Top Iowa Kids Birthday Venues

• Spaces for 80-175 Guests
• 1 Museum
• 1 Historic Space

The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum occupies a landmark Tudor Revival building in Mason City, Iowa — originally built in 1920 as a private residence on a cliff overlooking Willow Creek, and donated to the city in 1964 by General and Mrs. Hanford MacNider to serve as a public arts center. The building has grown through four major expansions, including the cantilevered Kinney-Lindstrom Gallery extending out over the cliff, and is recognized today for its distinctive stone and half-timber exterior, interior walnut woodwork, and terrazzo tile floors. The museum hosts private events in the Salsbury Room on the second floor — a bright, window-lined space with views of the wooded backyard, a small stage and dance floor, AV equipment, and tables and chairs included with rental. The room accommodates up to 80 guests for a sit-down meal or up to 170 in ceremony seating, making it well suited for weddings, receptions, business conferences, and private celebrations. An outdoor lawn area is available alongside the Salsbury Room, with the interior serving as a weather backup. Admission to the museum is free and open to the public. The permanent collection focuses on post–World War II American art, and the museum is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums.

• Spaces for 40-300 Guests
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Theater
• 2 Total Spaces

The Corning Opera House Cultural Center is a restored historic theater in Corning, Iowa, serving the community as a nonprofit cultural venue since its 2012 reopening. Originally built in 1902 by local businessman Frederick Charles Reese on the footprint of a former National Bank, the opera house features a 28-foot proscenium stage, hand-painted tin ceilings, and refinished hardwood floors — the product of a $3.5 million restoration project that also added geothermal systems and modern audio, video, and lighting equipment. The venue offers two rental spaces suited for a wide range of celebrations and gatherings. The second-floor Auditorium accommodates up to 300 guests in theater-style seating or 96 for banquet receptions, with a horseshoe balcony, hardwood dance floor, projector, and screen. The first-floor Field Conference Room seats up to 40 and is available for half or full-day bookings. Both spaces are handicap accessible via elevator. A member of the League of Historic American Theatres, the Corning Opera House has welcomed over 65,200 visitors for weddings, concerts, reunions, meetings, and more. Licensed catering and beer and wine service are available, along with professional event coordination.

• Spaces for 80-1,200 Guests
• 2 Ballrooms
• 1 Museum
• 5 Total Spaces

The Iowa Memorial Union sits at the heart of the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, just blocks from downtown. Built as a tribute to Hawkeyes who served in World War I, the IMU has grown into a full-service event facility offering multiple event spaces, award-winning in-house catering, and a dedicated event planning team — all under one roof. The venue's banquet and ballroom spaces range from intimate rooms seating around 24 guests to the expansive Main Lounge, which can accommodate up to 1,200 for large-scale events. The International Ballroom features ornate woodwork and a stage, while the Richey Ballroom offers a versatile setting for mid-sized gatherings. For ceremonies, the Danforth Chapel — a 1950s non-denominational chapel overlooking the Iowa River — provides a quiet, intimate setting adjacent to the main building. University Catering handles all food and beverage with customizable menus designed to suit a wide range of events, from wedding receptions to private dinners. Most services are tax-free, and the event services team provides one-on-one coordination from planning through event day.

• Spaces for 75-600 Guests
• 1 Ballroom
• 2 Country Clubs
• 1 Meeting Space

Prairie Links Golf & Event Center sits on an 18-hole golf course in Waverly, Iowa, offering a range of indoor and outdoor spaces for weddings, corporate gatherings, graduations, and private celebrations. The Legends Ballroom anchors the facility, accommodating up to 320 guests with a full-service bar and accordion doors that open to a lighted patio terrace. A smaller conference room — the Patio Room — seats up to 75 guests and features a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace and vaulted ceiling, making it well suited for rehearsal dinners, showers, or intimate receptions. For outdoor events, the on-site pool deck spans more than 9,000 square feet and includes a colored lighting system that can be matched to event colors. Full-service catering — ranging from taco bars to plated dinners — is available in-house alongside bar service. Day-of coordination and décor support are included with event rentals.

• Spaces for 300 Guests

Fox Ridge Public Golf Course is an 18-hole championship course set in Dike, Iowa, about 10 minutes west of Cedar Falls. The front nine opened in 1998 alongside an 11,000-square-foot clubhouse; the back nine followed in 2001. Playing over 6,800 yards with a 72.6 course rating and 124 slope from the longest tees, the course offers four sets of tees to accommodate golfers of varying experience. The clubhouse anchors the venue's event offerings, with full services available for weddings and corporate outings. The Greenside Grille is open daily from 7 A.M., and a new lounge concept — The Bunker — is under development. A golf simulator is available on-site for instruction and entertainment year-round.

