Festival signs have many uses. They’re a practical tool for wayfinding navigation, great for advertising sponsors, and showcasing promotions. 

Festivals tend to be places where memories are made. There are many different types. Think of art festivals, community events, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As well as large-scale festivals like Glastonbury and the Leeds and Reading Festivals. 

If you attend any of these events, you’ll likely see the same features at each one; signs. From a safety standpoint to aesthetics and information, there are lots of different reasons why they play an integral part in all festivals alike. 

At Fantasy Prints, we understand the importance of effective signage. As a result, we deliver a high-quality printing experience of all kinds of festival signage to ensure you get the most effective one possible. From sustainable practices to detailed, polished designs, we’re fully equipped to boost and elevate your event. 

In this blog, we’re taking a deep dive into the power of signs at a festival and how to use them to your advantage. We’ll explore the different kinds of festival signage and uncover how to use them to elevate the festival experience. 

Let’s get started! 

The Importance of Effective Festival Signage 

There are lots of reasons why effective festival signage is important. When you think of famous festival signage, your mind will probably take you to fun banners with exciting designs. These kinds of festival signs are great. However, many more options serve equally, if not more, important purposes. 

Here are some reasons why effective festival signs are so important:

They Offer Great Visibility 

Have you ever been to a famous festival? Or a large one at that? Well if so, you’ll know just how hard it is to make your way around when it’s your first time there. 

Festivals generally take place in large, complex places, making it difficult to find your way around. Enter festival signage. Clear and eye-catching outdoor signage helps people navigate a festival, no matter what the size. 

At festivals, wayfinding is vital. This directional signage helps people find their way to certain stages at Glastonbury or certain stands if they’re attending the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

They also help to direct people to more practical areas, like the nearest toilets or medical tents.

On average more than 200,000 people attend the Glastonbury festival, according to the BBC. 

Imagine trying to find your way around the sea of people without some handy signage helping you out. Festival signage helps with the flow of people and keeps people on track to where they need to be. 

Brand Visibility 

Festival signs work great for increasing brand visibility. A brightly coloured or well-designed large format festival banner and sign has the ability to put you on the map. In the midst of the competition at the festival, a great sign will help you stand out.  

A festival banner is a great opportunity to advertise your brand if you’re a sponsor at the event. You can use signage to increase visibility and build your brand identity. Plus, if you decide to get creative, you can encapsulate your entire brand using just festival signage. 

For example, you can use your brand colour palette, style of typography, and clear message to connect with your audience. You’ll also capture the attention of passersby, which is great for business. 

A lot of events themselves often opt for a certain style of branding in their festival signs too. Take Glastonbury as an example. The festival is big on sustainability and eco-conscious branding. 

This is often reflected throughout the entire festival with hand-made looks and bohemian style banners. This sets the tone for the event and strengthens the festival’s identity and reputation. 

Information Sharing 

If you’re hosting a festival, it’s in your best interest to keep everyone as safe as possible. Festivals are busy places where a bustling environment is expected. Therefore, you need at least a few people to know where they’re going! 

By displaying accessible information, you can serve a few purposes. 

Some examples include:

Programmes and Schedules

Due to the size of many festivals, there are often a lot of events that overlap with each other. Using festival signs to keep everyone in the know is effective, as it’ll avoid confusion or the disappointment of missing out on an event. 

Big, clear festival banners and signs are important for displaying key times and information about when and where specific events are taking place.

Maps and Wayfinding 

If a festival is operating on a large scale, wayfinding festival signs can come in handy. Interactive maps or directional signage can help festival attendees know where to go and understand the layout of the event. 

For example, there might be an area where all the food trucks are located. People will need to know where this is, and wayfinding festival signage can help. Roller banner printing might be necessary to create multiple wayfinding signs at different parts of the festival.

Safety Guidelines 

Informational signage is a crucial element of festival signage. Not to mention, it’s also a legal requirement. Using festival signs to outline the nearest fire exists, meeting points, medical tents, lost-and-found information and more, will keep everyone safe and well-informed. 

People attending the festival will feel a lot more secure with clearly outlined information. 

Aesthetic Appeal 

Now for the fun part, the way the festival signage looks. Visual appeal is a large part of festivals, which is reflected in signage. 

Most of the time, festivals tailor their signage design choices to their vibe. For example, a folk music festival might opt for natural wood finishes and earthy tones. A house music festival might be more about neon signs and vibrant colours. 

This reinforces the festival’s identity, and makes every detail of the festival feel unified. 

Types of Festival Sings 

Festival signage comes in a variety of forms, each one serving a different purpose with different features and advantages. No matter what kind of festival you’re creating signage for, there’ll be a particular type of sign that’ll elevate your design choices and function. 

