The Louisiana cities of Baton Rouge and Shreveport are poised to accommodate a variety of group events, as each destination boasts a strong lineup of spaces that host everything from conventions and tradeshows to receptions and banquets.
While Baton Rouge’s Raising Cane’s River Center, the city’s convention center, and the Shreveport Convention Center serve as each community’s main meetings facility, there are also many hotels with ample function space to handle group business.
Among them are the recently renovated Baton Rouge Marriott, featuring 299 rooms and nearly 30,000 square feet of event space; Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU, also in Baton Rouge; Belle of Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel; Hilton Shreveport; and Wyndham Garden Shreveport.
Beyond these traditional options to take care of your next event, there are unique off-site venues to choose from as well, including the following six standout options that welcome groups for special and memorable occasions.
Marlene Yu Museum, Shreveport
It follows that the circa-1950s building that was originally a YWCA eventually became the home of the works of a female artist.
Shreveport’s first contemporary art museum showcases the creations of Marlene Yu, who celebrated her 80th birthday this year.
Her renowned large-scale murals are inspired by glaciers, avalanches, geysers, black holes and other natural wonders, and in recent years she has considered the effects of climate change in her paintings.
According to Stephanie Lusk, the museum’s director, the museum has hosted corporate events, business meetings, cocktail receptions, fundraisers, galas and more.
“The main exhibition hall is a large space with 20-foot ceilings that can accommodate large groups,” she said. “The walls are draped from ceiling to floor with large-scale abstract paintings of nature by the artist.”
Lusk noted a grand staircase with green rails was designed as an abstract interpretation of a rainforest and leads into the exhibition hall.
Other spaces include the Emerald Center, which has a small stage for meetings and overlooks the courtyard, and the Rainforest Art Foundation Gallery, which has 12-foot ceilings and seats up to 200 people.
“We will be renovating the courtyard and pool areas for use as future event space options,” Lusk added. “And any event could include a guided tour of the exhibitions.”
Capitol Park Museum, Baton Rouge
Situated amid history and culture in the shadows of the Louisiana State Capitol, Capitol Park Museum welcomes groups.
The museum has hosted many successful cocktail parties, networking functions, presentations and seated dinners, according to Ashley Pierce, events coordinator.
“Our facility is a bare-bones structure, and all vendors including catering must be brought in,” she said. “With the help of our friendly staff, museum events are memorable and easy to plan.”
The museum is a modern space with glass, marble, granite and corrugated metal, and the outdoor covered plaza offers a spectacular ground-level view of the Louisiana State Capitol.
Upon entering the lobby, groups will note a permanent art structure, River of Memories, which symbolizes the Mississippi River, and the multipurpose ballroom features a recently refurbished tile mosaic by acclaimed artist Conrad Albrizio.
“With over 69,000 square feet of museum and event space, our museum is truly one of a kind,” Pierce said.
Total ground floor event space, she added, can host up to 500 people seated, split between two spaces, and 1,000 people cocktail-style. Group tours can be arranged to coincide with an event.
Great Raft Brewing, Shreveport
Shreveport went dry nine years before Prohibition, and in 2013 Great Raft Brewing sold the first locally produced beer in over 100 years.
The brewery has hosted everything from private corporate functions to football-watching parties to seated dinners. The brewery itself is available for group rentals and features a private event space.
“Any group using the space is free to hire the caterer of their choosing,” said Founder/Vice President Lindsay Nations. “Additionally, if looking for something a little more full-service, we can partner with one of the local caterers or food trucks to offer a comprehensive package.”
PageBreakThe brewery and tasting room, which has over 2,500 square feet of space and direct views of the brewing operation, can accommodate up to 350 people, while the private event space is better suited for groups with fewer than 75 guests.
“The industrial chic environment provides a comfortable yet trendy setting for guests to enjoy a few beers, watch the game or enjoy some live music,” Nations said.
On the brewery floor, which connects to the tasting room, a large projection screen is available for presentations, games and more, and a stage and music equipment are available for live performances.
“Many private events are scheduled along with a guided tour and tasting experience,” Nations said.
Old State Capitol, Baton Rouge
Set high above the Mississippi River, Louisiana’s castle-like Old State Capitol provides a setting for events that is “as unique as it is beautiful,” according to Shelby Daugherty, the building’s marketing program specialist.
Today, this historic attraction houses exhibits that tell the story of Louisiana’s rich political history, including an award-winning movie told through the eyes of a ghost.
All types of events have been hosted here, ranging from business seminars and political hearings to receptions and arts performances.
“Most local catering groups have worked in the building before and know the run of the building,” Daugherty said.
The colorful venue offers its stained-glass windows, spiral staircase and dome as a backdrop.
Spaces here include a boardroom that seats up to 18 people, the 200-seat House Chamber, which has a stage and audio equipment available for presentations, and a large open ballroom that comfortably seats up to 220 people and accommodates up to 400 guests reception-style.
Guided group tours of the building, which is a National Historic Landmark, can be arranged in advance at no charge, Daugherty added.
“Speakers can also be arranged with enough notice for groups with a particular interest in the architecture of the building or a specific political interest,” she said.
Robinson Film Center, Shreveport
The Robinson Film Center, an art house dedicated to enrichment and education in the art of film and cinema, books business meetings, workshops, company parties, private dinners and private screenings.
According to Kirstie Gilliam, the center’s special events coordinator, gatherings are catered by the in-house bistro, Abby Singer’s, whose menu includes everything from stuffed portobello mushroom and seafood gumbo to barbecue pulled pork and shrimp and grits.
“Chef Tootie Morrison and her crew prepare buffets consisting of a spread of hors d’oeuvres or full meals complete with entrees and sides,” Gilliam said.
The event space, which is one large room that’s divisible by three, can hold up to 150 guests when it’s completely open.
“There are four screens and projectors, a laptop connection and microphones available for rental,” Gilliam said. “We also provide white and black linens, dinnerware, glassware, silverware, staff and bar services.”
LSU Rural Life Museum, Baton Rouge
The LSU Rural Life Museum allows a time travel experience for visitors, as it’s dedicated to conveying the cultural impact of 18th and 19th century rural Louisiana.
The museum houses a large collection of relics and architecture in a sprawling outdoor display that groups can explore on their own or with a guide.
Highlights of this popular Baton Rouge attraction include an exhibit barn that houses hundreds of artifacts that tell the story of everyday rural life leading up to the early 20th century, and a cluster of different buildings that would have once been occupied by settlers, including a pioneer’s cabin and a dogtrot house.
Private events, from business meetings to receptions and meal functions, are accommodated here in various spaces, including several garden settings, meeting rooms and a pavilion.
Notable on-site venues include a conference center that accommodates up to 120, a boardroom with rose garden views for 10 to 15 people and a rustic open-air pavilion with a fireplace for up to 125 people.
