Bar Units at Festivals: How to Combine Hospitality and Experience in One Structure

Why the bar is the beating heart of your festival

At a busy outdoor event, the bar is more than just a place to pour drinks. It is a meeting point, an orientation point and often an eye-catcher all at once. Position and design the bar cleverly, and you boost both the experience and the flow across the site. But how do you build a bar that goes up quickly, handles large crowds and stands out? In this article we share what to look for, with a recent project at the NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam as an example.

Example: the 3x3 Festival at the NDSM shipyard

For the 3x3 Festival, WeFoldIt supplied two foldable bar units, set up as a public bar. What made this project special: on the decks of the two-storey structure we placed a large LED screen showing live footage of the matches. This created a single central structure where visitors could grab a drink and follow the action at the same time. In addition, we supplied various backstage areas for production and crew.

What to consider with a bar unit at an event

• Flow: make sure the bar is accessible from multiple sides and that queues do not block the walkways.
• Visibility: a recognisable, eye-catching structure draws visitors and helps them orient themselves on the site.
• Load capacity: want a two-storey build, a roof terrace or extra elements such as an LED screen? Then the construction of the units is decisive.
• Setup time: a tight festival schedule leaves little room for long build times. Foldable units go up quickly on site.
• Branding: a bar lends itself perfectly to signage for sponsors and the event itself.

The strength of foldable units

WeFoldIt units (6 x 2.45 m) fold together. This has two major advantages. First, transport: because the units become compact, up to 10 fit on a single truck. That saves trips, time and logistical hassle. Second, speed: once on site the units are quickly assembled and ready to be fitted out.

What is more, the units are versatile. The same base unit becomes a bar, a backstage area, a hospitality space or an exhibition stand. With decks you build a second level and create a roof terrace or, as at the 3x3 Festival, a platform for a large LED screen.

From functional to eye-catcher

The great thing about a well thought-out structure is that function and appearance come together. At the NDSM shipyard, the bar unit was both a practical hospitality spot and the central eye-catcher of the site. This combination saves space, enhances the atmosphere and simplifies logistics.

The possibilities at a glance

• Single or two-storey bar units with decks
• Backstage, dressing and production rooms
• Hospitality with roof terrace and stairs
• Units with glass walls for a luxurious look
• Full branding for brands and sponsors

Considering a bar structure for your event?

Whether you are looking for a compact bar or a two-storey eye-catcher with LED: we are happy to explore the possibilities with you. Feel free to get in touch via the request form on wefoldit.nl.