If you’re planning an outdoor event in the next few months, you’ve probably secured all the big stuff like the venue, food, and entertainment. But, if you’ve forgotten about these cold-weather essentials, it’s time to go back to the planning board. Here are 5 must-haves for any outdoor winter event:
- Hot Beverages
Nothing warms people up quite like a hot beverage. Be it coffee, cocoa, cider, or chocolate, warm drinks make people feel cozy and warm on the inside. If you’re offering any paid concessions or complimentary food/drinks, find a way to offer some hot beverages as well. This is especially important for events where people may be outdoors for long stretches of time, because it will give them a chance to warm up while still enjoying the event. Everyone will thank you!
- Ways to Warm Hands and Feet
Hot beverages make faces and stomachs feel warm, but they don’t do much to warm up the extremities. Unless you want people returning to their cars or going home to warm up, give them a way to thaw out their whole bodies at your event as well.
Getting inside a heated building is the best way to take the chill off, but if your event is more remote, that may not be a possibility. Consider handing out hand and feet warmers that people can place in their gloves and shoes for warmth in even the most remote locations.
Another option is a bonfire! This has the dual purpose of warming people up and adding ambiance to the event. (People love bonfires and are sure to remember this romantic feature.) Just remember that every location may not approve of a large fire, so it’s important to check first.
- Heated Portable Bathrooms
Any outdoor event will need portable restrooms, but winter events should have heated portable restroom trailers to provide a good experience for attendees. Luxury restroom trailers will take your event to the next level by giving guests a place to go to the bathroom in comfort. Say goodbye to freezing legs (and um… other body parts) while doing your business!
Restroom trailers have heated interiors as well as hot and cold running water and flushable toilets to make them comparable to using an indoor restroom. (In fact, depending on your venue, luxury portable restrooms may be far nicer than the existing on-site options!)
- A Place to Take Cover
Snow at an outdoor winter event is playful and fun. Rain, on the other hand, is downright miserable! Provide shelter for attendees in case there’s inclement weather. Having a tent or indoor location where guests can go if the weather gets too bad is both a comfort and a safety measure in case rain is accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Not having a place where people can take cover means that in the event of bad weather, people will just leave. It can also deter people from coming that would have arrived later if they get word that the event isn’t properly equipped to handle the weather.
- Parking Assistance
In snowy winter conditions, parking lines can be impossible to spot, which can result in people parking over the line or making up their own parking patterns. This can spell disaster if you’re planning a large event or an event where the venue has limited parking. Instead of leaving attendees to fend for themselves, hire parking attendants (or valets if the event is fancy) to assist with parking. Have staff place cars exactly where they want them to ensure that people are parking close enough together to allow room for everyone.
Kerkstra Luxury Portable Restroom Service Inc. provides portable restroom service across Michigan and luxury restroom trailers for all of the states surrounding the Great Lakes. Take a look at our mobile restroom trailers and request a quote today!