Plan Your Event Guide
From the first conversation to the final guest, this guide helps you make confident decisions about your event at the Northern Indiana Event Center.
100,000+
sq ft across the campus
4,500+
guests indoors
2 museums
a setting with a story
Begin here
You do not need every detail before you reach out. Bring us the shape of your gathering and we will help turn it into a workable plan, with a space, schedule, and partner team that fit.
Share what you are gathering for, who you are welcoming, and what a successful event should feel like. A little context helps our team recommend the right space and flow.
02We will match your guest count, program, production needs, and atmosphere to the halls and meeting spaces across our 40-acre campus.
03Confirm your date, layout, food and beverage, rentals, A/V, access, and any museum experiences you would like to include.
04Your Event Center team brings the moving pieces together so your hosts can focus on welcoming guests and enjoying the occasion.
The first conversation
A strong event plan starts with a few simple answers. Tell us what you know, what you are still deciding, and what matters most to your guests. We can then check availability and recommend a path forward.
Choose your shape
Different occasions call for different rhythms. Use these starting points to describe what you are planning, then explore every room and capacity on the Event Center page.
Flexible halls, registration, exhibitors, and large-scale production.
Boardrooms, general sessions, training days, and retreats.
Elegant rooms, banquet layouts, catering, and a memorable setting.
Formal dinners, awards, fundraisers, and milestone celebrations.
A polished celebration with room for dining, dancing, and family.
Welcoming spaces for the gatherings that bring Elkhart together.
The planning guide
Use this sequence as your working checklist. Some events move quickly; larger gatherings benefit from more runway.
01 / Define
Name the occasion, guest range, preferred date, budget, and the experience you want people to remember.
02 / Reserve
Review rooms, capacities, availability, and the way attendees will move from arrival to welcome, program, meal, and departure.
03 / Assemble
Confirm food and beverage, furniture, décor, A/V, staging, entertainment, signage, and any museum access or special programming.
04 / Detail
Finalize the floor plan, menu, guest count, run of show, vendor contacts, load-in, accessibility needs, permits, and parking notes.
05 / Welcome
Arrive for your agreed setup window, meet your venue contact, and let the team help keep guests, vendors, and timing moving together.
A useful timeline
Every event is different, but this rhythm gives your team space to make decisions, communicate changes, and enjoy the lead-up.
12+ months out
01Define the purpose, guest range, preferred date, budget, and the kind of experience you want to create. Start early for conventions, galas, and peak-season dates.
6–9 months out
02Review availability, select your room or combination of spaces, approve a preliminary layout, and reserve your date with the required deposit.
3–5 months out
03Confirm your caterer and rentals, choose A/V and staging, plan registration or guest flow, and share your first detailed run of show.
4–8 weeks out
04Send final attendance estimates, menu selections, floor plans, vendor details, accessibility needs, signage, and any permit information.
Event week
05Confirm arrival windows, setup and teardown responsibilities, parking notes, day-of contacts, and the final schedule with our team.
Event day
06Arrive for the agreed setup window, meet your venue contact, and let the plan do its work. We will help keep the day moving.
Event-day guide
Keep the run of show, venue contact, and vendor list close. The rest should feel like hospitality, not logistics.
The Dream Team
Our trusted partners can help you move from a room reservation to a fully produced event. Ask our team which partners best fit your plan.
Navarre
(574) 323-7640www.navarrecatering.comVilla Macri
(574) 707-5034www.villamacri.comNelson's Catering
(574) 862-2184www.nelsonsbbq.comthe Chubby Trout
(574) 264-5700www.ChubbyTrout.comBurns Rent-Alls
(574) 259-4807www.burnsrentals.comAAY's Rental
(574) 256-1110www.aaysrental.comAudioBahn Productions
(574) 273-3112www.audiobahnpro.comTPC Technologies
(269) 687-9798www.tpctechnologies.comEvents by Pro Show
(574) 255-1200eventsbyproshow.comA few practical answers before you make your request.
Submit a booking request on the Event Center page or call our Event Center Director. We will confirm availability, hold your date, and walk you through a proposal for your space and layout.
Yes — a deposit secures your date, with the balance due before your event. Deposit amounts vary by room and event type; our team will outline the exact terms in your agreement.
We work with a roster of preferred vendors for catering, rentals, and production. Outside catering may be considered on a case-by-case basis — please ask our team.
Alcohol service is available through approved, licensed providers and must be arranged in advance. All service follows Indiana law and venue policy.
Tables, chairs, and standard setup are coordinated with your event plan. A/V, staging, and specialty décor can be arranged through our preferred production partners.
Yes, complimentary parking is available for most events. For certain large-scale events, parking fees may apply. Details will be communicated at the time of booking.
Rental parties are responsible for completing, paying for, and providing copies of all required permits for their event to Event Center staff.
Absolutely. Events on campus can include access to the RV/MH Hall of Fame galleries and the Scoular Manufactured Housing Museum as an unforgettable backdrop.
Ready when you are
Start with a booking request or call the Event Center Director. We’ll help you find the right space, date, and partners for your event at the heart of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation campus.