Disclosed herein is a large umbrella configured to solve several existing deficiencies. The umbrella is configured for ease of operation, requiring very little effort for operation. This is achieved, in part, by use of a specially designed actuator arm used in conjunction with at least one pulley and counterbalanced weight system. Moreover, the umbrella canopy and framework is configured to allow the entire canopy to be lowered while remaining fully extended, so as to form a cover for a table into which its center pole is situated. Additionally, the umbrella canopy can be constructed with an extendible skirt. When unfurled, the skirt can extend the canopy cover so as to form an enclosure that fully surrounds the table, table legs, and chairs, for example.