Wedding & Facility Rentals

Whether it is a company picnic or a birthday celebration for a family member, Ushers Ferry Historic Village is the perfect location for your special event. Ushers Ferry has picnic facilities that seat 100 with the additional seating of 200 under canopies owned by the Village. Ushers Ferry has been host to a wide variety and size of parties from 20 to 2000. Many local caters are familiar with our grounds. You can even check with the Village about catering your special event for you.

Contact the Ushers Ferry office 319-286-5763 or e-mail at annc@cedar-rapids.org to discuss rates and availability.

Pavilion and Building Rentals

Ushers Ferry offers a variety of sheltered and indoor locations for business meetings, small private parties and receptions. All of these venues are equipped with electricity and can be set up with tables and chairs

Fairview Hotel

Perfect for showers, birthday parties and small receptions, the Fairview Hotel features a small modern kitchen for small party caterings and seats a maximum of 30 people. Modern conveniences such as heat, air conditioning and running water allow it to be rented throughout the year.

Pleasant Prairie Grange Hall

The Ushers Ferry Grange Hall offers a simple and versatile location for larger meetings and receptions. Featuring heat, air-conditioning, electricity and a wheel-chair accessible ramp, this former country school offers year-round theater-style seating for up to 60 people and can accommodate seating for 40 at tables and chairs. The building's miniature stage is great for presentations and small performances and displays.

Oak Hill Free Methodist Church

The 1876 Oak Hill Free Methodist Church offers the largest indoor meeting venue. Equipped with electricity and a wood-burning stove, this three-season venue can seat approximately 100 people with theater-style seating. Great for lectures, performances and larger meetings. Click here for wedding rates.

Ushers Ferry Pavilion

The Ushers Ferry pavilion is a great outdoors option for picnics, parties and family reunions. Equipped with electricity, the pavilion can seat 80 people at picnic tables and up to 100 with additional banquet tables and folding chairs.

Building / Pavilion Rental Rates

$60 / 3 hours (During regular public open hrs)

$20 per each additional hr (when buildings and grounds are open to the public)

$12 per hour additional staffing fee for rentals outside of regular public hours.

Weddings

The Perfect Place for the Perfect Day

Located in beautiful Seminole Valley Park, Ushers Ferry Historic Village provides the perfect setting for your special day. Couples have their choice of buildings or locations for the wedding. The location chosen for the ceremony will be closed to the general public during the allotted time period. However, the Village is open to the public May-October, so there may be visitors on the grounds.

Without a doubt, the most popular choice among couples has been the Gazebo. Located in the center of the Town Square, the Gazebo is the center of attention for any event, and makes for elegant arrivals and departures by carriage or limo. The Gazebo is equipped with lights and a PA system which can be made available for the ceremony at no additional charge.

Another choice for many couples is the historic Village Church. Though the church is also equipped with electricity, its whisper ceiling, an architectural feature of its 1878 construction makes modern sound systems unnecessary. In addition, you are invited to make use the church's piano and pump organ for the musical portion of your ceremony. Beautiful for smaller ceremonies, the church is always reserved for you in case of rain.

Modern bathrooms are provided in the parking lot, at the Visitors Center, behind the Hotel and in the Telephone House. Brides may dress and stage their wedding from the Hotel or the Telephone House. These exhibit buildings will be closed to the public during the wedding.

A staff person will assist the wedding party during the designated hours and a changing area will be provided for the groom's party. Parties are invited to make use of the Village's numerous park benches for seating their guests. If you wish to use the Village's 50 folding chairs they are available for rent at $1 each. Any benches or chairs used must be returned to their appropriate locations. Should you wish to provide shade or protection for your seating area, one or both of the Village's 20 X 20 canopies can be rented for $100 each and will be set up by the staff in the location of your choice.

