POPULAR PARTY LOCATIONS

Amusement Parks – rope off specific areas or have the event after hours. Have the party around a carousel or Ferris wheel. Hire trained, responsible personnel to run the rides.

Aquarium / Marine Park – schedule your event around a marine show. Ask the staff to rope off seating for your party.

Beach Clubs and Structures on Piers – check with local beach patrol about security and legal issues.

Buildings & Plazas – some have great lobbies or large plazas with fountains. Check with a leasing office, security, or a tenant to find out who owns the location.

Brewery – with the microbrewery trend, many restaurants have designer vats right in the main dining area.

Civic Center’s and Public Buildings – sometimes abandoned fire stations or departments of water and power building are absolutely beautiful and great for off-beat parties.

Community or Daycare Centers – often a low-cost alternative with built in entertainment ranging from jungle gyms to swimming pools. Always supervise small children.

Country Clubs – great on atmosphere, but often at a steep price. Many are members only.

Dance Studio – fun for young girls or engagement parties especially with an instructor teaching swing or salsa dancing. Make sure the food area is large enough to accommodate your guest count.

Farms or Ranches – make sure the area is safe and free of unfriendly animals and pests.

Fraternal Organizations – many are members only, but the structures these organizations are in are often charming and set-up for large functions.

Gymnasiums – be sure that the area where food is allowed is large enough to accommodate your number of guests.

Historical Sites – find out the limitations of the location as they pertain to your event. Some prohibit dancing on old floors or may charge a hefty fine for damage.

Hotel / Motel – a good choice unless you wish to self-cater as most require that you use their services.

Libraries – most cities have one majestic library that has hosted fundraising events in the building or on the grounds.

Movie Theaters – some have private reception rooms with beautiful architecture. Make sure a loud movie isn’t playing in the theater next door, and that you can play music loudly if you choose.

Military Locations – although this option may sound impersonal, many military bases or facilities have a grand hall and may offer terrific rates to veterans.

Museums – terrific location and a favorite of fund-raisers. Some museums have tables and chairs on-site so that saves on rentals.

Parking Lots – believe it or not, this is a great suggestion for a large party if the area is professionally tented, decorated, and elegantly lit. You can place large patches of sod with park benches around the event and create and urban garden effect.

Public Parks & Gardens – perfect for kids parties and large corporate picnics. Check with the local department of recreation for permission and legalities.

Religious or Organization Owned Buildings – churches, synagogues, temples, host functions regularly. Check out their rules on noise and serving alcohol.

Restaurants – obviously you must wine and dine from their menu and decorating must be minimal. If the restaurant is up for sale or lease and you can rent the space, this can be a great choice.

Roller / Ice Rinks – a classic for the teenager and fun for adults too. However, this can be a free-for-all if you don’t keep an eye on the food and many prohibit alcohol.

Sports Sites – golf course, baseball diamond, soccer & football field, racetrack, bowling alley, are all popular locations for parties. Check with the local department of recreation for permission and legalities.

Theaters – community theaters often have great sets for theme parties. The lobby is perfect for food stations and seating and the stage makes a great dance floor.

Yachts or Cruise Ships – parties afloat can a blast, but have some sea sick patches at the ready. Also, if your crowd is full of extreme partiers I absolutely do not recommend the yacht.

Wineries – a very popular site for weddings, many wineries have private dining rooms and some rooms contain rustic oak barrels of wine.

Water Park – Great option for smaller parties as the ticket price per person can add up.

Zoos – rope off an area away from cages with unpleasant odors. Find out if you can have the event after public hours.