can event signage be reused?
Yes. Signs without dates or event-specific information, such as parking, directional, check-in and general welcome signs, can often be designed for repeated use. Recurring events can also use a consistent signage system while updating only the information that changes.
How do I know how many signs my event needs?
Start with the event layout and follow the attendee experience from arrival to exit. Look for points where someone may need directions, identification or information. Multiple entrances, separate parking areas, larger venues and events with several activity areas may require additional signage.
Planning an upcoming community event, school function, festival, fundraiser or business event? Tell 3i Graphics & Signs about the event, the space and what you have planned. We can help you determine what signage makes sense from arrival and wayfinding to event information and sponsor recognition and identify opportunities to create pieces you can use again.
