Events at Great Lakes Aquarium

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1 Events at Great Lakes Aquarium Main features: Accommodations for large groups with sit down dinner or Hors d oeuvres style service Exhibits open for guests to explore during your event Guest parking is included with all rentals Relaxed and distinctive atmosphere Minimal decorations needed A Great Fit for Groups of all Sizes Choosing the right fit Great Lakes Aquarium offers spaces for groups of all sizes, from small meetings to family gatherings, all the way through large presentations and corporate events. Discovery Center Banquet Hall - Up to 100 guests (pg 3) Discovery Center rental options include daytime meeting rates, as well as after-hours events. The space can be divided into three smaller rooms or one grand space. Full Facility Rentals - Up to 300+ guests (pgs 4-5) Treat your guests to a unique experience with an evening full facility rental. For dinners or banquets there is seating for up to 160 among the freshwater exhibits on the second floor. Larger groups can enjoy appetizers and superior atmosphere throughout the entire building. Table of Contents Food and Beverages pg 2 Discovery Center (up to 100 guests) pg 3 Full Facility Rentals (up to 300+ guests) pgs 4-5 Guidelines and rental policies pgs 6-7 Rates pg 8

2 Food and Beverages Catering and Alcohol Great Lakes Aquarium offers you choices for your catering needs. Our preferred caterer is Black Woods Banquet and Catering. Other licensed caterers can be approved. Caterers must have a valid liquor license to serve alcohol. Last call for bar service is 11:00 p.m. Great Lakes Aquarium does not provide tablecloths or linens. Be sure to ask your catering company about providing them. Catering is responsible for all food and beverage service. The catering company is also responsible for any clean up and removal of food service items including but not limited to table service, garbage and recycling, and serving items. A fee will be assessed to the host for additional clean up done by Great Lakes Aquarium staff. Black Woods E: banquets@blackwoods.com P: W:

3 Discovery Center Rental Details Discovery Center Banquet Hall As one grand space the Discovery Center can accommodate up to 100 people for meetings, dinners or social hours. The space is located on the second floor near the exhibits and can be divided into three small rooms that seat people each. Sweeping views of the harbor and Bayfront Park are a stunning backdrop for any event. Rental Options Discovery Center rooms are available for rentals between 8:00 a.m. and midnight. Daytime events include use of the space for up to four hours between 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Evening receptions may run from 5:00 p.m. through midnight. The timeline of your event will be noted in your rental agreement. Set up Seating Basic tables and chairs are provided for up to 100 guests. Arrangements for the rental of additional tables or different furniture styles may be added to your contract for an additional fee. Lobby and Water Wall The lobby may be used as a dance floor or gathering space after 7:00 p.m. DJ / sound equipment may be set up no earlier than 6:00 p.m. Deliveries can be made to the Aquarium during normal business hours, 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m., with prior knowledge and approval by event staff. Access to the Discovery Center can be made available after 10:00 a.m. the day of your event for drop off and decorating. Aquarium staff can place centerpiece arrangements upon request, as part of your rental. Great Lakes Aquarium does not provide the View of Duluth Harbor Water Room 40 person max Wind Room 40 person max Sun Room 30 person max following items: table cloths, linens, centerpieces of any kind, candles, theme props, special lighting, sound systems, or coat check. We will be happy to assist with additional requests and will specify any additional costs in our written contract.

4 Full Facility Rentals Meet. Celebrate. Explore. Great Lakes Aquarium offers 62,000 square feet of space for large group events. Great Lakes Aquarium has your group covered from banquets to hors d oeuvres receptions. Guests are welcome to explore the exhibits throughout the event. Full Facility events begin at 7:00 p.m. Main Level The main level affords several spaces to create the perfect atmosphere for each step of your event. Lobby: A wide open space in front our stunning 24-foot lighted water wall. This area can be used for greeting and mingling or for a more formal meeting set-up. When the lights are turned down and the music turned up, the lobby becomes a festive place to celebrate, from the first dance through last call. First Floor Exhibits: A bar set up next to our main fish tanks is a stunning cocktail area for transition time before dinner. For a $150 upgrade, divers will hand feed the sturgeon and trout as your guests look on. There are benches available and space to add high top tables for hors d'oeuvres. The first floor also houses our Global Connection saltwater tanks, Amazon River and Shipwrecks Alive! exhibits, and other attractions for guests to explore. Second Level Upstairs our freshwater exhibits and tanks offer beautiful backdrops for sit-down meals. Origins: Our first freshwater exhibit area accommodates the bulk of seating. Additional seating up to 160 people, can extend in front of the St. Louis River exhibit and Aviary. A bank of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooks the harbor and Aerial Lift Bridge. Baptism River: In front of the bubbling rapids, is ample room for a buffet set up, with seating in front.

