Top Iowa Holiday Party Venues

• Spaces for 120-275 Guests
• 1 Country Club

Ames Golf & Country Club has been a gathering place for the Ames, Iowa community since 1911, when the club opened with a nine-hole course, a clubhouse, and a swimming pool. Today, the club spans 164 acres north of Ames and hosts weddings, receptions, birthday parties, and private celebrations throughout the year. The Greenview Room is the club's dedicated event space, accommodating up to 120 guests for seated dinners or 180 for cocktail receptions. The room looks out over the golf course and opens onto a walk-out deck, with a full bar available on-site. The broader facility — renovated in 2018 — includes an 18-hole championship course, a heated pool, tennis and pickleball courts, and a Trackman golf simulator, making it a natural fit for group outings and multi-activity events. The club's culinary team supports private dinners, wine tastings, holiday celebrations, and custom menus led by Head Chef Tyler Christie.

• Spaces for 600 Guests

• Spaces for 270 Guests

• Spaces for 240-300 Guests
• 1 Event Space

The Euclid Room is an event space operated by Hy-Vee at 2540 East Euclid Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Designed as a blank canvas with neutral tones and an open floor plan, the space accommodates up to 240 seated or 300 standing guests and can be configured to suit a wide range of celebrations — from wedding receptions and ceremonies to corporate conferences and birthday parties. Hy-Vee provides all catering, food, and beverage services for events held in the room, giving planners access to full-service support in one place. Tables and chairs are included with rental, and a large parking lot with valet service is available for guests. Events can be reserved by contacting the Hy-Vee catering department directly.

• Spaces for 500 Guests

Water Works Park is a nearly 1,500-acre public park and event venue in Des Moines, Iowa, operated by Des Moines Water Works along the Raccoon River near Gray's Lake. The park's grounds feature the Charles Sing Denman Memorial Fountain — a geyser-style fountain set within a formal garden — and the adjacent South Garden Gazebo, both available for outdoor wedding ceremonies from Memorial Day weekend through early October. A covered south shelter is available for picnic receptions and gatherings, with electricity, water, and picnic tables on site. The park also connects to an extensive trail network and hosts an equestrian area, fishing ponds, and open fields suited to a range of outdoor events. Amplified sound is permitted with a City of Des Moines sound permit, and alcoholic beverages are limited to beer and wine.

• Spaces for 250 Guests

Timberline Campground operates two family-friendly campgrounds in Iowa — Timberline West in Waukee and Timberline East in Newton — offering year-round outdoor gatherings under the banner of "country camping with city convenience." The Waukee location sits along Interstate 80 on the outskirts of the Des Moines metro, with retail and dining close by; the Newton location features wooded campsites near Iowa Speedway and Adventureland Amusement Park. Both locations are equipped for group stays and celebrations, with amenities including a swimming pool, stocked fishing pond, campfire areas, jump pad, and playground. Timberline hosts themed weekend events throughout the year and welcomes groups looking to book multiple accommodations — from cabins to glamping units — for family reunions, milestone gatherings, and outdoor getaways.

• Spaces for 320 Guests

• Spaces for 200 Guests

Voas Nature Area is a 705-acre public nature area and education center operated by Dallas County Conservation, located near Minburn, Iowa. The property encompasses oak and hickory forest, tallgrass prairie, and wetland complex, with over five miles of mowed trails suited to hiking and cross-country skiing in all seasons. The grounds include a seasonal observation deck and picnic tables, making the area available for permitted special events through the Dallas County Conservation Board. The on-site Voas Nature Area Museum — open by appointment — houses a collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and stone tools that trace the natural and cultural history of Iowa, from prehistoric habitats to the Henry Voas family farm that first settled the land in 1863. Event use of the property requires a permit; the Conservation Board office coordinates reservations and can provide pricing details.

• Spaces for 60-400 Guests
• 3 Meeting Spaces
• 2 Convention Centers

The DMACC Conference Center — also known as the Maytag Event Complex — occupies the second floor of the Des Moines Area Community College Newton Campus, a 105,000-square-foot building that opened in 1993 with support from the Maytag Corporation and the City of Newton. Located in central Iowa about 30 minutes from downtown Des Moines with easy access from I-80 and I-35, the venue draws regional and statewide gatherings alike. The facility centers on two signature event spaces: a 325-seat auditorium with a 35-by-22-foot stage and a 300-seat conference center that divides into four quadrants, each with its own AV setup. Smaller breakout rooms accommodate groups from 5 to 60, and an atrium just off the main entrance provides space for cocktail hours and registration. All spaces include audiovisual equipment, and the venue operates an open catering policy with free onsite parking. The conference center hosts conferences, workshops, trade shows, fundraisers, live performances, and weddings. An onsite conference coordinator is available to support planning and event-day logistics.

