The use of temporary structures like marquees is a commonplace feature of summer in Britain and many other countries besides. But they are not just for one season.
It would be easy to get misled on this point. A great many of the occasions when such structures are used are held in summer. Examples of this would include music festivals, when the large number of people camping in most cases restricts the time of year when such events can happen. Many other shows and festivals will be held in the summer to make the most of the warmer weather, such as flower shows, when the seasonal blooms are out in their full glory.
Weddings also tend to take place in summer and while having a reception out of doors can be a chancy thing to do in the British climate, a marquee offers the perfect compromise: warm and breezy if it is a nice day with easy access to the outdoors, while providing shelter if it rains.
Of course, a big tent does not need any heating on a warm summer day and the humidity levels are relatively low. However, this does not mean that marquees cannot be used in other seasons.
A key issue is the heating of a marquee in colder weather. The fact is that there are many sophisticated heating systems available to help warm the air on colder days. Indeed, temperature control systems can also help to cool it when a summer day gets particularly hot. Some systems come with their own thermostats to automate these functions.
It also needs to be noted that modern materials make marquees more flexible in their potential use than in the past; less leaky, better able to cope with wind and storms, and more stable when rooted in softer ground.
Occasionally, themed marquees are even set up during winter, such as at Christmas markets in city centres. These are custom-designed and can even dispose of smoke, so that natural wood fires can burn inside them.
So, while marquees are indeed a frequent feature of parties and events in summer, they offer more potential for the rest of the year than some might realise.