Here are some examples of the different types:

Welcome Signs

Welcome signs act as a first impression at a festival, so they need to be good. This isn’t your average shop front signage. These kinds of signs are vital as they set the tone for the rest of the festival, fuelling the feeling of excitement as the attendees arrive. The festival’s logo, some effective typography, and a specific theme linking to the festival are usually seen on the welcome signs. 

In the Instagram-centred world that we live in, catering to the aesthetic appeal enthusiasts of the world is a good idea. If the welcome sign is effective and eye-catching enough, you should notice it begin to pop up on social media as people showcase their arrival. This is great for brand visibility, so it’s important to take time to perfect the sign. 

Directional Signage

As mentioned before, people need some help navigating their way around a festival. The large ones in particular! Wayfinding assistance is very important, especially in busy places where there are a lot of people attempting to make their way around.

As a result directional signage is a common, and necessary, type of festival sign. The signs might contain symbols that everyone will recognise, like the fire exit sign we all know so well, to keep everyone safe. 

Directional signage also helps to minimise bottlenecks and promote the flow of traffic, which also helps to keep everyone safe in a crowded space. By using signage to clearly mark out paths and point to certain places, it’ll keep everyone moving through the venue smoothly. 

Informational Signage

Informational signage at a festival is crucial. Without it, people just wouldn’t know what’s going on or happening at what time and where. You can display information like schedules and programmes on this type of festival signage, and keep everyone up to date with vital elements they need to know. 

You might also display maps that are clearly labelled on a pop up banner to help people know where to go or where certain events are happening. Furthermore, informational signs often include vital safety information or protocols to keep everyone safe and in the know. 

Throughout a festival, these types of signs are highly necessary. 

Registration Signs 

Upon arrival at a festival, some guidance on where you scan your tickets is necessary. Registration signs are commonly placed at the entrance or at any place you need to scan your tickets to get in. These signs need to be as clear as possible and mark the right area to go clearly. 

Registration signs can also help with queue management by using signs like “Start here” or “Queue here”. This, again, helps to keep the flow of a festival running smoothly and avoid congestion. During busy times, this is vital! A clear and direct registration sign will help with the first impressions of the people arriving. 

Table Signs and Seating Assistance

If you’re attending a festival with a food area, table and seating signs are useful. There might be a VIP area that you need to mark out to make sure the right people get to the correct place. You can also use these to distinguish dining areas or specific zones that people need to be aware of. 

Branding and Sponsorship Signs 

Brands often like to use festival signage to showcase their products, services, and boost brand visibility. There are often a lot of people attending festivals, so this is a good opportunity to stand out. Brands can use festival banners and custom signage to showcase their company and increase recognition. 

Custom signage in this instance is important, as it can attract people to a certain brand. A lot of brands also opt for putting digital QR codes on their festival signs, which works well for driving traffic to a website and increasing the chances of turning visitors into customers. 

Brands can use custom signs to boost their visual presence. As a result, these kinds of signs are often large and hard to miss. That’s the purpose of them, after all! 

Photo Opportunity Backdrop 

We all know how important social media is, especially when it comes to showing the world your social plans. Utilising this at a festival is key, as people love letting other people know where they are. 

Photo-worthy backdrops are always big hits at festivals. It’s nice to capture the moments! A popular choice of festival sign is a photo backdrop or an image that links closely to the brand. Furthermore, it’s a good opportunity to include your brand logo or information as it’ll work as great marketing when the photo is shared. 

Choose the Right Festival Signage

With so many options mentioned above, you’re probably wondering how to choose the right festival signs. However, selecting the right one for your specific signage needs will help you achieve your desired outcome for each one. With the right signs, you’ll elevate the event and improve the experience of the attendees. 

Here are some factors to consider:

Consider the Context 

The specific context of your event will have an impact on the type of signage you opt for. 

Practically all kinds of festivals exist. Therefore, context is important. A literary festival and Glastonbury are going to require different kinds of signage, for example. To choose the appropriate signage, you’ll need to keep this in mind and consider the theme and atmosphere. 

The context of the festival will also impact the size of it, which will also affect the choice of sign. In a large-scale festival, signage needs to be as large as possible to stand out. Furthermore, there are probably a lot more places that need to be laid out on a map, which will impact the size of wayfinding signage. 

Lastly, the target audience plays a large part in choosing the right festival banners and signage. If you’re at a family-friendly event, it’s a good idea to prioritise safety signs. Alternatively, if you’re at a smaller, more intimate venue, you might need to consider more simple designs on banners to keep up with the tone. 

If a sign is out of context, it’ll stand out for all the wrong reasons. 

The Sign’s Visibility and Readability 

Festivals are usually busy places, and people won’t necessarily have reading a sign on their agenda. From a design perspective, consider font, colours, and signage size, as these factors can all impact your sign. 

