Shade Structures
FOR OUTDOOR EVENTS & ACTIVATIONS

A Shade Structure is an outdoor structure designed to create covered, shaded space and reduce direct sun exposure. Shade Structures can take many forms, including fabric canopies, tensile structures, shade sails, pergolas, and framed structures, but Moss offers a premier, high-quality product that event pros reach for first.

For events and branded environments, tensioned fabric shade structures combine structural framing or truss with engineered fabric panels to cover large outdoor areas while creating a strong visual focal point.

Shade structures make outdoor spaces more comfortable, functional, and inviting. By creating relief from direct sunlight, they give guests places to gather, relax, dine, watch an event, or interact with a brand.

For experiential events, festivals, and sporting events, a shade structure can do even more. The structure itself becomes part of the environment, adding color, scale, movement, and branding to otherwise open space.

Outdoor shade structures help you:

• Create comfortable gathering spaces
• Reduce direct sun exposure
• Make large outdoor areas more usable
• Define seating, hospitality, activation, and viewing areas
• Add a highly visible architectural element
• Incorporate custom colors and branded graphics
• Cover large areas without building a permanent structure
• Create repeatable environments for multi-event programs

For temporary events, a reusable fabric shade structure can also travel from one location to the next, giving you an asset that continues to make an impact across a program.

Grid Shade Structures use an overhead box truss grid to create a modular framework for tensioned fabric. Choose a Grid configuration when you want flexible coverage, repeatable installation, and a structure that can adapt to a range of footprints.

Pinwheel Shade Structures use perimeter truss towers positioned around a taller center tower. Fabric panels extend outward from the center to create a distinctive radial form. Choose a Pinwheel when the shade structure needs to become a major visual feature of the environment.

Your Moss team can help determine which approach works best for your footprint, guest experience, creative direction, installation requirements, and budget.

Shade Structures use Sustaina Outdoor StretchTex, Moss’s 8.5 oz outdoor stretch fabric made from 100% recycled polyester. The UV-stable material is engineered for temporary outdoor event environments and helps fabric panels maintain strength and vibrant color through repeated use.

Sustaina Outdoor StretchTex is available in multiple stock colors and can also be custom printed.

Yes. Turn overhead coverage into a large-format branding opportunity with custom-printed fabric.

Add logos, patterns, campaign graphics, sponsor branding, or Pantone-matched colors to integrate the structure with the surrounding environment. Custom printing is especially effective for festivals, sporting events, fan experiences, and branded activations where visibility matters from across the venue.

Yes. Bring your project from concept through installation with support from Moss’s account, design, engineering, 3D modeling, production, and installation teams.

Moss can provide CAD modeling, true-to-spec 3D renders, engineered rigging solutions, and professional installation support to help simplify complex large-scale projects.