Good event directional signs answer one question before anyone has to ask it: "Where do I go next?" Put a clear arrow at every spot where a guest has to choose a direction, make the text big and high-contrast, and print on materials that survive your weather. We design, print and install signs here in Nanaimo, and the plan below is the one we'd hand a friend who is running a market, a fundraiser or a trade show.
TL;DR
- Place a sign at every decision point: the road approach, the parking lot, forks in a path, doors and tent exits. Use an arrow plus a destination name.
- Use high-contrast colours and a sans serif typeface of at least 14 point for anything read up close. Mount indoor signs about 1.2 m off the floor.
- Keep signs out of walkways, exits and sightlines, and walk the route yourself before doors open.
- Outdoors, pick weatherproof, matte materials. Coroplast, aluminum, A-frames and vinyl banners each do a different job.
- If your event is on city land or beside a road, check the local sign rules first. Nanaimo has specific limits for temporary event signs.
Table of Contents
- What event directional signs actually do
- Start with the guest's journey, not the sign
- Where to put event directional signs
- Make signs readable and accessible
- Pick the right sign for each job
- Materials and weather: what survives outside
- Know the rules before you stake a sign
- Test your plan before the doors open
- A simple planning timeline
- Let us make them for you
- FAQ
- Sources
What event directional signs actually do
Directional signs (also called wayfinding signs) tell people where to go. They are different from promotional signs, which tell people what you're selling. A banner saying "Fall Craft Fair" sells the event. A sign with an arrow saying "Vendors, Washrooms, First Aid" gets people through it.
They matter more than most organizers expect. The District of Saanich's accessible event guidelines note that correct signage lets people work out the shortest path to what they're looking for and can reduce anxiety. Anyone who has circled a parking lot looking for the entrance to a community hall knows that feeling. It's not a great way to start an event, and it's usually the first impression your guests get.
The Royal Graphic Designers of Canada describe a common approach as linear wayfinding: a series of directional signs spaced along a route. They say an effective system has to be complete, accurate, understandable and consistently applied. That's a fancy way of saying: no gaps, no wrong arrows, same look everywhere.
Start with the guest's journey, not the sign
Before you order anything, draw the trip your guest takes. Most events have the same stages:
- Approach: the road, the transit stop, the parking lot.
- Arrival: the main entrance, accessible entrance, check-in or ticketing.
- Orientation: a site map near the entrance showing the big picture.
- Navigation: the arrows that connect stages, vendors, food, washrooms.
- Exit: the way out, which people forget about until the end.
Grab a venue plan or a rough sketch, trace the route with a marker, and circle every point where someone could reasonably go the wrong way. Those circles are your sign locations. The count is usually higher than you'd guess (we often see organizers plan five signs when the route needs twelve, though your site may differ).
List the destinations guests will look for
Write down every place a guest might need to find. A starter list:
- Main entrance, and the accessible entrance if it's different
- Parking, including accessible parking and drop-off
- Registration, tickets or check-in
- Washrooms
- Food and beverage
- Stage, workshop rooms or main attractions
- First aid
- Exits
The City of Edmonton's guide to accessible meetings and events makes a point worth remembering: if the main entrance isn't the most accessible way in, clear signage should send guests to the alternative entrance, and signs shouldn't themselves become obstacles. Plan that from the start, not on the morning of.
Where to put event directional signs
The rule of thumb: a sign at every decision point. That's any junction, fork, door, or spot where a guest might hesitate. Then add a confirming sign a little way along each route, so people know they haven't missed a turn.
The City of St. Catharines' facility accessibility standards say the same thing in formal terms: directional signage is needed wherever the route changes direction and the destination isn't obvious.
A simple hierarchy keeps things tidy:
- Primary signs point to the big destinations (entrance, parking, main stage).
- Confirmation signs sit along the route and say "yes, keep going."
- Destination signs identify the place when you arrive ("Registration").
Don't cram one sign
If a junction has six destinations, split them over two signs or group them by category. A sign with eight lines of text is a sign nobody reads. Each one should give an arrow, a destination name, and maybe a symbol. That's it.
Use the same words everywhere
If your map says "Info Tent", your sign says "Information" and your volunteers say "the welcome booth", somebody will be lost. Pick one name per place and use it on the map, the signs, your website and the staff briefing.
Make signs readable and accessible
This is where a lot of otherwise nice event signs fall down. The good news is that the Canadian guidance is specific, so you don't have to guess.
