Gazebo weights and wind safety

Weight every leg

Every leg needs its own weight, including on days that look calm. Weights should be fixed to the leg itself, close to the ground, so they cannot swing or slide. Many organisers ask for a minimum weight per leg in their trader terms, so check the figure before you buy. Weights that look generous in the garden can feel light on an exposed field, so it is worth carrying more than the minimum.

Choose weights that suit the ground

• Pegs are often not allowed on hard standing, tarmac or paving, and some organisers ban them on grass too.
• Purpose-made leg weights, water bags and sand bags are common choices.
• Check how you will carry the weights. Heavy items are easier to move in smaller units.
• Never rely on a table or stock to hold the gazebo down.

Watch the wind during the day

Check the forecast before you leave and again at the pitch. A gazebo catches wind like a sail, and a gust can lift a frame that sat still all morning. Watch for the canopy flapping, legs rising off the ground and neighbouring stalls taking down their walls.

Use side walls with care

Side walls make a gazebo catch far more wind. In gusty weather take the walls off or open them so air can pass through. Roll them up and secure them if you want to keep them to hand.

When to take the gazebo down

Follow the organiser. Many event rules give the organiser the final say on whether stalls stay up, and they may announce a wind limit on the day. Take your gazebo down if it starts to lift, if the frame bends or if you feel unsafe, even if no one has told you to.

Clear customers away from the gazebo first, then lower the canopy and fold the frame. Never try to hold down a gazebo that is lifting. Once it is down, lay it flat and weigh it, because a loose frame can blow across a pitch and injure people or damage other stalls.

Brief the people helping you

Tell everyone who works the stall where the weights are, how to lower the walls and who decides when to take the gazebo down. A short chat at the start of the day takes a minute and means nobody hesitates if the wind picks up. Keep a phone number for the organiser or the site manager to hand so you can ask for advice quickly.

Check the gazebo before each event

Look over the frame, the joints and the canopy for damage before you leave. A bent leg or a torn seam is a weak point in wind. Replace worn parts before the next event and keep a few spare fittings in the van. Our guide to choosing a gazebo for a market stall covers what to look for when you buy, and the outdoor event checklist lists the weights and spares to pack.