• Spaces for 51-240 Guests
• 4 Museums
• 1 Landmark
• 4 Total Spaces

The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) stands in the heart of Cedar Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the nation's foremost institution for the collection, interpretation, and preservation of Czech and Slovak history and culture. Founded in 1974 by second and third-generation Czech Americans, the NCSML became a Smithsonian Affiliate in 2018 and holds the American Alliance of Museums accreditation — a distinction it earned in 2008, the same year catastrophic Cedar River flooding tested the institution's resolve. Rather than rebuild in place, the museum physically relocated its original 1,500-ton structure 480 feet to higher ground, reopening in 2012 in an expanded 50,000-square-foot facility. The museum offers four distinct event spaces for private occasions: the art nouveau-inspired WFLA/ZCBJ Heritage Hall for receptions and galas of up to 240 guests; the Rozek Grand Hall, anchored by a crystal chandelier and floor-to-ceiling windows, for ceremonies and seated dinners up to 100; the outdoor Naxera Terrace overlooking the Cedar River, suited for cocktail receptions; and the intimate Hemphill Theater for presentations and screenings. In 2024, the museum dedicated the Buresh Immigration Tower, featuring the only Prague-style astronomical clock in North America.

• Spaces for 350 Guests

• Spaces for 250 Guests

• Spaces for 55-300 Guests
• 5 Hotels
• 1 Ballroom
• 5 Total Spaces

Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center sits in Johnston, Iowa, just minutes north of downtown Des Moines with easy access to Wells Fargo Arena, the Iowa Events Center, and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. The property draws on a rustic, northwoods aesthetic — log furniture, natural wood finishes, and warm fireplaces — that lends a distinctive character to gatherings of any size. The conference center offers more than seven dedicated event rooms, anchored by the Northwoods Ballroom, which accommodates up to 300 guests for banquets or 400 in theater configuration. The Pioneer Room handles mid-sized events for up to 120, while smaller breakout spaces — including the Meadows, John Deere Room, and Bear's Den — seat groups from 55 to 80. Outdoor patio areas and fireside seating extend the gathering options beyond the main rooms. Wedding packages include a dance floor, lighted pipe and drape, linens, centerpieces, and a dedicated event coordinator, with on-site accommodations available for overnight guests.

• Spaces for 600 Guests

Founded in 1891, The Outing Club is a historic private club in Davenport, Iowa, housed in a Colonial Revival Clubhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Established by three community leaders as a gathering place for families and friends, the club blends its storied past with contemporary programming — offering what it describes as attainable luxury for those who value connection, comfort, and quality time together. The club's event capabilities extend across its expansive property, from its grand ballroom and private rooms suited for business meetings, intimate gatherings, and celebrations, to the entire grounds available for milestone occasions including weddings. Its culinary team, led by Chef Jason Gomez, provides dining that draws from seasonal menus with personalized service — rounding out a full-service private event setting.

• Spaces for 125 Guests

• Spaces for 300 Guests

• Spaces for 70-1,000 Guests
• 1 Bar
• 1 Outdoor
• 3 Event Spaces

Principal Park is a 11,500-seat professional baseball stadium in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, home of the Iowa Cubs — the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Opened in 1992 and renamed Principal Park in 2004 following a naming rights agreement with Principal Financial Group, the ballpark sits at the confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River, offering views of both the skyline and the surrounding waterways. The park's event programming spans game-day group packages and non-game-day private rentals across several distinct spaces. The climate-controlled Left Field Lounge accommodates groups of up to 70 and includes a full bar, audio and visual capabilities, and views of Sec Taylor Field. The Mezzanine, on the second level behind home plate, hosts groups of up to 1,000 with panoramic views of the city and the field. The CKF Left Field Landing, situated above the home bullpen, serves as an exclusive picnic area for groups of up to 125. The venue's catering team customizes packages for reunions, receptions, graduation parties, holiday events, business meetings, and staff retreats. Ample parking and a convenient downtown location make Principal Park easily accessible for guests arriving from across the Des Moines metro.

• Spaces for 300 Guests

• Spaces for 1,200 Guests
• 1 Hotel
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Convention Center

The Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel brings together 22,321 square feet of event space and 285 guest rooms under one roof in West Des Moines, Iowa — a ten-story full-service hotel positioned at the interchange of I-35, I-235, and I-80, fifteen minutes from Des Moines International Airport. At the heart of the property is the five-story Atrium Party Deck, a 2,300-square-foot semi-private gathering space ringed by lush greenery and a signature waterfall. The atrium sets the tone for the rest of the venue: a setting where scale and warmth coexist. For larger celebrations, the Convention Center accommodates up to 1,200 guests, with the full portfolio of 16 function rooms handling events from intimate board-room dinners to grand receptions. Wedding packages include a stage and dance floor, tables and chairs, china and glassware, linens, a champagne toast for the head table, and a dedicated catering sales manager. The hotel's culinary team handles all food and beverage in-house, with plated and buffet dinner programs, hors d'oeuvres, and bar service tiers available. Guest room blocks — courtesy (up to 15 rooms) or guaranteed (16 or more) — give out-of-town guests convenient access to the celebration without leaving the building.

• Spaces for 150-250 Guests
• 1 Hotel
• 1 Meeting Space

Baymont by Wyndham Des Moines Airport is a full-service hotel located minutes from Des Moines International Airport, offering convenient access for both overnight guests and event attendees. The hotel provides complimentary airport shuttle service, making it an accessible choice for groups traveling from out of town. The property features over 4,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space across four rooms, accommodating up to 250 guests for conference-style events or 150 for banquets. In-house catering and AV capabilities support a range of gatherings — from corporate meetings and seminars to private celebrations and receptions. Guests and event attendees have access to a heated indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, and complimentary continental breakfast, rounding out the stay-and-celebrate experience.