Warmer weather is just around the corner, which means it’s time to gear up for food festival season. Food festivals are a great place to promote your restaurant, show off your delicious menu, and connect with hundreds—if not thousands—of potential new customers. If you plan to take your restaurant on the road this year, make the most of it with these tips for running a food festival stand.

Plan Your Layout Ahead of Time

Food festivals are busy, hot, and packed with people, so it’s important to prepare. Make sure you know exactly what you’re doing ahead of time. Start by figuring out your tent space. What size do you need? Do you want extra space for patrons to gather when waiting or eating? What kind of decorations and branding do you want to set up? Think about what equipment and supplies you need, and layout will work best for your space. You should also look at the venue to find out how close you are to a power supply, so you know what kind of cords or generators you’ll need.

Focus on Your Business

One of the biggest tips for running a food festival stand is to treat it as a marketing opportunity. Everything that you do at the festival should both reflect and promote your business. Make customer service a priority—even when you’re dealing with a massive rush. Take time to talk to your customers as you prepare their plates. Do your best to mention your restaurant—where it is, who you are, and how people can get more of the delicious food they just ordered. Speaking of food, limit your menu to just a couple of your best-selling options. This makes serving easier while also showing off the best items you have to offer.

Prepare for Setbacks

As with any event, there is plenty of potential for things to go wrong at a food festival. However, with the right planning and attitude, you can take any setbacks in stride and still make a successful day out of it. Anticipate the busy day by hiring plenty of staff and bringing extra ingredients and supplies. Prepare for rain or windy weather with a sturdy tent—festival goers will flock to you in the event of a storm. When you prepare for setbacks and issues in advance, they’re far less likely to ruin the day if they occur.

If your restaurant is looking to participate in a food festival, give yourself the best equipment for the event. Check out our tent rentals in Philadelphia and its surrounding areas to find the perfect setup for your food stand.