Folding pole assemblies for erecting various types of items (e.g., flags, banners, sirens, etc.) as well as facilitating low-profile (e.g., covert, inconspicuous) access to the items after erection such as for maintenance, replacement, and/or the like. Each assembly includes at least one pole (e.g., mast, pillar, column, arm, etc.) that tilts (e.g., folds, pivots) away from a base member about a pivot axis disposed adjacent a bottom of the pole so that a substantial entirety of the pole remains on one side of the base member as the pole tilts between upright and tilted positions and/or between various tilted positions. This arrangement allows the base members of the disclosed folding pole assemblies to be placed adjacent walls and other structures so that the poles can tilt away from the walls and other structures in a perpendicular directions thereto.