The City of Vancouver's accessible events checklist and the Saanich guidelines above agree on the basics:
| What | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Colour | High contrast between text or icons and the background (Saanich suggests ideally 70% contrast) |
| Type size | At least 14 point for printed text read up close |
| Typeface | Sans serif, such as Arial |
| Mounting height | About 1.2 m (1,200 mm) from the floor for signs read at hand height |
| Placement | Never blocking sidewalks, paths or creating trip hazards |
| Symbols | Universally understood icons, with function symbols rather than gender symbols for washrooms |
A few notes from the sign shop side of things:
- 14 point is a floor, not a target. That figure is for something read at arm's length. A sign read from a moving car or across a field needs far bigger letters. Our guide to proper letter sizes covers how size relates to viewing distance.
- Colour pairs matter more than brand colours. Yellow on white looks lovely in your logo and vanishes at 20 metres. Dark on light, or white on a deep colour, wins. If you want to go deeper, see our piece on the psychology of colours and fonts.
- Avoid glare. The draft national standard for signage, CAN-ASC-2.4, calls for low-glare surfaces, with sign surfaces not exceeding 50 gloss units (apart from retroreflective finishes needed for safety). In practice, that points to matte finishes, especially outdoors in bright sun.
Tactile and Braille signs
For permanent or multi-day events with fixed signs (a conference, say), the 2024 Accessible Signage Guidelines from Braille Literacy Canada describe the most accessible sign as one with Braille, high-contrast raised print and raised pictograms. Raised letters should sit at least 1 mm proud of the surface and be 16 to 50 mm tall. They also note that some readers won't understand a pictogram on its own, so each one should come with print and Braille text.
The draft CAN-ASC-2.4 standard was posted in January 2026, with publication expected in summer 2027. Treat it as where Canadian practice is heading, and check the published version when it arrives.
Multiple languages
The Vancouver checklist recommends translating existing signage into multiple languages to improve understanding. If your event draws a mixed crowd, a second language on the main signs is a small cost that pays off.
Pick the right sign for each job
Not every direction needs the same sign. Here's how we'd match the common types to what they do best.
Sidewalk A-frames: the flexible workhorse
A-frames are great for entrances, check-in points and junctions that might change during the day, because you can move them in seconds. They're double-sided, so they work for people approaching from either direction. Our A-frame signs run $100–$260 depending on size and options.
One caution: place them so they never narrow a walkway or block an accessible route. Tuck them beside the path, not in it.
Coroplast signs: cheap, light and made for lots of arrows
Coroplast is corrugated plastic. It's light, weather-tolerant and affordable, which makes it the go-to for arrow signs along a road, a trail or a parking lot, especially when you need a dozen or more. Coroplast lawn and post signs can be staked into the ground or fixed to a post. Print the destination and arrow on both sides if people will approach from two directions.
Aluminum signs: when it needs to last
If the signs will go up every year (a recurring festival, a fundraiser run, a venue that hosts events regularly), aluminum earns its place. Aluminum signs are tougher and hold up outside across seasons. Ours are priced from $30 to $70.
Vinyl banners: for the big, far-away message
Banners are better for "you've arrived" than "turn left." Hang one across the entrance or along a fence so drivers know they've found the right spot. Our vinyl banners and roll-up stands cover both outdoor and indoor needs. A portable table-top standup banner display costs $49 and suits a registration desk or information table.
Floor and window graphics
Indoors, decals on windows and doors can mark entrances or point to a room. See our storefront and window options. Venues often have rules about what can be stuck where, so ask first.
Stuck choosing? Our guide to types of signage walks through the options.
Materials and weather: what survives outside
Temporary doesn't mean fragile. A sign that flops over at 10 a.m. is worse than none, because it points nowhere and looks sloppy.
- Matte beats shiny. Glossy signs turn into mirrors at certain sun angles. The draft CAN-ASC-2.4 calls for matte, low-glare finishes outdoors, along with durable, UV-resistant, weatherproof materials and fixings.
- Think about wind. Coastal B.C. gets plenty of it. Stakes, posts or a weighted base keep signs upright. A-frames should be sturdy enough not to sail away.
- Think about rain. Choose printing and materials made for outdoor use, not office-printer paper in a plastic sleeve.
- Light after dark. If your event runs into the evening, plan for lighting. St. Catharines' standards set 50 lux for accessible routes, which is a useful benchmark for how well-lit a path should be.
Know the rules before you stake a sign
This catches people out. Signs on city property, along roads or in a venue are often regulated.
