When you bring your event to Toledo, you not only get top of the line service and hospitality, you get access to one-of-a-kind experiences only found in the Glass City. From giraffe feedings and glassblowing classes to riverfront roller skating and rooftop ballpark parties, your guests will be wowed when they experience one of Toledo’s unique venues.
Written by: Eric Strayer
8/6/2025
Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
With over 16,000 animals representing 680 different species, the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium is one of the nation’s top zoos, renowned for its quality and conservation. It also offers a variety of spaces and activations to entertain your guests. Get up close and personal with a giraffe feeding, conquer the African safari ropes course, and host your event in the zoo’s state of the art spaces.
The crown jewel of the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium’s event spaces is the Malawi Center. Featuring a 12,000-gallon, wall-to-wall reef tank, the Malawi Center is a stylish and versatile venue that can entertain up to 700 guests, with multiple customizable accommodations for a variety of group sizes. The zoo’s award-winning catering and event staff will bring your wildest vision to life.
The Malawi Center is just steps away from one of the zoo’s most beloved guest experiences, the giraffe feeding! Guests can get up close and personal while hand-feeding lettuce to the giraffe family at the popular Africa! Exhibit, home to over a dozen animals that can be viewed from the Overlook and the scenic safari train route. Your attendees will be amazed by their intimate encounter with the gentle, and always hungry, giraffes. The Aquarium, ProMedica Museum of Natural History, and Arctic Encounter are also popular event spaces inside the zoo that offer additional experiences, animal encounter options, and unique backdrops that guests will love.
Toledo Museum of Art
Since 1901, The Toledo Museum of Art has housed one of the most impressive collections of artwork and artifacts in the world. With more than 30,000 artworks housed across their 37-acre campus, TMA is deservedly one of the most acclaimed museums in the United States and internationally recognized for its collection. In addition to hosting artistic masterworks and artifacts throughout history, TMA’s distinctive atmosphere is also the perfect home for a variety of events.
TMA’s marble columns, stunning Glass Pavilion, exterior gardens, and gorgeous galleries make for a striking setting for any occasion. Their experienced staff is dedicated to helping select the perfect space and executing a first-class event that combine their elegant spaces with exceptional chef-driven catering and top-notch service. The Glass Pavilion provides the most uniquely Toledo space on the museum’s campus. Celebrating Toledo’s glass history, the Glass Pavilion is home to a glassblowing studio as well as one of the largest collections of glass art in the world. Guests can immerse themselves in a true Glass City experience with live glass blowing demonstrations in the Pavilion’s Hot Shop and exploring the awe-inspiring glass galleries.
Fifth Third Field & Hensville
Make “America’s Past Time” part of your event with the world-famous Toledo Mud Hens! Whether you’re catching a game at the award winning Fifth Third Field or enjoying one of the variety of spaces in the surrounding Hensville, your guests are sure to enjoy the ambiance and amenities of these iconically Toledo venues.
From party pavilions and private suites to sky decks and rooftops, Fifth Third Field and Hensville have multiple spaces that can be activated to enjoy game day -or any day- in style. Enjoy one of the stadium’s suites or a catered ballpark meal on one of the party decks to get the full ballpark experience. Or soak in the incredible sightlines from the Holy Toledo! Skydeck while cheering on the hometown Hens. This outdoor deck has quickly become the most requested party space and provides a spectacular view of Fifth Third Field and Toledo’s historic Warehouse District.
Yet another impactful setting in Hensville is the Armory, situated within the entire fourth floor of the Fleetwood Building. Host your event in the climate-controlled banquet room, or head upstairs to Fleetwood’s Rooftop for a breathtaking view of the field and Downtown Toledo.
Metroparks Toledo
With a variety of indoor rental venues, open air picnic shelters in serene settings, overnight experiences and large gathering areas, Metroparks Toledo has a multitude of options across their 19 parks that will immerse your group in the natural beauty of the area. Enjoy scenic outdoor spaces and add engaging educational opportunities, outdoor skills programs, or one of the Metroparks’ other unique offerings to create an event your guests won’t forget.
The newest and most exciting additions to Metroparks Toledo’s rentable spaces are the ones available at Glass City Metropark. The Ribbon, a multi-use skating rink featuring rentable private cabanas, and the adjoined Market Hall create a perfect indoor and outdoor combination for entertaining guests. Guests can go roller skating in the summer or ice skating in the winter while enjoying the scenic downtown skyline views. With The Garden, an on-site restaurant and bar, guests can also enjoy local brews, cocktails, pizza, and Mediterranean food. Whether guests are cruising the Ribbon, or enjoying a cocktail in a cabana, Glass City Metropark provides some of the best views and experiences in the city.
National Museum of the Great Lakes
At the National Museum of the Great Lakes, the rich history of the Great Lakes is brought to life through immersive exhibits, hands-on experiences, and dynamic programming. The Great Lakes are one of the world’s most vital natural resources, and the museum houses over 300 artifacts, stunning photography, and powerful audiovisual displays across three exhibit galleries, to tell their stories. The museum also offers distinctive waterfront event venues and scenic skyline views for a variety of event groups and sizes.
Step aboard the 617-foot Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship for a one-of-a-kind, on-the-water experience. The Col. James M. Schoonmaker can host up to 400 guests for an unforgettable evening on the Maumee River. Available exclusively after hours, the Schoonmaker delivers sweeping panoramas of downtown Toledo and the Glass City Veterans Memorial Bridge.
The Schoonmaker Museum Ship isn’t the only space equipped to gather, educate, and entertain at the National Museum of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Community Education Center & Pre-Event Space is a modern, flexible indoor space, ideal for conferences, cocktail hours, or intimate celebrations. Utilize the adjoining community plaza, an expansive outdoor reception area, set against a backdrop of ships and riverfront views.
Imagination Station
The Imagination Station brings science to life for visitors of all ages in the heart of Downtown Toledo. In addition to their hundreds of interactive science exhibits and demonstrations, groups have access to hands-on activities and engaging experiences you can’t find anywhere else.
Watch your event’s excitement heat up with a fire holding demonstration or have guests cool down by making their own nitrogen ice cream. Experience a virtual roller coaster ride or your choice of entertainment on the 58-foot 4k widescreen in the stunning KeyBank Discovery Theater. Featuring an immersive sound system, superior image quality, and tech capabilities for nearly any format, the theater provides limitless opportunities for powerful presentations to entertaining nights at the movies.
Imagination Station’s dedicated planning team is equipped to handle every detail to make your event a memorable one. They’re prepared to provide top-of-the-line service along with unforgettable science experiences at their downtown science center and mobile exhibits and activations.