• Spaces for 200-300 Guests
• 1 Event Space
• 1 Waterfront

Lutheran Lakeside Camp is an ELCA outdoor and retreat ministry established in 1959 on the shores of East Okoboji Lake in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The property spans a quarter-mile of waterfront, surrounded by mature trees and open meadows, and is available for events year-round. The Lakeside Event Center seats 200 guests on its upper level, where floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the lake and a wraparound deck extends the gathering space outdoors. The lower level includes two additional multipurpose rooms with lake views and direct access to the great lawn — well suited for ceremonies, cocktail hours, or breakout gatherings. The facility accommodates weddings with exclusive use of the whole property from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning, as well as single-day events including graduations, anniversaries, and family reunions. The Event Center comes equipped with WiFi, A/V equipment, a walk-in cooler and freezer, ice maker, tables, and a fireplace with firewood. Groups may bring their own catering, hire an outside caterer, or arrange for on-site cooking services.

• Spaces for 103-450 Guests
• 2 Hotels
• 1 Ballroom
• 1 Theater

Best Western Plus Dubuque Hotel & Conference Center is a full-service hotel and event venue situated near the Mississippi River and Port of Dubuque, Iowa. The property combines comfortable accommodations with more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, making it a practical choice for planners coordinating everything from intimate business gatherings to large celebrations. The conference center's signature space is the Mississippi Ballroom, which spans over 4,100 square feet and accommodates up to 450 guests for conferences, receptions, or speaker series. The ballroom subdivides into three sections — Mississippi A, B, and C — allowing the space to flex for smaller groups. A 103-seat tiered Symposium Theater, a private Executive Boardroom, the Eagle Point Conference room, and the Great River Suite round out the meeting and event offering. For weddings, the property positions itself as an all-inclusive destination. The venue's staff handles coordination details and the hotel provides tablecloths, linens, and skirting at no additional charge for all banquets. In-house catering covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with customization available for dietary needs. On-site guest rooms accommodate out-of-town attendees, and the 7 Hills Tap House offers on-site dining. The hotel has earned TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence five years running, placing it in the platform's Hall of Fame.

• Spaces for 325 Guests

Camp Hantesa is a Camp Fire facility set on wooded grounds adjacent to Ledges State Park in Boone, Iowa, surrounded by hills, stone outcroppings, and views of the Des Moines River. The property is available for private event rentals year-round and offers a range of indoor spaces suited to groups of various sizes. The centerpiece for larger gatherings is Clayton Lodge, described as one of the largest venues in Boone County, with a full-service kitchen, a dining hall with tables and chairs, restrooms, breakout rooms, and reserved parking — well suited to weddings, banquets, retreats, and conferences. Smaller lodges on the property provide accommodations for overnight retreats, team-building programs, and group gatherings. For event inquiries and rental bookings, the venue's events team can be reached directly at the Camp Hantesa office.

The Warrior Hotel, Autograph Collection offers event spaces for your next celebration in Sioux City, Iowa.

• Spaces for 450 Guests

• Spaces for 12-200 Guests
• 1 Event Space
• 1 Meeting Space

The Indianola Activity Center is a multi-purpose event and community facility operated by the City of Indianola Parks and Recreation Department, located at 2204 W. 2nd Avenue in Indianola, Iowa. The center serves as the department's headquarters and hosts a wide range of private events, city meetings, and community gatherings throughout the year. The Buxton Room is the center's signature event space, accommodating up to 200 guests for receptions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, family reunions, and more. It comes fully equipped with 35 round folding tables, 288 folding chairs, 15 rectangle tables, a public address system with lectern, a projector screen, and a full kitchen with stove, refrigerator, and microwave. The space is ADA accessible and offers complimentary WiFi. A smaller Arts and Crafts Room accommodates up to 12 guests for intimate meetings or small group gatherings, complete with folding tables, chairs, and a sink. The Indianola Activity Center is an affordable and flexible venue option for Warren County and the greater Des Moines area, with daily and hourly rental options available seven days a week.

• Spaces for 800 Guests

Wild Rose Casino & Resort operates three gaming and resort properties across Iowa — in Emmetsburg, Clinton, and Jefferson — combining casino entertainment with hotel accommodations and dining under one roof at each location. The Emmetsburg property draws on the history of the town's original downtown architecture, with a design inspired by the once-grand Waverly Hotel, offering 63 standard rooms and 7 suites alongside casino gaming and dining at Lucky's Sports Grill. The Clinton location, Iowa's first land-based casino, features 500-plus slots, 14 table games, a 60-room hotel, and the Oak Grand Ballroom, making it a destination for both gaming and private events. The Jefferson property rounds out the portfolio with 74 hotel rooms and a concert venue that hosts ticketed touring acts. Across all three locations, Wild Rose pairs small-town hospitality with the amenities of a full-service resort, with on-site dining, Club Wild rewards, and hotel lodging suited to both leisure guests and event groups.