Receptions will be allowed at Ushers Ferry on a limited basis. Sixteen picnic tables seating 90-100 people under the 22 X 44 picnic pavilion will be made available. The pavilion has a cement floor and electricity. There is room for a banquet style head table. If the wedding party wishes to remove the picnic tables to utilize rectangular or round tables it must be understood that the picnic tables will be returned to the pavilion before the party leaves the Village. Additional picnic tables and canopies may be available depending on the Village's commitments. Formal receptions can be set up under the Village canopies utilizing banquet table and chairs.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people will the church seat?	There is seating for 50 without additional chairs, or seating for 80 with folding chairs.
Q: What about rehearsals?	Wedding Rehearsals can be scheduled for the Thursday or Friday before the wedding for a fee of $50. One hour is generally long enough to complete the rehearsal.
Q: When are the fees due?	The basic rate of $500 for a four-hour time period is due at the time of booking. NO RENTAL IS FINAL WITHOUT PAYMENT AND A WRITTEN, SIGNED AGREEMENT.
Q: Where should our guest's park?	If your wedding is occurring during our open hours then all vehicles must be parked in our designated parking area. If you have an elderly guest attending they may be driven into the wedding location. Weddings held before or after open hours may bring vehicles into the Village if they desire. A white golf cart is always made available to shuttle guests from the parking lot to the wedding location.
Q: What is the best way to get to Ushers Ferry?	Ushers Ferry Historic Village is easily accessible by exiting Interstate 380 at the 42nd St. Exit. Turn west, past Edgewood Road to Seminole Valley Road and follow the signs from there. The Village will provide a map to be included in your wedding invitation.
Q: Do I need to make arrangements to survey the wedding location?	Generally, it is best to call ahead and make an appointment. The Director will be happy to meet with you and answer any questions you may have.
Q: What are the "time periods"?	There are two time periods each day: Noon-4, and 5-9. Additional hours can be purchased prior to noon or after 8:00 at the rate of $100 per hour. Brides are permitted to purchase both time periods during the day of their wedding to insure adequate preparation time.
Q: What if another couple rents the other time period on the day of our wedding?	You will be provided with each other's contact information, and you are encouraged to share the costs of decorations and non-village rental costs.

For More Information Download our Wedding Information Packet Here

Rates & Fees
Basic Rate:	$500 for 4 hrs. (12-4 p.m. or 5-9 p.m.)
Additional Hours:	$100 per hour
Friday Night Rehearsal:	$50 for one hour

Equipment Rentals
20x20 Canopies	$100 each
Additional Banquet Tables	$10 each
Additional Folding Chairs:	$1 each

TO RESERVE YOUR WEDDING DATE:
Call the Village office at 319-286-5763 and check to see if your date is available. If your date is available, we will reserve it for you and mail you a wedding agreement. Please complete the agreement and return it to us, along with your payment by the date listed at the bottom of your agreement.

Group Picnics

Are you looking for "something different" for your group or company picnic this year? Ushers Ferry offers a delightful venue in which to host any event for your employees and their families. With a picnic pavilion that seats up to 100 people and plenty of room for additional tents and canopies the village is both an attractive and economical option for smaller organizations with larger guest lists. With rates priced for small to mid-sized companies looking to host groups of under 1,000 people Ushers Ferry can offer a wide range of options to suit the particular needs of your event.


Attendance Requirements	Under 1,000 people
Basic Rate:	$ 300 for 3 hours
Additional Hours:	$100 per hour
Unlocking fee to tour buildings	$50 for 3 hours
3 Interpreters for the buildings	$75 for 3 hours
Staff charges	$12 per hour (outside of regular public hours)

Groups will be responsible for picking up their own garbage and collecting it in the Village dumpsters. Equipment and extra service charges may apply. Please contact the Ushers Ferry office at 319-286-5763 to obtain a quote for your event rental, or email annc@cedar-rapids.org.


Large Group Facility Rentals

Planning a large event that needs lots of room? Ushers Ferry may be exactly what you are looking for. Our 35 building 10 acre site can accommodate large scale events with crowds of 2,000 or more between the months of May and October. Near-by Seminole Valley Park offers plenty of room for parking and additional Village equipment is available to help make your event a success. Call the Ushers Ferry office at 319-286-5763 or email annc@cedar-rapids.org to find out more about prices and availability.


Attendance Requirements	1,000 people or more
Entire site rental:	$2000 per day Price includes:
	All grassy areas, benches, picnic tables, pavilion, gazebo and PA system Use of golf / utility carts for transporting supplies Use of Ushers Ferry tents Negotiable set-up and tear down dates Buildings open 1-4 p.m. with volunteer interpreters
Dumpster fee (More than 1,000 people)	$200
Use of Village Hayracks /people movers	$25 per hour

Groups will be responsible for picking up their own garbage and collecting it in the Village dumpsters. Equipment and extra service charges may apply. Please contact the Ushers Ferry office at 319-286-5763 to obtain a quote for your event rental, or email annc@cedar-rapids.org.

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