Let’s take a closer look:

• Font: The font you choose needs to be as clear as possible. What’s the point if people can’t read it from far away? Fonts that are overly decorated are usually more difficult to read and it won’t have the impact it needs if this is the case. 
• Colours: High contrasting colours help with visibility, especially in outdoor settings. For example, light colours on dark backgrounds and vice versa will stand out amongst the crowd. 
• Size: Festival signs should be large enough to read from a far distance, but not too large that they obstruct pathways. Furthermore, if they’re too small, people won’t notice them. Aim to position your sign strategically so that people get all the vital information they need at a festival. A print size guide can help with this. 

The Material Durability 

A lot of festivals take place outdoors, and weather conditions can vary. Being based in the UK, we know this well… 

Due to this, the material you choose for your festival signage is very important. Weather resistance needs to be up there as a consideration, as opting for a material that can uphold its quality for long periods is key. 

Some good options include:

• Foamex boards
• Correx boards
• Mesh material
• Vinyl material
• Acrylic material

The aim of the material is to be resistant to UV rays and waterproof, like Foamex and Correx mentioned above. If the material allows your designs to stay strong without fading colours, it’ll increase the chances of your sign maintaining its stability and impact throughout the festival. 

Keep Your Budget in Mind 

Budget considerations and limitations will likely be on your mind when choosing your festival signage. The key thing to remember is to balance your budget and quality. You need a good composition of them both. High-quality signs that are durable, weatherproof, and laced with brand colours and intricate designs are likely to bump up the price. 

However, it’ll be worth it when they begin to have an impact. 

A good idea to make sure you’re not going over your budget is to mix large and bold signs with smaller, more subtle ones. Correx boards, for example, are a cheaper option for signage material and you can purchase them in bulk which is a cost-effective method.  

Lastly, it’s always worth thinking about opting for reusable signs. This method is cost-effective, especially if you plan on hosting multiple events. 

Overall, when it comes to budget, being as organised as possible is key. You can set out your requirements and make informed decisions about the style, size, material, and festival banner design. 

Incorporate Branding

If your main aim of using festival signs is to increase brand awareness and visibility, it’s a good idea to think about branding. From the colour palette to the logo you display, keeping the sign consistent will tie to your brand and strengthen your image. 

If your festival has sponsors, you can incorporate their branding into the signs. Custom signs for sponsors can increase their visibility and draw attention towards them. It’s a good idea to keep all signage solutions in line with the general aesthetic of the festival, as it’ll look effective and strengthen the event’s identity. 

Innovative Ideas for Festival Signage

Festival signage is practical and functional, but it can also be creative and engaging. Some signs are innovative and have the power to leave a lasting impression. In terms of boosting visibility, this is the ideal outcome. 

To get your creative juices flowing, here are some innovative ideas for festival signage: 

Interactive Signage

As we’ve already mentioned, QR codes are great ways to boost the engagement of your signage. These codes might lead to behind-the-scenes interviews, event schedules, or sponsor promotions. This adds an extra dimension to the festival signage and makes it more interesting than just your average sign. 

Themed Decor Designs

Using signage to match the theme of the festival is always a creative venture to dive into. For example, if it’s a fun and energetic concert, use your signage to incorporate neon colours and vibrant design. This will match the tone of the event and your signage will fit right in. 

Sustainable Signage

As society is becoming more aware of the environment, people and businesses are looking for different ways to incorporate sustainable printing practices into their daily lives. 

By using recyclable materials and reusable options, like PVC-free options and sustainable practices, you’ll appeal to environmentally-conscious festival-goers. 

Lighting 

Lighting is a fun thing to play around with when it comes to signage. And where better to get creative than a festival? From neon lights to LED displays, you can use lighting to get into the festival spirit. Adding lighting to your festival signs is just a fun way of saying “Look at me”. In other words, boosting brand awareness and visibility. 

By incorporating these ideas into your festival signage, you’ll make a statement and elevate your event. By lighting up the night the signs will get you the attention you’re striving for.

Benefits of Working with a Professional Signage Provider

Due to the importance of signage, working with a professional signage provider is a good idea. They have access to high-quality print materials, industry expertise, and effective end-to-end service. 

Here are some benefits you can expect from professionals:

• Industry expertise 
• Customisation options
• High-quality materials 
• End-to-end service 

Working with a company like Fantasy Prints will make sure you elevate your event with high-quality festival signs. We have access to the best of the best materials, sustainable printing options, and a comprehensive service. 

How to Elevate Your Event with Festival Signs

Effective festival signs can help to elevate your event. Memorable and eye-catching signage can serve several purposes, like a handy tool for navigation, information, and branding. Choosing the right festival sign can transform your event into a memorable, smooth, and seamless experience. 

At Fantasy Prints, we have all the signage solutions you need. Our extensive industry expertise means we can deliver high-quality signage to meet all the needs of a festival. 

Whether you’re seeking a wayfinding option or an informational welcome sign, we create signage that makes an impact. 

Whatever festival event you’re organising, we have the signage solutions for you. Shop our signage collection today or get in touch with us for more information.