How to Secure a Canopy in High Winds

Art and craft fairs, street fairs, markets, and other outdoor events occur throughout the year. Those who sell their wares at these retail events must be prepared for wind, rain, hot sun, and whatever else the elements can deliver. Exposure need not be a problem for a vendor, though. Appropriately anchored and weighted canopies can withstand strong winds, just as a peaked roof prevents rain problems and white tarps provide protection from the sun.

Tent stakes

Heavy rope

Bungee cords

Coffee cans

Buckets

PVC pipes

Concrete

Mesh sidewalls

Twist and push tent stakes into the ground. Use at least four, positioned at the four corners of the canopy.

Use either bungee cords or thick, strong rope to secure the canopy to the tent stakes. Throw one end of the rope over the horizontal bar that is the edge of the roof. Do this at the corner. Twist some rope around the leg of the canopy to help anchor it.

Thread one end of rope through the tent stake, pull up, and tie the rope with a triple knot. Repeat these steps at the other three corners of the canopy.

Pour concrete into four coffee cans. Place the bottom of each of the four canopy legs into the concrete. Wait to dry. You now have four heavier canopy legs that will stand up to wind.

Alternatively, pour concrete into four buckets with handles. Do not place legs in buckets. Allow the concrete to dry. Attach a rope to the canopy roof the same way as with the tent stakes. Instead of tying the rope through the tent stake, tie it around the handles of the buckets.

Pour concrete into PVC pipes for a third option. Allow it to dry.

After setting the canopy up, attach heavy PVC pipes to the canopy legs with small bungee cords.

Use windscreen sidewalls instead of tarp sidewalls. Windscreen sidewalls are made of mesh, come in different colors, and are relatively opaque.