Pinwheel Shade Structures
large-scale shade that becomes part of the experience
Create an unmistakable gathering point with tensioned fabric sails radiating from a central tower. Available in 40’–120′ diameter hexagonal and octagonal configurations, Pinwheel Shade Structures combine expansive coverage with a landmark architectural form for festivals, sporting events, fan zones, and large outdoor activations.
Start with your event footprint, location, dates, desired coverage, creative direction, and budget. Your Moss team will help determine the right Pinwheel size and configuration, develop visual assets, and build a quote around your project requirements.
Once your order is finalized, typical fulfillment time ranges from 10 to 25 business days, depending on the project’s size and complexity.
Prefer to talk through it? Call 1.888.370.0202
A HISTORY OF PINWHEEL SHADE STRUCTURES
Pinwheel Shade Structures, also known as shade mandalas, have roots in the large-scale electronic music and festival scene, where colorful tensioned fabric canopies transformed open-air venues into shaded gathering spaces.
The concept was simple but powerful: arrange fabric in repeating radial patterns around a central point to create shade that was as much a part of the event design as the stages, lighting, and décor.
As the style evolved, so did the engineering. What began as creative festival shade developed into larger, more sophisticated systems using truss towers, tensioned cable rigging, engineered connection points, and precisely patterned fabric sails.
Today, Pinwheel Shade Structures have moved well beyond their festival roots. You’ll find them creating memorable gathering spaces at sporting events, fan zones, brand activations, hospitality environments, and large outdoor events across North America.
The appeal hasn’t changed: bring people together under a structure that’s functional, recognizable, and impossible to overlook.
CREATE A DESTINATION, NOT JUST SHADE
Give guests a comfortable place to gather while creating a visual landmark within your event. The scale and distinctive shape of a Pinwheel Shade Structure make it especially effective in open environments where you need to define a space, draw people in, and provide relief from direct sun.
Use Pinwheel Shade Structures to transform:
- Festivals: Create shaded gathering, dining, lounge, and entertainment areas.
- Sporting Events: Build comfortable fan experiences outside stadiums, venues, and competition areas.
- Fan Zones: Give crowds a recognizable destination to gather before, during, and after the action.
- Brand Activations: Turn overhead fabric into a highly visible extension of your campaign or sponsor presence.
- Hospitality Areas: Create more comfortable outdoor spaces for dining, networking, and VIP experiences.
- Large Gatherings: Define open footprints with a structure that provides both coverage and a strong sense of place.
MAKE THE SPACE YOURS
Choose colors, sail patterns, and custom-printed graphics to connect the structure to the experience around it. Add coordinating truss and ballast covers for an even more finished environment.
HOW PINWHEEL SHADE STRUCTURES WORK
Pinwheel Shade Structures create large-scale coverage through a tensioned system built around a taller center tower and surrounding perimeter towers.
Available in 40’–120′ diameter hexagonal and octagonal configurations, each system uses custom mounting plates, aircraft cable rigging, tie-backs, and tensioned fabric sails to create its signature radial form.
BUILT AROUND YOUR PROJECT
- Sizes: 40’–120′ in diameter
- Shapes: Hexagonal or octagonal
- Center tower: Typically 18’–23′ tall
- Perimeter towers: Typically 10’–15′ tall
- Sail layouts: Tiled, radial, or custom
- Anchoring: Ballast or earth anchors based on site requirements
- Visualization: True-to-spec CAD models and 3D renders available
DESIGNED FOR REPEAT USE
Customize the sail layout, colors, graphics, and overall configuration around your footprint and creative direction. With proper handling and storage, the system can be redeployed across events, markets, and seasons.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
For complete Shade Structures, Moss provides the custom fabric sails and aircraft cable rigging package, and can often provide professional installation. Truss is typically sourced separately, although Moss can facilitate truss rental for select projects.
BUILT FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS
Craft each Pinwheel with Sustaina Outdoor StretchTex, an 8.5 oz stretch fabric developed for temporary outdoor event environments.
Made from 100% recycled polyester, Sustaina Outdoor StretchTex combines the flexibility required for tensioned forms with the durability needed for repeated use at outdoor events.
- 8.5 oz outdoor stretch fabric
- 100% recycled polyester
- UV-stable construction
- Available in 12 stock colors
- Designed for temporary outdoor event use
- Custom printing available
MAKE THE SHADE PART OF YOUR BRAND
Go beyond solid color with custom-printed fabric sails. Incorporate logos, patterns, sponsor graphics, campaign artwork, or Pantone-matched colors to transform overhead coverage into a large-format brand experience.
Coordinate your sails with custom truss and ballast covers for a more finished environment from top to bottom.
Example pricing shown for reference. Final pricing varies based on size, configuration, fabric, rigging, installation, and site requirements.
ENGINEERED FROM THE CENTER OUT
Pinwheel Shade Structures use a taller center tower surrounded by perimeter truss towers to create their signature radial form.
Custom mounting components connect the structure to tensioned aircraft cable rigging. Perimeter cables, spoke cables, and tie-backs form the framework for the fabric sails, while ballast or earth anchors secure the system to site conditions.
DESIGNED AROUND YOUR SITE
Every outdoor installation brings different requirements. Your structure, rigging, anchoring, and installation plan should account for the event footprint, ground conditions, venue requirements, environmental loads, and local regulations.
Moss can support your project with:
- Custom aircraft cable rigging packages
- Purpose-built mounting components
- CAD modeling and true-to-spec 3D renders
- Engineering support
- Ballast or earth anchor planning
- Professional installation support
INSTALL WITH CONFIDENCE
For projects that need on-site support, Moss installation teams can help bring the structure from plan to place. Coordinating the structure, rigging, crew, equipment, and installation sequence early helps streamline setup once you arrive on-site.
APPLICATIONS
Sporting Events
Festivals
