Starlight Structures
Meet Billy
A lifetime spent crafting. A commitment to preserving tradition while building for the next generation.
A Life Under Canvas
I was four years old the first time I walked through the gates of a Renaissance festival.
By the time I was seven, I was auditioning for the Royal Court in Arizona. At eighteen, I packed up and hit the road, traveling from festival to festival across the country, chasing the eternal summer. What started as a childhood fascination became a way of life.
Over the years, I worked countless shows, met incredible people, and watched entire communities come together beneath canvas. Renaissance festivals became more than events—they became home. Somewhere along the way, tents stopped being something I worked inside and became something I couldn't stop studying.
I've lost count of how many Underhill pavilions I've worked under over the years, and even more that I've helped friends and fellow merchants set up before opening each morning. Every setup taught me something new. Every pavilion revealed another thoughtful detail. Without realizing it, I was spending years learning from one of the most respected tent designs in the Renaissance community long before I ever imagined I'd be building them myself.
Why I Build
For more than a decade, I dreamed about building my own tents and yurts.
Sewing has always been my strongest skill. There's something incredibly satisfying about taking flat pieces of fabric and slowly transforming them into beautiful, functional shelters that people will work, gather, celebrate, and create memories inside. Watching that transformation never gets old.
Life has a way of changing our plans, though. Like many dreams, this one sat quietly in the background while I gained experience, learned new skills, and continued working Renaissance festivals across the country.
When my mom passed away in 2025, I found myself asking a simple question:
"What's next?"
The answer came faster than I expected.
Within days, I started making phone calls, reconnecting with old friends, and exploring an opportunity I never imagined would become reality. That path eventually led to Starlight Structures—a place where years of experience, craftsmanship, and lifelong dreams could finally come together.
CARRYING THE UNDERHILL TRADITION
For decades, Jeff Underhill built some of the most recognizable pavilions in the Renaissance festival community. His eye for color, proportion, and craftsmanship created structures that became icons throughout fairs across the country.
When the opportunity came to continue the Underhill tradition, I knew simply owning the patterns wasn't enough.
It became important to me to preserve the things people had fallen in love with over the years—the recognizable color combinations, the elegant rooflines, the familiar silhouette, and the unmistakable character that made an Underhill pavilion instantly recognizable.
That commitment meant spending months sourcing matching fabrics, rebuilding and restoring original equipment, studying construction techniques, and learning not just how these pavilions were built, but why they were built the way they were.
At the same time, I believe every craftsman has a responsibility to improve where experience allows. The refinements I've made aren't intended to change the identity of an Underhill pavilion—they're intended to help these remarkable structures continue serving merchants, reenactors, and festival communities for decades to come.
Build it Right
I'd rather spend an extra day making something exceptional than rush a pavilion out the door. Straight stitch lines, careful construction, and consistent quality aren't shortcuts—they're standards.
Teach Everything
I don't believe knowledge should be hidden. If I know a better way to set up your pavilion, maintain your canvas, or extend the life of your investment, I'm going to share it. An informed owner is a confident owner.
Be Available
When you buy a pavilion from Starlight Structures, you don't disappear into a customer service system. You get my phone number. Whether it's your first setup or your fiftieth, I'm only a call or text away.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME
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I still find myself looking at the structure before I notice what's happening inside the tent.
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I repair and maintain my own industrial sewing machines because understanding the tools is just as important as understanding the craft.
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I've spent years helping other people set up Underhill pavilions before ever building one myself.
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I believe the details most people never notice are often the ones that matter most.
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I enjoy solving problems and making small improvements that make ownership easier without changing what people already love.
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I still get excited watching fabric become a finished pavilion.
What I Notice
Most people see a beautiful tent.
I notice whether the roof proportions feel balanced.
I notice the tension in the guy lines.
I notice whether stitch lines stay perfectly straight across an entire seam.
I notice if colors complement each other the way they should.
I notice how a frame carries its load.
I notice whether setup feels intuitive.
I notice the little details because those little details become the difference between something that simply works and something that inspires confidence every time you use it.
That perspective is something I bring into every pavilion I build.
Looking Ahead
Today, my focus is on carrying the Underhill tradition forward with the respect it deserves.
Tomorrow, I hope to continue expanding Starlight Structures into handcrafted yurts, original pavilion designs, educational resources, replacement parts, and a growing collection of structures built with the same commitment to craftsmanship and service.
My vision has never been simply to sell tents.
It's to build a company known for honesty, quality, and relationships—a company that supports its customers long after delivery and contributes something meaningful to the Renaissance community that has given me so much throughout my life.
Every pavilion I build is another step toward that vision.
Ready to Start the Conversation?
Every pavilion starts with a few simple questions. Send photos of your current setup, inspiration images, or product display, and tell me what shows you work and what space you have available.
From there, we’ll talk through size, layout, colors, and options.