5 Full Facility Rental Details Set up To respect the visit of our daily guests, and ensure that everyone in your party has the best possible experience, set up may begin at 6:00 p.m. Your guests are welcome to arrive at 7:00 p.m. Final setup and dinner time will depend on arrangements with your caterer. Once the setup is complete, your guests are welcome to walk through the main exhibit hall. Events must end no later than midnight. Deliveries can be made to the Aquarium during normal business hours, 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m., with prior knowledge and approval by event staff. Equipment can be set up at 6:00 p.m., unless prior arrangements have been made with event staff. Table and chair rental Great Lakes Aquarium will provide up to 20 round tables (seats 6-8 each) and up to 125 basic black chairs. Additional chairs or different styles may be rented from a local company with the cost added to your rental agreement. The Aquarium will provide rectangular tables for DJ, cake, gifts, catering and head table. Great Lakes Aquarium does not provide the following items: table cloths or linens, centerpieces of any kind, candles, theme props, special lighting, sound systems, or coat check. There is a coat room with hangers available for your use. We will be happy to assist with additional requests and will specify any additional costs in our written contract.

6 Event Guidelines Event end time The timeline of your event will be outlined in your rental contract. Events may end no later 12:00 a.m. midnight or earlier if specified in your contract. Last call for bar service is 11:00 p.m. and the last dance is 11:30 p.m. All guests, event hosts, and vendors must be cleaned up and be out of the building by 12:00 a.m. A $500 fee per hour will be assessed for events with guests in the building after that time. Security If you will be serving alcohol a security guard must be present. One guard is require for all events up to 150 people and two or more are required for larger events. Security charges are $130 per guard and will be arranged by Great Lakes Aquarium. Security will remain on site until all the guests have left the Aquarium grounds. The placing of foreign items into Aquarium exhibits is strictly prohibited. Any person attempting to place items in an exhibit/tank or are witnessed trying to enter an exhibit/tank will be escorted from the building by security. Decorations Due to the nature of the facility, the use of tapered candles, confetti and balloons are prohibited. Small candles in glass containers high enough to protect the flame are acceptable. In addition, we do not allow tacks or tape on the walls. We ask that you discuss your decoration plans with the event coordinator prior to making your arrangements. Exhibits/Lighting Please note: A few exhibits are closed at sunset due to the sensitivity of the animals. Our event coordinator will apprise you of any changes in exhibits prior to your event. The event coordinator must approve any additional lighting desired. Entertainment All outside entertainment must be preapproved by the Great Lakes Aquarium event coordinator. For the protection of the exhibits and animals, the Aquarium reserves the right to monitor all events and to limit the volume level when necessary. The maximum volume level allowed is 98 decibels. Photography Flash photography is prohibited in some areas of the Aquarium. Event staff will inform you of possibilities and restrictions prior to your event. Lost or Stolen Items The Aquarium is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of any items left unattended in the Aquarium. Lost items include but are not limited to personal belongings, wedding gifts, or decorations. Parking Parking, included in facility rental, is available in the Great Lakes Aquarium parking lot. There are 120 spaces available. Once the lot is full, guests can pay to park directly across the street at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). Parking fees at the DECC can be paid by the host or guests.

7 Reservations and Policies Reservations Great Lakes Aquarium can place your event date on hold tentatively for up to one week, without a deposit. Should you choose not to reserve our facility after one week, the date will be released to other interested parties unless prior arrangements have been made. To reserve the facility, a deposit of 50% of the rental fee along with a signed contract is required. The balance of the fee is due 10 business days prior to the event, at which time we require a guaranteed number of guests. Guarantee Policy All prices for security, divers, or additional services, such as table and chair rental, are subject to change and are not guaranteed unless specified on a signed contract with your deposit. Cancellation Policy All cancellations will be effective from the date the Aquarium receives written notice from the booking party. In the event the function contracted for is cancelled more than 180 days prior, your deposit will be refunded. If an event is cancelled between 180 and 120 days prior to your event date, 50% of your facility deposit will be refunded. If your event is cancelled less than 120 days prior to your event date your deposit will not be refunded.

8 Rental Rates Discovery Center Banquet Hall Rental Rates A banquet room for up to 100 guests with sweeping views of the Harbor and Bayfront Park. Number of Daytime Rental up to 4 hours 5 hour Evening Rental 7 hour Evening Rental Guests Between 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 10:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Midnight Aquarium admission included for all evening rentals 1-40 Meeting Room Only $250 Room + Aquarium admission $ Meeting Room Only $500 Room + Aquarium admission $ Meeting Room Only $750 Room + Aquarium admission $950 $500 $800 $800 $1200 $1200 $1800 Full Facility Rental Rates Seating for up to 160 guests among the freshwater exhibits. Room for 300+ guests throughout the full facility. Available from 7:00 p.m. Midnight. Rental Date Sunday Thursday Fridays/Saturdays January 1 to May 11, 2016 $1,500 $2,500 May 12 to September 7, 2016 $2,000 $3,000 September 8 to December 31, 2016 $1,500 $2,500 Other Rental Rates Security (per guard)* $130 Divers hand feeding fish $150 Table and chair rental Call for price quote *Events serving alcohol are required to have security. Security will be contracted by Great Lakes Aquarium.