Building a complete event look with Heras fencing banners and crowd barrier graphics

The sunshine is starting to show signs of sticking around for a little longer and we have officially made it out of winter and into spring. 

This also means we are looking ahead to the upcoming events season. We’re already being bombarded with adverts and posters detailing this year’s lineup of events for spring and summer. From food festivals and music festivals to local charity runs and sporting events, the 2026 event season is fast approaching. 

For us at Venture Banners, it’s got us thinking about one thing, and one thing only: event graphics! This is the perfect time of year to be exploring the best options for each event and ensuring you are ready and prepared when those orders start coming in, if they aren’t already. 

We know, when it comes to event branding, it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking in comparisons. And we get it, often there genuinely is a better option for a specific application.

But in the case of outdoor events, there are two products that very much work in harmony side by side - Heras fencing banners and crowd barrier graphics.

These two products aren’t rivals, they are more like two halves of the same job, each doing something different in a complementary way. When used together, they create a much stronger overall branding experience. 

So, rather than asking ‘which one should I choose?’ The better question here is, ‘How can I get the best effect from both?’ And we’re going to tell you.

Most outdoor events already have a structure in place before branding even enters the conversation. There needs to be a perimeter, made up with Heras fencing, to mark out the area of the event. Then there are internal routes like entry points, queue systems, walkways, viewing areas. This is where crowd barriers come in. 

Heras fencing banners are built for scale and are about presence, visibility, and creating a consistent outer border that defines the event space. Crowd barrier graphics operate closer to the action and are about guiding footfall and reinforcing messaging where people are. 

These two outdoor event solutions have different roles but the same goal.

Designed specifically for standard 3.5m x 2m panels, Heras fencing banners slot neatly within the frame, turning functional infrastructure into something impactful. 

These graphics are commonly used across festivals and concerts, sporting events, construction sites and developments, and large-scale outdoor activations. Essentially, anywhere you’ve got a long stretch of fencing, you have an opportunity to create uninterrupted branding. This continuous visual impact is really where Heras banners come into their own.

With options like Multi-Panel Runner Graphics or bespoke continuous runs of fencing for consistent branding, you’re not limited to repeating the same design panel after panel. You can create one long flowing graphic instead, which is not only visually appealing but a great opportunity to get creative with branding too.

For outdoor use, airflow and durability matter just as much as print quality, especially with our unpredictable British weather! That’s why Heras fencing banners are typically produced with AirMesh Polyester, Fabric Mesh Polyester or Mesh PVC.

• AirMesh Polyester, at around 0.8kg per banner, is easy to handle, foldable for transport, and far more convenient logistically. It’s also 100% polyester, making it a more environmentally friendly choice. 
• Fabric Mesh Polyester is also now available for Heras fence banners - a 100% polyester perforated mesh textile that weighs 1.4kg for a full 3375mm x 1780mm Heras fencing banner compared to around 1.9kg for a PVC-based equivalent. This can make a huge difference for longer or larger installations. 
• Mesh PVC is the traditional option. It’s still effective and widely used, but less forgiving when it comes to handling as it needs to be rolled rather than folded, which means bulkier transport and storage.

All three allow airflow, which is essential for windy outdoor setups, but if ease of use and sustainability are also priorities, the polyester options are quickly becoming the go-to. 

The beauty of Heras fencing banners is that whilst they offer seamless and continuous branding opportunities, there are also a few options depending on the end use. For example, as well as the standard Heras fence panels, we also offer vehicle gate graphics designed to fit both left and right halves of either a standard 4.2m or 7m Heras vehicle gate with reinforced apertures for access points.

Similarly, pedestrian gate banners are designed to fit a standard Heras pedestrian gate and include a reinforced aperture to allow access to the bolt mechanism. Plus, there is also the option of double-sided graphics for visibility from both directions.

These options enable a seamless, professional branding experience across an entire site. 

Once you’ve made it inside the event, you need to know where to go, where to queue, where each area of the event is, and this can be made possible by crowd barrier graphics.

Typically fitted to standard 2.3m or 2.5m barriers, these graphics are ideal for entry points and ticket queues, route guidance for runs and sporting events and wayfinding, sponsor placements, viewing areas and front of stage zones.

The nature of these graphics means that they are often viewed from closer up and there are a few different options, depending on your budget, event type, location of the graphics, and the desired impact.

• Fabric jackets: These slip over the barrier frame, covering it completely. The result is a cleaner, more polished look with maximum print area and is ideal for premium setups or sponsor-heavy environments. 
• Single-sided graphics: A more cost-effective option, covering one side of the barrier. These graphics are still impactful but offer a simple solution when only one side is needed to be visible. 
• Fold-over (double-sided) graphics: A larger graphic folds over the barrier giving visibility on both sides without needing two separate prints.

As with Heras fencing banners, material choice is important for achieving the desired finished outcome. Crowd barrier graphics are available on a number of materials including AirMesh Polyester, Fabric Mesh Polyester, Mesh PVC, Standard PVC, and heavier display/stretch polyester.

For outdoor use, especially in blustery conditions, AirMesh Polyester, Fabric Mesh Polyester and Mesh PVC are typically the best suited options thanks to their airflow properties. They allow the wind to flow though the fabric and reduce risks of damage to the graphic or any signage being blown down and causing injury or damage to surroundings.

So, Heras fencing banners vs crowd barrier graphics? It’s not really a comparison at all. Both products are designed for different parts of the same environment and solve different problems. 

Used together, Heras fencing banners and crowd barrier graphics create a complete experience, from the moment someone approaches an event site all the way through each stage and area of the event.