• Spaces for 22-400 Guests
• 1 Restaurant
• 1 Ballroom
• 5 Total Spaces

The Figge Art Museum occupies a striking glass building on the north bank of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, designed by British architect David Chipperfield and opened in 2005. The 115,000-square-foot structure serves as the region's major art institution for eastern Iowa and western Illinois, housing more than 4,000 works spanning the 16th century to the present — with a collection particularly known for Haitian, Colonial Mexican, and Midwestern art, including the only self-portrait Grant Wood ever painted. The museum offers a range of event spaces for private gatherings, corporate functions, weddings, and social celebrations. The Quad City Bank & Trust Grand Lobby accommodates up to 400 guests for receptions, featuring an open floor plan, high ceilings, terrazzo flooring, and views of the Mississippi River. Smaller gatherings are well served by the Riverview Dining Room and Bar, the John Deere Auditorium with its Italian leather seating and state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, and the Mary Waterman Gildehaus Community Gallery. The Nobis Boardroom Suite offers an intimate setting with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the river. Events at the Figge include in-house audio-visual equipment, a flexible catering policy, and optional gallery tours — giving organizers the resources of a major cultural institution in one of the Midwest's most architecturally distinctive buildings.

• Spaces for 120 Guests
• 1 Outdoor
• 1 Park

Sportsman's Lodge is a county-operated event facility nestled within Sportsman Park, a 40-acre woodland preserve of oak and hickory timber adjacent to the North Raccoon River near Dawson, Iowa. The lodge accommodates up to 120 guests and is suited for wedding receptions, family and class reunions, bridal and baby showers, retreats, and meetings. The facility includes 15 eight-foot tables, air conditioning, heat, electricity, full restrooms with shower facilities, a full-size refrigerator, and built-in serving counters. Guests also have access to nearby playground areas and the Raccoon River Valley Trail. The lodge is available for rent year-round, weather permitting, with reservations managed through the Dallas County Conservation Board.

• Spaces for 256 Guests

• Spaces for 150 Guests

• Spaces for 50-730 Guests
• 1 Bar
• 1 Landmark
• 3 Total Spaces

The Englert Theatre has anchored downtown Iowa City since September 26, 1912, when William and Etta Englert opened the doors of what would become Iowa City's last surviving historic theater. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and fully renovated in 2004, the building carries more than a century of performance history — from vaudeville and opera to live music, comedy, and civic ceremony — through a Renaissance and Tudor Revival facade that still defines the corner of East Washington Street. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Englert presents more than 120 events each year under its own banner, including Mission Creek Festival and Witching Hour, while opening its spaces to private clients seeking something beyond a standard event hall. The main theatre seats 715 across the orchestra floor and a sweeping balcony, and comes equipped with a newly upgraded sound system and full lighting capabilities suited for concerts, lectures, film screenings, variety shows, and ceremonies. A second-floor lounge — recently renovated, with a full-service bar and kitchen and tall windows that bring in natural light — accommodates up to 100 guests for standing receptions or 50 for seated gatherings. The stage itself is available as a standalone event space for up to 100 guests, offering a setting few private venues can match.

• Spaces for 200-240 Guests
• 1 Museum
• 1 Historic Space

The African American Museum of Iowa is the only statewide museum devoted to preserving African American history and culture in Iowa. Founded in 1993 and located along the Cedar River near downtown Cedar Rapids, the museum occupies a 17,000-square-foot facility that reopened in 2024 following a $5 million renovation. Each year the museum serves more than 30,000 people through exhibitions, educational programming, and special events, and its permanent collection includes more than 2,000 artifacts, 70 linear feet of archives, and 200 oral histories. For private events, the Aldeen Davis Celebration Hall accommodates up to 200 guests at round tables or 240 guests in theater-style seating. The hall looks out over the Harper Terrace and the Cedar River Trail, with views of the Cedar River and the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial public art installation, Trumpet. An attached catering kitchen and in-house audio-visual system with projection screen are included with every rental, and the museum welcomes outside caterers with no vendor restrictions. ADA-accessible throughout, the facility is well suited for weddings, fundraisers, formal dinners, galas, business meetings, and training workshops.