Ideas for Using Your Canopy in the Autumn & Winter
Now the summer is over, the chance to use your commercial canopy isn’t. In fact, you get gain more use from your outside area in the autumn by still using your outdoor area when you wouldn’t usually this time of year.
A canopy protects from any unpredicted (or predicted) rain showers, as well as insulting the area underneath the canopy. Here’s a few ideas to help you get the most from your canopy this autumn and winter.
Autumn and Winter Canopy Uses for Schools
Guess what? With your canopy you can still take lessons outside in the colder months. I can imagine this sounds like a relief; keeping 30+ children couped up in one classroom all day can be hard, so give them (and yourself) the change of scenery and fresh air you both need. Break up the day and switch up your lessons by taking suitable lessons outside.
As long as the children have their coats and woollies such as gloves, scarf and hats, they’re good to go. Movement will help keep them warm under your school canopy, along with the excitement of an outdoor lesson. Check out our blog for lots of outdoor learning ideas, many of which focus on the autumn and winter months: Autumn and Winter Outdoor Lesson Ideas
Autumn and Winter Canopy Uses for All Commercial Settings Including Hospitality, Retail, Leisure, Education and Healthcare Settings:
Bonfire Night
If you have a large outdoor area, and your canopy is away from the area you plan to have a bonfire and/or fireworks, your canopy would be the perfect viewing area. You can serve warm drinks and food whilst visitors watch the display under shelter, with the warmth of an autumnal spiced hot chocolate, or warm apple cider in their hands.
Autumn Messy Crafts
You can make extra ££’s by holding crafting events for children, or even crafting events for adults too. This could be pumpkin carving, making air-dry clay models, or autumn wreaths using natures gifts such as acorns, conkers berries and leaves.
Music Nights
I recently attended an outdoor music event and although it was a chilly evening, there were fire pits around (not underneath a canopy) that keep everyone toasty. Again, you could use the canopy for serving food and beverages, or as a undercover seating area with heaters whilst also offering areas away from the canopy with fire fits and circle seating arrangements. This kind of event will draw in the crowds that like something a little different and it expands the area you can serve customers, bringing in more profit which can be hard task in the cooler months.
Christmas Carols
Create the perfect Christmas evening with warmed mulled wine, mince pies in the oven and a jolly band singing Christmas carols in the crisp fresh air of December. Guests can enjoy a warm seasonal hot drink and mince pies, or sausage rolls whilst listening to Christmas carols, making them feel like they’ve transported into a sweet, idyllic Christmas movie. This is an event that is sure to bring in the crowds, and just imagine how magical it would be if it snowed…..
Christmas Wreath Making
Just like the autumn crafting event, you can run a wreath making workshop for adults. You don’t need to bring in an expert, make a wreath frame from foraged willow (or buy some pre-made frames) and forage in your local woodlands for berries, holly, mistletoe along with any other tree leaves and berries that take your fancy. Add a little ribbon and maybe some glitter and you’ll be amazed at how well they turn out.
Holding the event outdoors under your canopy adds to the Christmassy feel and saves lots of mess and insects indoors and making naturally foraged wreaths are much better for the environment and keeps the event costs down for you to either pass onto the attendees or put back into your profits.
I hope these suggestions have given you some ideas for you to take back to the office and start planning your outdoor event under your canopy this autumn and winter. If you decide to hold any of these events or have held similar events in the past, we’d love to hear from you so we can feature you on our blog.
Download our brochure to view our full range of canopies so you can use our new canopy in time for the autumn and winter months.
Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install commercial grade canopies, shade sails, awnings and shelters across the UK. We specialise in servicing the education, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors and have extensive experience working with schools, councils, architects and contracting firms.
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