Rent
Host Your Event at the Surf
Looking for a one-of-a-kind venue with historic charm and legendary vibes? The Surf Ballroom & Museum offers a truly iconic setting for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more. With timeless ambience, professional amenities, and a stage that has hosted music legends, your event is guaranteed to be unforgettable.
Surf Ballroom »
Cypress Room Rental
The Cypress Room is a cozy, versatile space with vintage charm—ideal for smaller receptions, meetings, or social gatherings. With a capacity of 120, this lounge-style venue offers the perfect balance of character and comfort.
Rental Rate: $500 (up to 6 hours of use)
- Includes setup, teardown, and use of Surf’s current inventory of tables and chairs.
- A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required to reserve your date.
- Balance due at the conclusion of the event.
Please note: Our Cypress Room cannot be booked out more than 6 weeks in advance because the Surf Ballroom reserves the right to book larger events and rentals before taking on smaller groups/parties.
Palm Ballroom Rental
Our newest and most expansive venue, the Palm Ballroom, is located on the second floor of the Music Experience Center, adjacent to the Surf Ballroom. With a modern feel and lake views, it’s perfect for weddings, meetings, and large private events.
This space includes a catering kitchen, PA system, elevator, private stair access, and an optional rooftop deck. It accommodates up to 200 guests.
Rental Rate: $1500 (up to 6 hours of use)
- Includes setup, teardown, and use of Surf’s current inventory of tables and chairs.
- A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required to reserve your date.
- Balance due at the conclusion of the event.
FAQs – Rental
How early can we set up?
Venue rental contracts include an allotted time of use starting at 9am the morning of your rental. Event setup may begin at this time.
Can we come in the day before?
If there is nothing booked in the ballroom, set up may begin the day before your event. There is no additional charge for early setup during regular business hours.
When do we have to be out?
Your rental time ends at 1am the day after your rental. This means that all guests need to be out and decor taken down no later than this time.
Can we use the Surf's Sound/Lights and AV equipment?
Use of the Surf’s projectors/big screens, mics and basic PA sound system is included in the rental fee. Professional (concert quality) sound & lights with technicians for events featuring live music is available for an additional $1,500, with a minimum 30 day notice of intended use required. It is not permissible for Djs or live musical acts to utilize the sound/light system without a Surf technician present.
Are there projector screens available?
Yes, use of the Surf’s projectors/big screens is included in the rental fee! Any audio/video needs must be confirmed at least two weeks in advance of event date as any use of Surf audio/video components require an onsite technician for operation.
How many people can be seated on the dance floor?
The ballroom floor’s seating capacity is as follows:
- Up to 325 guests set up in round tables;
- Up to 500 guests set up in 8′ banquet tables;
- Up to 700 guests set up in chairs in rows.
The permanent booths located around the perimeter of the dance floor may also be used to seat any additional guests.
The space/room may be set up according to a seating diagram. If a specific set up is desired, renter should submit a completed seating diagram at least one week prior to the event. Sample seating layouts are available here.
Can I rent the ballroom for a ticketed event?
Use of the ballroom for publicly ticketed events is prohibited.
What staff are included in our rental fee?
The Surf will provide all bar service, including up to four (4) bartenders and one (1) busser for beverages only (based on estimated attendance). Additionally, one security staff member will be present for all events where alcohol is served. The cost of this service is included as part of the venue rental (unless noted otherwise). Additional staffing is available at $25/hour per staff member needed.
Decor and setup: Can we hang our decor from the ceiling?
For the safety of all guests and due to the historic nature of our building, we do not allow renters to hang anything from our ceiling.
Decor and setup: How do we affix decor?
Temporary decorations must not harm the finish on walls, ceiling or floors. Painters tape, elastic string and cable ties are good examples of materials that can be used to affix your decor. Gaffe, duct and packaging tape may harm the finishes of our walls, ceiling and floors. Under no circumstances are permanent fasteners to be used to affix decor to our building. This includes staple guns, screws, nails, etc. If these are used, your damage deposit will likely not be refunded.
Decor and setup: Do you rent linens?
The standard rental fee includes the Surf’s current inventory of table linens and skirting, with linens available in either black or white.
Decor and setup: What kinds or tables and chairs do you provide?
Our current inventory includes black plastic folding chairs, 60″ round tables, 6′ banquet tables and 8′ banquet tables.
Decor and setup: How many tables and chairs are available?
For seating, we have 400 black plastic folding chairs available to use at no additional cost.
For tables, we have the following:
- 49 60″ rounds
- 10 6′ banquets
- 37 8′ banquets
Decor and setup: Do I have to clean up after?
Any decor and items brought in by the renters needs to be cleared prior to the end of your rental. Tables and chairs will be cleared by Surf staff.
Beverages and catering: Do I have to meet a beverage service guarantee?
No, there is not a minimum beverage sales total that you have to meet.
Beverages and catering: What types of beverages does the Surf offer?
The Surf offers a full bar, including soda, water, wine, cocktails and a selection of canned beer, cocktails in a can, seltzers and malt beverages.
Beverages and catering: What is your beverage pricing?
Pop and bottled water cost $3 per beverage.
Beer and malt beverages range from $6-7 per beverage.
Mixed drinks and wine cost $8 per beverage.
Unlimited soda is available for $300.
Beverages and catering: Can we request specific types of alcohol?
Yes! Please contact our event coordinator for more information regarding the purchase of specific beverages for your event.
Beverages and catering: Do you serve keg beer?
Our bar is not set up to and will not serve kegs of beer. Renters are not allowed to bring in outside alcoholic beverages.
Beverages and catering: Who can we have cater our event?
We understand that quality food and a great experience are of utmost importance to our customers and their guests. We have a list of preferred caters available for you in our Rental Guidelines and Policies packet. In our experience, some non-preferred caterers are amazing, but some fall short of our expectations. We have selected the caterers on our list because of their proven track record of great food, full-service catering capabilities, amazing staff and their consistent ability to offer a variety of menus, various serving accomodations and price ranges to fit your budget.
While we strongly recommend the food caterers on our preferred catering list, we may allow outside (non-preferred) commercial catering subject to approval and a $750 site coordination fee for larger Surf Ballroom or Palm Ballroom events and/or a $250 site coordination fee for smaller events held in our Cypress Room. Non preferred caterers will be required to provide a copy of their current Iowa food service license and insurance to the Surf prior to the event.
Palm Ballroom: What is the Palm Ballroom?
The Palm Ballroom is located on the second floor of our new Music Enrichment and Immersive Center, located next to the Surf Ballroom. Its capacity is 200 and is available for private meetings, weddings, and rentals.
Cypress Room: What is the Cypress Room?
The Cypress Room, which is fondly and often referred to as the Lounge or Surfside 6 Lounge, is the smaller room on the east side of the Ballroom. Its capacity is 120 and cannot be booked out more than 6 weeks in advance. Surf Ballroom rentals include the use of the Cypress Room.
Cypress Room: Why can we only book the Cypress Room at 6 weeks out?
Our Cypress Room cannot be booked out more than 6 weeks in advance because the Surf Ballroom reserves the right to book larger events and rentals before taking on smaller groups/parties.
Music Experience Center Banquet Space
