Hanging Signs, Banners, Canopies & Ceilings

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Hanging Signs / Banners

All requests must have written approval by SFA Management.  Hanging sign(s) that do not have SFA approval will be removed at the exhibitor’s expense. Installation must be arranged through the appropriate vendor. 

  • Only Peninsula, Island booths and Pavilions are permitted to hang a sign/banner.  
  • Ceiling heights within facilities vary and may limit an exhibitor's ability to hang a sign over their booth. 
  • Signs must pertain primarily to the exhibitor’s products, brands, or Country Name (for Internationals) and be in good taste. 
  • Neon, Illuminated, flashing signs and/or Video Walls are not permitted.
  • SFA reserves the right to prohibit placement or modify regulations in the event that a hanging sign impacts the visibility of any SFA Official Signage.

Please email Michele Hilton at [email protected] for approval. Include a copy of the sign along with the appropriate dimensions.

  • Peninsula and Island booths:
    • Signs can only be placed above the exhibit space you occupy; signs cannot extend into the aisle, public spaces, or another exhibitor’s booth.
    • Any logos must be set back 10 ft (3 Meters) from adjacent exhibitor. If it cannot then the back of the sign must be finished in a solid neutral color or material.  
    • The maximum height from the exhibit floor to the top of the sign is 16ft (4.88m). This means the sign/banner cannot exceed 16 ft (4.88m). 
    • The minimum height from exhibit floor to bottom of sign is 10 ft (3m).  This means the sign cannot be hung any lower than 10 ft.  Exception: If a banner is the backdrop of booth; all back drops must be finished in a solid neutral color and material.
       
  • State Pavilions (Minimum 600 sq ft):
    • The Specialty Food Association will provide an official State Pavilion Banner that will be hung in the aisle over your pavilion.
    • If you wish to provide the SFA with your own banner to hang, please email Michele Hilton at [email protected] for approval.
    • State Pavilions may order their own aisle carpet in front of their booths if they occupy the entire exhibit section (see diagram below) The space outlined in red is considered the entire “exhibit section” of an aisle.
    • Archways, Flags, Lamp Posts and Street Signs spanning any aisle are not permitted unless you occupy the entire exhibit section of an aisle.   
    • Archways are not permitted over major cross-aisles. 
    • Archways will be permitted at the front and end of the aisles and cannot exceed a max height of 12 feet.
    • Flags, Lamp Posts and Street Signs cannot stick out in the aisle and cannot border a non-pavilion booth.
    • The top of the Flags, Lamp Posts and Street Signs cannot exceed a max height of 8 feet.
    • If at any point the pavilion reduces square footage and doesn’t occupy the entire exhibit section of an aisle anymore, Signs, Archways, Flags, Lamp Posts and Street Signs will be removed on-site regardless of any pre-approval from the Association. 
      State Pavilions Aisle Layout

  • International Pavilions:
    • Only those pavilions with 600 sq ft or more who occupy both sides of the entire aisle and Peninsula or Island Booth configurations (min 400 sq ft) are permitted to hang a sign.  
    • Signs, banners, displays, etc. cannot exceed 20ft (6m) in height. This means the maximum height from the exhibit floor to the top of the sign is 20ft (6m).
    • Signs can only be placed above the exhibit space you occupy; signs cannot extend into the aisle, public spaces, or another exhibitor’s booth.
    • Any logos must be set back 10 ft (3 Meters) from adjacent exhibitor. If it cannot then the back of the sign must be finished in a solid neutral color or material.  
    • Archways spanning any aisle are not permitted unless you occupy the entire exhibit section (see diagram) of an aisle. 
    • Archway structures can be placed at the front and rear of the block to appropriate height limits.
    • Archways are not permitted over major cross-aisles.State Pavilions Aisle Layout

 The space outlined in red is considered the entire “exhibit section” of an aisle.

Canopies and Ceilings

Canopies, including ceilings, umbrellas, and canopy frames, can be either decorative or functional (such as to shade computer monitors from ambient light or to allow for hanging products). Canopies for Linear Booths must comply with Line-of-Sight requirements. (See guidelines for Linear Booths).

Canopy Restrictions: 
The following restrictions apply to any booth configuration that has a line-of-sight restriction, such as Linear and Walkthrough booths. 

  • The bottom of the canopy cannot be lower than 7ft (2.13m) from the floor or within 5ft (1.52m) of any aisle.
  • Canopy supports cannot be wider than 3in (7.62cm).
  • Fabric and/or any materials used in the construction of a canopy must be certified fire resistant to the satisfaction of local fire regulations. A copy of the certification must always be available at the booth.

Booth Height Regulations