Frequently asked questions about Sparks Museum and Event Center

Rentals at Sparks Museum and Event Center start at $300 an hour with a 3-hour minimum, and a $750 deposit holds your date.

Rates and booking

How much does it cost to rent the venue?

Hourly rentals are $300 an hour Monday to Thursday for up to 100 people, or $400 an hour for more than 100. On Fridays and Saturdays it's $400 an hour for up to 100 people and $500 an hour for more than 100. Full details are on our pricing page.

Day	Up to 100 guests	More than 100 guests	Full day (up to 8 hours)
Monday to Thursday	$300 per hour	$400 per hour	$2,800
Friday and Saturday	$400 per hour	$500 per hour	$3,300
Sunday	No hourly rate unless a manager agrees to one	No hourly rate unless a manager agrees to one	$2,800

Is there a minimum number of hours?

Yes, hourly events have a 3-hour minimum. Photoshoots are the exception, with a 1-hour minimum. Events also need at least 15 guests.

What does a full-day rental include?

A full day is up to 8 hours, set from 2 to 10 PM, and the times can be changed. It's $2,800 Monday to Thursday and $3,300 Friday and Saturday, and the stage is included. Extra hours past 8 bill at the regular hourly rate for your guest count.

Can I rent the venue all day, from morning to night?

Yes. The Extended Rental runs 11 AM to 11 PM and adds $600 to the full-day rate.

Can I book an event on a Sunday?

Yes. Sunday events are full-day only at $2,800, and there's no Sunday hourly rate unless a manager agrees to one for your event. The museum is closed for tours on Sundays.

Is there an extra fee for a quinceañera?

Yes, a quinceañera adds $500 on top of all other charges.

How far ahead do I need to book?

You can book with 48 hours' notice if the date is open. Floor layouts are due at least 7 days before the event, and a layout change after that carries a $250 reset fee.

Is sales tax included, and how can I pay?

Sales tax is included in your quoted price. We take check, Venmo, Zelle and cash.

Deposit, cleaning and cancellation

How much is the deposit?

A $750 damage deposit reserves your date, and the date isn't held until it's paid. The deposit is separate from your balance, which is due before the event starts, up to 24 hours before.

Do I get my deposit back?

Yes, within 14 days after the event, minus any extra cleaning, damage or time past your booked hours.

Is there a cleaning fee?

Yes, a $125 cleaning fee applies to every event. It doesn't apply to photoshoots unless the shoot changes the surroundings.

What is your cancellation policy?

There are no refunds on cancellation. If you sign the contract and then cancel, you lose the $750 deposit because the date came off the market, but you aren't charged the rest of the balance.

Space, capacity and tables

How many people does the venue hold?

The 5,000 square foot floor seats 200 to 300 at round tables, holds 500 standing comfortably and up to 700 standing at most. With no tables set, about 600 people can dance, with roughly 100 seated around the edges.

What tables and chairs are included?

You get 30 round tables, 60 inches across, that seat 8 each, plus 4 eight-foot and 3 six-foot rectangular tables and two small rounds for cake or displays. There are 300 lifetime chairs and 80 red metal chairs. If you need more, extra tables and chairs come from a third-party rental vendor, not from Sparks Museum and Event Center. Our staff set up and take down the tables.

Are linens included?

No, linens are extra. You can use any linen vendor, and Specialty Linens is our preferred one. Our staff can set up linens and tableware for a fee if you arrange it at least 14 days ahead.

Parking and accessibility

Where do guests park?

There are 85 parking spaces on site, plus about 50 street spaces along Center Street. Please stay out of the bike lanes.

Is the venue accessible?

There are three step-free accessible entrances: two double-door entrances on the east wall and a single door on the north side. The two accessible parking spaces are closest to the north entrance on the east wall. The two main restrooms, one men's and one women's, are each up 5 to 6 stairs.

Food and drinks

Can I bring my own food or caterer?

Yes. Anyone can cater, including you, and food doesn't have to come from a caterer or restaurant. The warming kitchen handles up to about 500 guests, and the catering space has a refrigerator, freezer, ice maker and a pass-through serving window.

Can I have a food truck?

Yes, with approval at least 14 days ahead so we can plan for it. Food trucks can park along the edges of the parking lot.

Can we serve alcohol?

Yes. There's a $300 alcohol fee, alcohol must come through one of our preferred alcohol vendors, and any event with alcohol, including beer and wine, needs a licensed and insured bartender. You also need general liability with liquor liability that names Sparks Museum and Event Center on the policy. Ask us for the vendor list.

