When the meeting itinerary calls for an off-site venue to accommodate a special gathering, Iowa has groups covered. The options here for events away from the host hotel or conference center are varied and will suit the personalities of any group.
If attendees are a bit rambunctious, planners might book a performing arts venue where big bands have performed; for more laidback groups, there are garden facilities that provide lovely backdrops for contemplative events; there are also theaters equipped with the latest audiovisual gadgets for high-tech outings; museums for history buffs and otherwise particularly inquisitive groups; and ballparks where attendees can really let their hair down.
Indeed, throughout the state whose slogan is “Come Be Our Guest,” are plenty of off-site venues that hope visiting groups will be theirs.
Following are many ideas, broken into categories, for meeting itineraries that call for an intriguing place for banquets, receptions, product launches and more.
Performing Arts Venues
Des Moines Performing Arts comprises three unique spaces: Civic Center, Temple Theater and Stoner Theater. A full calendar of events among the three includes Broadway shows, symphony orchestra performances and ballet.
According to Vicki Comegys, vice president of sales, sports and services at the Greater Des Moines CVB, Stoner Theater has meeting space for up to 200 people and Temple Theater has an ornate 4,000-square-foot ballroom and a 1,200-square-foot performance hall.
The River Music Experience in downtown Davenport is a busy performance venue in the Quad Cities, says Jessica Waytenick, spokeswoman for the Quad Cities CVB.
“From big band to bluegrass to blues, they have a wide range of regional and national touring acts that perform there,” she says. “Behind the music, they have indoor meeting space for up to 200, or groups can use the outdoor courtyard for up to 500. It’s easy to add some live music to your event with their contacts.”
The Pella-based Pella Opera House, where plays, films and musical performances fill the calendar, is also available to accommodate group events.PageBreak
Gardens
At Iowa State University in Ames, Reiman Gardens, is a great venue for a variety of indoor or outdoor events year-round, according to Allyson Walter, member and visitor services manager at the Ames CVB.
“The site offers a beautiful setting with award-winning rose gardens and many seasonal gardens,” she says, adding that groups can book a tour of the gardens, take self-guided leisure walks and explore the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing, which houses up to 800 live butterflies.
Reiman Gardens has indoor facilities to accommodate groups of up to 250 people, smaller breakout rooms and outdoor spaces for group gatherings.
Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens in Waterloo features various gardens, walking paths and an arboretum and education center that are available for group events.
Museums
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, a Smithsonian-affiliated facility in Dubuque, offers groups aquarium tours, hands-on activities and a “dine with the fish” option.
“It’s the perfect site for an evening off-site event,” says Julie Kronlage, director of sales at the Dubuque CVB. “From a full-course sit-down meal to appetizers to buffets accompanied by a full bar, this facility can cater to groups of 10 to 1,000.”
In Council Bluffs, the circa-1869 Historic General Dodge House, according to Diane Hestness, group travel director at the Council Bluffs CVB, is a must-see attraction that accommodates group get-togethers.
The Victorian-era structure, highlighting Civil War veteran and railroad builder Grenville M. Dodge, remains the only National Historic Landmark in the city.
The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum in Mason City has indoor and outdoor space for corporate and networking events.
In Cedar Rapids, the recently moved and expanded National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library teaches the history and impact of the Czech and Slovak population in Cedar Rapids and across the U.S.
One of the museum’s particularly noteworthy spaces, according to Angela Vande Wall, director of convention sales at the Cedar Rapids Area CVB, is Heritage Hall, which is decorated with art nouveau inspirations and can accommodate up to 240 guests.
Also in town is the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, which houses more than 7,200 works of art and is available for a variety of group events.
The museum’s store sells items that complement exhibits and serve as great take-home gifts for attendees. PageBreak
Ballparks
The Burlington Bees invite groups to Community Field to experience the fun of minor-league baseball, according to Beth Nickel, executive director at the Greater Burlington CVB.
Group areas, she adds, range from an indoor skybox to a large outdoor party deck for as few as 15 and up to 250 people.
“As an added bonus, groups can choose someone from their participant roster to throw in the first pitch or participate in an on-field contest,” Nickel says.
Modern Woodmen Park in downtown Davenport, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits baseball team, has a terrific view of the Mississippi River.
“It’s always ranked as a top ballpark for its stunning view,” says the Quad Cities CVB’s Waytenick.
Opened in 1931, this historic ballpark can accommodate small board meetings, meetings with breakout sessions and up to 300 guests for a banquet.
Theaters
One of the most popular off-site options in Sioux City is the Orpheum Theatre, which was built in 1927 and features performances by top entertainers as well as Broadway plays.
According to Erika Newton, convention bureau manager at the Visit Sioux City CVB, the theater or lobby area can be booked for events.
“Approximately 250 people can fit in the lobby and up to 225 people can be accommodated on the stage of the Orpheum for a truly unique setting,” she says.
There is also an Orpheum in Marshalltown, the Orpheum Theater Center, which includes a theater and movie house that can be used for events, as well as lobby and studio spaces and an outdoor amphitheater and patio.
The Capitol Theater in the heart of downtown Burlington is a 1937 Art Deco gem that reopened last year after renovations. It had been closed since 1977.
According to the Greater Burlington CVB’s Nickel, the 355-seat venue, along with its reception and gallery annex, hosts independent and classic films as well as live on-stage performances.
“The theater is equipped with state-of-the-arts audiovisual equipment, making your meeting experience relaxing and inviting,” she says. “The gallery annex space works nicely for cocktail receptions for up to 100 guests.”PageBreak
Food and Beverage Sites
Cedar Ridge Vineyards Winery and Distillery, located in Swisher, and Backpocket Brewing in Coralville are among the area’s recommended off-site options, according to Anissa Wolfe, director of sales at the Iowa City/Coralville Area CVB.
She says the tasting room and event space at Cedar Ridge, the only combination winery/distillery in the state, offers a unique getaway for groups, and the open taproom and outdoor beer garden at Backpocket make it a comfortable, inviting option.
Cedar Ridge’s gathering spaces include a boardroom for 10 and an event center for up to 200 seated, and the brewery can accommodate up to 150 with outside areas providing space for an additional 150 people. On-site food is available at each operation.
Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards in Ames is a great off-site solution for a variety of group events, according to the Ames CVB’s Walter.
“After the meeting is over, guests can enjoy wine tasting or tour the vineyards,” she says, adding that the winery’s gathering spots include a main banquet room that opens to an outdoor space for up to 300 people. “If you are looking to hold an outdoor event with food and music, the grounds can accommodate up to 1,500 people.
And in Cedar Rapids is NewBo City Market, which according to the Cedar Rapids Area CVB’s Vande Wall is Iowa’s first public, year-round market.
“It is the heart of Cedar Rapids' hippest neighborhood, New Bohemia,” she says, explaining that half of the market floor is permanent vendors serving fresh and flavorful local fare, and the other half is available at times for special events.
The market also has a demonstration kitchen and large outdoor market yard to accommodate groups of all sizes.
Frequent contributor Carolyn Blackburn thought the Candlelight white from Cedar Ridge Vineyards Winery was delicious.
