March 28, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

There’s no better place to get a little creative with a corporate or nonprofit event than the Washington Pavilion.

CCL Healthcare Sioux Falls found that out recently after inviting its global sales team to experience Sioux Falls and its new world-leading label facility.

“We wanted our team to experience a unique piece of Sioux Falls and show them there was more to us than the airport,” general manager Patrick Wiedman said. “The Washington Pavilion team gave us a fantastic tour and explained many options to accommodate such a group and some unique ideas for the gathering.”

CCL took advantage of them. After hiring 4Front Studios to create a short video of the company’s brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, CCL shared the piece with its global board of directors by playing it inside the Wells Fargo CineDome & Sweetman Planetarium.

“After a full day of strategy meetings, we needed a special place to kick off our future,” Wiedman said. “The team was greeted with a champagne toast in the CineDome before our video.”

From there, it was on to the Visual Arts Center, “where we had a social hour and enjoyed local art and history, followed by a first-class experience with En Place Catering. Our guests truly enjoyed the whole experience, which included multiple social media posts and internal communication.”

Working with the Washington Pavilion, “our hosts were extremely positive, professional, accommodating and easy to work with,” he added. “We look forward to using the Pavilion for future executive gatherings.”

The CCL event is a strong example of what the Washington Pavilion can offer in all scopes and sizes.

“We’ve always hosted corporate events but had traditionally been a little heavier on weddings. However, after the pandemic, when businesses needed to find spots to meet that were a little larger, it sparked a need to look at things a little more creatively, and we began to see more interest,” said Allyson Kasch, event sales and hospitality operations manager.

“That’s continued as businesses are realizing that when you get teams out of the office and into a more out-of-the-box space, they’re not stuck in the mundane. We’re finding organizations are looking for ways to elevate their events and create experiences.”

Kasch and LuAnn Wolfe, sales and accounts manager, work closely with event planners to deliver those experiences.

“We love helping people celebrate their big days,” Wolfe said.

After hosting events at the Washington Pavilion for more than a decade, “I can wholeheartedly exclaim that this is one of my favorite venues to host events because of the character and history that the space offers our clients,” said Addie Graham-Kramer, founder and CEO of The Event Company.

“The Washington Pavilion is a cultural icon in our community while still having the modern amenities and technologies that our events need to be a standout. The team at the Washington Pavilion is second to none. From the moment that we connect with the event team to working with the food and beverage staff the night of the event, everyone takes such great pride in all that they do. They have such a deep appreciation for the building, all that it offers, and hospitality is No. 1 in their eyes.”

Here’s a top 10 list of ways to use the Washington Pavilion for your next event that’s guaranteed to inspire.

Go grand

It doesn’t get more iconic for a Washington Pavilion event than hosting one on the stage of the Mary W. Sommervold Hall.

“It’s a transformational kind of experience to be on stage looking out at the theater,” Kasch said. “We work with you on your layout, logistics, design and even things like signature drinks or branded decor. We take care of you, so you can focus on your guests.”

Or use the theater in its more traditional sense, where you can seat 1,800 people for a keynote presentation or other large-scale annual meeting or announcement.

“We’ve hosted various private celebrations on the Mary W. Sommervold stage, and there’s just something about being on that stage that gives our guests goosebumps,” Graham-Kramer said. “We’ve heard it time and time again. To know that hundreds of Broadway musicals, legendary artists and countless performers have also taken that same stage with you is electrifying.”

Think smaller scale

The Belbas Theater and Schulte Room are more under-the-radar, smaller venues that can host anything from award shows to keynote speakers, presentations and movie showings.

“Depending on the size of your group, these venues can be an ideal fit, with a lot of flexibility,” Kasch said.

The WP, the Pavilion’s newly remodeled cafe, also can be a great fit for gatherings with easy access to your refreshments.

Head outdoors

The Paladino Hohm Sculpture Garden makes an exceptional backdrop for outdoor events.

“It’s great for social hours, and if you want a backup plan, that’s also a great spot because we can easily move you inside if the weather doesn’t cooperate, so you won’t need to cancel your event,” Wolfe said.

Book a meeting room

Did you know you can host a board meeting or other smaller gathering at the Washington Pavilion? The executive boardroom and green room are ready to accommodate anywhere from five to 20 people.

“There’s great technology in these spaces,” Kasch said. “If you have a meeting where people are joining virtually or you need support from screens for your visuals, we have that accessibility in these rooms.”

Immerse in art

Your event takes on a whole new feel when you’re surrounded by outstanding artwork. Corporate and nonprofit groups regularly use the Visual Arts Center as an amazing backdrop for a variety of events.

“From cocktail hours to full dinners, it’s a great fit,” Kasch said.

Further integrate the arts into your event with a private walking tour of SculptureWalk or group tickets to the Pavilion Performance Series as available.

Consider family fun

If you have guests in town for a company meeting or convention, they might bring their families — and the Washington Pavilion is ready to entertain.

“I’ve had groups in town reach out, and we’ve arranged for museum passes and planetarium shows for entertainment while parents may be in meetings,” Wolfe said. “That kind of request has been trending up, and we have so many fun, new options for kids of all ages that we’re happy to work to incorporate them with your experience.”

After-hours options

Family nights also are an option for the evenings as a way to say thank you to your team. You also can book private access for your adults-only group to the Visual Arts Center or Kirby Science Discovery Center.

“It’s a great fit for business anniversary events or employee appreciation,” Wolfe said.

Head behind the scenes

For a truly different and memorable experience, book a behind-the-scenes private tour at the Washington Pavilion.

“We did that with a large Sioux Falls company a few months ago that had a small meeting for 25,” Kasch said. “We did a trip to the planetarium, then arranged a private tour of our permanent art collection. We can do everything from backstage tours to live entertainment to give your event a totally different feel too.”

Go with just lunch

Get out of the office for a business lunch anytime at the Washington Pavilion, whether it’s for an off-site brainstorming session or different venue for a client meeting.

The WP cafe is ready to serve, or you can reserve a private space.

“And remember, wherever you’re dining in our venue, you can utilize our in-house catering or any of our outstanding preferred caterers,” Wolfe said. “Plus, Parlour ice cream makes a great add-on.”

Ready for any taste, Washington Pavilion, Orpheum add preferred caterers

Use the whole thing

With the right planning and timing, it’s possible for your event to encompass essentially the entire Washington Pavilion.

“We’ve had the opportunity to host events on three floors of the Washington Pavilion, all taking place at the same time,” Graham-Kramer said. “Guests traveled from one floor to the next for different hors d’oeuvres and dessert options. The energy was electrifying, and even just stepping back to see so many people mingling and finding friends on all three floors was just the best! So engaging!”

To get started

Ready to begin envisioning your next event at the Washington Pavilion? Click here to learn more and connect.