Do I need event insurance?

Yes, every event needs event insurance, even without alcohol. Events with alcohol also need separate liquor liability coverage.

Music, stage and end times

Is there a stage?

Yes, a 12 by 10 foot stage that's 3 feet high. It's free with a full-day rental, and $125 for other bookings when you ask for it. Once it's set up, the fee applies even if it comes down later.

What sound system and screens do you have?

The house sound has two wireless mics, eight wall speakers and 10 pendant speakers. Two linked 65-inch smart TVs connect to your computer by HDMI, and we provide the cable. There's no projector.

Can bands and DJs play?

Yes. Bands can bring their own PA system and load in through the 12 by 20 glass roll-up doors. Stage lights are fine, but haze and fog machines aren't allowed because they can set off the fire system. Setup, sound check and teardown all count inside your booked hours. Public shows and ticket sales are allowed if you provide enough security, and bands can sell merchandise.

How late can my event go?

The recommended end time is 11 PM. Private parties can run until midnight, or later by arrangement, and everyone must be out by 1 AM. Anyone at the venue after 11:30 PM must be 18 or older.

Setup and decor

When can I get in to set up?

Setup, decor drop-off and teardown all happen inside your booked hours. If you need more time, book extra hours.

What decor is allowed?

Decorations are welcome. Attach them only with blue painter's tape, never to the signs, gas pumps or cars on display, and take everything down at the end of the event. Fresh greenery and pine garland are fine. Confetti and glitter aren't allowed. Balloons are fine if you clean them all up and take them with you.

Can we use candles?

Only battery candles for decor and centerpieces. Real birthday candles on a cake are fine.

Can we have casino games?

Yes, with play money. Prizes and raffles are fine too.

The museum and the cars

Are the antique cars part of the event?

Yes. You get the whole venue, the museum closes to outside guests, and the cars stay on display, roped off, with guests free to be around them. Displays are fixed, with one exception. Staff roll out the red Mustang and purple Roadster for free if you ask before setup.

Can the room go dark for dancing?

Not completely. You can turn some lights off, but the neon stays on during every event and the venue never goes fully dark, for insurance and safety.

Tours

Can I tour the venue before I book?

Yes, venue tours are free if you're thinking about renting. Call Tiffany at 801-477-6977 to set one up.

What are the museum tour hours and price?

Museum tours are $10 a person, Monday to Saturday, with the last tour starting at 4 PM unless you arrange a later one 7 days ahead. The museum is open 10 AM to 5 PM and is closed for tours on Sundays.

Photoshoots and the bride's room

How much is a photoshoot?

Photoshoots are $100 an hour with a 1-hour minimum, and shoots can be booked within 24 hours, depending on availability. Setup counts inside your time, and posing with the cars is fine, with a manager guiding any touching. Outside photographers need business insurance that covers damage, and nude or lewd images aren't allowed.

What is the bride's room like?

The bride's room is 8 by 30 feet and fits 6 to 8 people. It has a bar counter with six chairs, a full-wall mirror for makeup and a loveseat, and it doubles as a changing room for shoots.

Kids, outdoors and house rules

Is the venue good for kids?

Yes, and we specialize in family events. Kids under 11 should stay with an adult because the car paint and artifacts are fragile. There's no dedicated kids area, but you can set aside part of the floor for one. By the river, parents supervise children and nobody swims without a life jacket.

What outdoor space is there?

The patio, lawn and river area come with every rental, including outdoor ceremonies. You'll have mountain views from the patio and river and string lights on the patio. We don't provide patio heaters, but you can bring your own.

Is the venue air conditioned?

Yes. Six mini-split AC units and six fans keep it about 68°F inside in July, though heavy dancing warms the room a lot. There's heat in winter.

Can guests smoke or use sparklers?

Smoking and vaping are allowed only 25 feet or more from the building and any entrance, and we enforce it. Sparklers and fireworks are allowed on the patio and for parking lot send-offs if you arrange them ahead, but never near the grass.

Swing night

When is swing dancing at Sparks Museum and Event Center?

Swing night runs every Thursday from 8:30 PM to midnight, with free lessons from Swingin' Dance Co. Entry is $6 from 8:30 to 9:00 PM and $9 after 9:00 PM.

Ready to pick a date? Book your event, see rates and what comes with a rental, or call Tiffany at 801-477-6977 to see the space first.