Outdoors in Nanaimo. The City of Nanaimo's temporary event signage form (revised 2018) is for drives or events of a civic, philanthropic, educational or religious nature. It states that temporary signs cannot go up more than 30 days before the event and must come down within 7 days afterwards. It also says that, per the City's sign bylaw, each sign must not exceed 0.6 m² (6.5 ft²), and signs near roads must not distract or obstruct pedestrians, cyclists or drivers. Rules get updated, so confirm with the City of Nanaimo before you print. If your event is elsewhere, contact that municipality.
Inside a venue. Venues have their own rules. The St. John's Convention Centre's event toolkit is a typical example: it requires that permanent signs not be covered by banners or temporary signage, that sightlines stay clear, that nothing be nailed, stapled or taped in a way that damages the building, and that floor-mounted signs not block exits. Ask your venue for its signage policy before you design anything.
At a trade show. Show management often controls directional signs entirely. The PDAC 2026 exhibitor toolkit says show management holds the exclusive right to place directional signs, and exhibitors can't put signs outside their booths. Check before printing anything for the aisles.
Test your plan before the doors open
This is the cheapest step and the one most people skip. A few hours before guests arrive:
- Walk the route from the road, the way a first-time guest would, not the way you do.
- At each decision point, ask: can I see the next sign from here?
- Check that tables, tents, vendor displays and parked trucks aren't hiding anything.
- Walk it again with someone who has never seen the site. Fresh eyes spot the missing arrow in seconds.
- Make sure no sign narrows a path, blocks an exit or creates a trip hazard.
The draft national standard goes further and says signs should be tested by the people who'll use them, including audible and visual signs for indoor and outdoor mapping. For a community event, a quick walk-through with two or three volunteers gets you most of the way there.
A simple planning timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 weeks out | Confirm site, draw the guest route, list destinations, check local sign rules |
| 4 to 6 weeks out | Finalize sign count, wording and sizes; send artwork for printing |
| 2 weeks out | Approve proofs, confirm stakes, bases and installation plan |
| Day before | Place signs, walk the route, fix gaps |
| After the event | Collect signs within your permitted window, store reusable ones |
These lead times are a suggestion. Rush jobs are possible, but a bit of breathing room means fewer headaches (and fewer panicked phone calls, which we've certainly taken).
Let us make them for you
We're a locally owned Nanaimo shop, and we handle the whole thing: design, fabrication and professional installation. For an event, that usually means a mix of A-frames at the entrances, coroplast arrows along the route, and a banner over the front gate, all matched in colour and font so the whole system looks like one thing. Because the work is done by locals, we know the venues, the weather and the quirks of the area.
Have a site plan or just a rough list of destinations? Send it over through acmesigns.ca and we'll help you work out how many signs you need and what they should say.
For tips on getting the most from any signage, see our guide to making the most of your signage.
FAQ
How many directional signs does an event need?
One at every point where a guest has to choose a direction, plus a confirming sign a short way along each route. Mark the decision points on a site plan and count them. Most events need more than organizers first expect.
What should be written on an event directional sign?
An arrow, the destination name, and ideally a simple symbol. Keep it to a few lines and split busy junctions over two signs. Use the same names as your map and your staff.
What size should the text be?
For anything read up close, Vancouver and Saanich guidance both say at least 14 point in a sans serif font with strong contrast. Signs read from a distance or from a car need much larger letters.
What are the best materials for outdoor event signs?
Matte, weatherproof materials. Coroplast suits lots of lightweight arrows, aluminum suits signs you'll reuse for years, and A-frames suit entrances you may need to move. Stake or weight everything against wind.
Do I need a permit for temporary event signs in Nanaimo?
It depends on where and what. The City of Nanaimo has a temporary event signage form with a size limit and a time limit for putting signs up and taking them down. Check with the City before you print.
Sources
- Events, Meetings and Presentation Guidelines, District of Saanich
- Environmental graphic design, RGD AccessAbility
- Guide to Planning Accessible Meetings & Events, City of Edmonton
- Facility Accessibility Design Standards, City of St. Catharines
- Accessible events checklist and resources, City of Vancouver
- CAN-ASC-2.4 Signage (draft), Accessibility Standards Canada
- Accessible Signage Guidelines 2024, Braille Literacy Canada
- Temporary event signage form, City of Nanaimo
- Event Toolkit, St. John's Convention Centre
- Exhibitor Toolkit 2026, PDAC