Using Folding Tables Outdoors in NZ: Markets, Fairs and Event Days

At a Saturday market or a school gala, the tables have to come out early, stand on grass for a few hours, and be gone again before the hall is locked. That is everyday work for folding tables for outdoor events in New Zealand, whether you are running stall rows, a sports club day, a marae catering station or an outdoor function.

The tables can spend the day outside, but they are not built to live there. They aren't weatherproof, and they shouldn't be left out overnight or between bookings. Use them for the event, pack them down dry, and store them indoors. A few practical habits go a long way when you are using folding tables outdoors.

Which tops suit a day outside

Once a table is on grass or a paved forecourt, the top matters more than the frame.

BM plastic folding tables are the practical choice for most outdoor event days. The wipe-clean tops cope with food, drinks and dusty market stalls, and they're light enough to carry across a field. The BM range covers 1800×760 and 2428×760 rectangles, plus 1500 mm and 1800 mm rounds. They can be used outside for the day, but they still need to come inside afterwards, away from rain and long spells of sun.

Timber and Melteca tops are better kept indoors, or at least under a marquee or gazebo. SCW wooden folding tables have a solid raw custom wood top on a timber frame. That warmer look suits indoor functions, but a raw timber top can mark if it gets wet or if drinks sit on it. If you are serving food or drinks on an SCW table, add the optional lacquered top upgrade, and even then keep the table under cover rather than on an open field.

SM fold-up and HDM fold-down tables use Melteca tops. They look tidy for conferences, banquets and meeting rooms, but Melteca is not the first choice for an uncovered stall in the rain. HD folding trestle tables are a strong commercial option under a tent or marquee. On a wet paddock, plastic is still the safer call.

If you are still deciding between materials, see our guide to plastic, wooden and plywood tops.

Setting up on grass and uneven ground

Markets, fairs and club days rarely offer a perfectly flat floor. Before you load a table with urns, cash boxes or platters, pick the firmest, flattest patch you can and open the legs fully.

Check that every leg is locked before anyone leans on the top. HD trestle tables have self-locking legs, which speeds this up, but you should still give the table a firm push and watch for movement. On soft grass, one leg can sink and leave the top sloping. Move the table rather than packing scraps under a foot, and keep heavy items towards the centre.

If the ground is badly rutted or wet, set the tables on a temporary floor, under a gazebo, or on the nearest firm path.

Wind, sun and a rain plan

A fine morning in New Zealand can change by lunchtime. Plan for that before guests arrive.

A gazebo or marquee takes the worst of the sun and light rain off the tables and the people working at them. Weight the gazebo as you normally would, and weight tablecloths so they don't lift and take cups or light goods with them. Don't use the table itself as an anchor for a gazebo in a strong wind. If the site is exposed, agree in advance when stalls will pack down.

If rain arrives, get the tables under cover as soon as you can. Wipe them down and let them dry before they go into storage. Leaving wet tables stacked in a storeroom is what leads to marks and rust, especially on timber tops and steel frames. Our folding tables maintenance tips cover cleaning and drying in more detail, so we won't repeat that here.

Packing down and getting tables indoors

Fold the tables, check the legs are stowed, and move them inside the same day. Don't leave them under a gazebo overnight to collect in the morning.

If you are moving more than a few tables, a trolley saves backs and protects the tops. Folding table trolleys are made for this, but the trolley has to match the table:

• BM plastic rectangles in the 1800 and 2428 sizes go on the BM Folding Table Trolley, which holds up to 20 tables.
• BM round tables (1500 mm and 1800 mm) go on the BM Round Folding Table Trolley, which holds up to 12.
• Other rectangular tables use the NZ-made light-duty trolley (up to 10) or heavy-duty trolley (up to 20).
• Other round tables use the 15R or 18R trolley, each holding up to 8.

BM trolleys are for BM tables only. They are not a fit for SCW, HD, SM or HDM tables. The NZ-made light-duty, heavy-duty and 15R/18R trolleys are designed for indoor use, so load them at the door on a hard surface rather than wheeling them across the field. Stack tables frame to frame so the tops don't scratch. There's a fuller walk-through in our post on moving and storing folding tables for events.

A simple rule for outdoor event days

Used this way, folding tables for outdoor events earn their keep at markets, fairs and club days without being asked to do a job they weren't built for. Choose a wipe-clean plastic top for open-air stalls, keep timber and Melteca under cover or indoors, lock the legs, and get everything dry and stored inside once the day is over.

When you're ready to kit out a venue, school or event company, browse the folding tables range or add the sizes you need to a quote. Freight is quoted to your address. See our delivery information for lead times.