Top Nelsonville Venues

• Spaces for 16-395 Guests
• 2 Landmarks
• 2 Theaters
• 4 Total Spaces

Stuart's Opera House is a historic theater and community arts center at 52 Public Square in Nelsonville, Ohio. Built in 1879 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the venue has been restored and expanded to serve as a regional hub for the arts in Southeastern Ohio, hosting more than 75 events each year — from live music and theater to film, dance, and private celebrations. The venue's renovated Grand Lobby was expanded to triple its original footprint and features hardwood oak floors, coffered acoustic tin ceilings, mahogany entry doors, and a custom bar crafted from salvaged local materials. It accommodates up to 186 guests for banquets and receptions. The historic Opera House seats up to 395 across its original floor seats, box seats, and balcony, making it a distinctive choice for ceremonies, concerts, and large gatherings. Stuart's also offers 30 Public @ Stuart's, a flexible multi-purpose room at 30 Public Square with exposed brick walls and hardwood floors, accommodating up to 115 guests for meetings and smaller events. An on-site catering kitchen is accessible to all rental spaces. The venue is wheelchair accessible, with elevator service to the main theater floor and accessible entrances at both the main lobby and 30 Public Square.

• Spaces for 150-250 Guests
• 2 Historic Spaces
• 2 Art Galleries
• 1 Loft

The Dairy Barn Arts Center is a National Register of Historic Places landmark in Athens, Ohio, housed in a Georgian Revival dairy barn built in 1914 for the Athens State Hospital. When the facility's dairy operation ceased in 1977, community advocates led by Harriet Anderson preserved the building and established it as a nonprofit arts center in 1978. The venue offers more than 10,000 square feet of versatile indoor space alongside expansive outdoor grounds with front and back lawns and a one-mile trail with an amphitheater. The Sauber Gallery, spanning more than 5,000 square feet, accommodates up to 250 guests for dining and dancing, while The Loft on the second floor seats up to 150 and divides into two rooms for flexible configurations. Rentals include tables and chairs, a sound system, an HDMI-compatible projector, a catering kitchen, and wireless internet; optional full-service bar service is available through The Neon Cow Bar. The center is internationally recognized as the home of Quilt National, the largest and longest-running juried exhibition of art quilts in the United States, which has drawn more than 100,000 visitors to Athens from around the world since 1979.