Help! Need a location for a baby shower

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Boulet on April 5, 2011 at 4:23pm

The Thomas Center is pretty reasonable for an event that size...if you can get it. You can bring your own food or hire the caterer of your choice.

http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/facilities/thomas_center....

The city used to rent out the Boulware Springs Waterworks building for events. That place seats 100. Haile Homestead is also rentable, and a neat place to visit. The Hippodrome has several spaces that it rents out very reasonably. The Art Gallery space would be nice.

http://thehipp.org/programs/rentals.php

 

Kazbor's on 39th has a sizeable room you can request, but you'll have to have them provide the food. Leonardo's 706 has a room off to the side, as does Napolatano's, and Conestoga's in Alachua. Ivy House in Alachua would be lovely for a baby shower. Just a few ideas. If a luncheon is too pricey, I've been to events that were dessert only. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Stacy Fournier on April 7, 2011 at 10:35am

I've heard you can rent space at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, but I don't know about the price. Good luck and Congratulations!

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Boulet on April 7, 2011 at 12:18pm

Kanapaha is pricey. $400 (for 4 hours) + tax + deposit - that's the minimum. The bed & breakfast establishments in town might be able to offer you space if some of your guests stay there.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Cartechine on April 7, 2011 at 2:10pm

We actually got married in Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and it is certainly too pricey for the baby shower (although it is beautiful).  I'm going to look into the hippodrome...I didn't realize they had space for rent!

 

Since I work with a lot of men (most of which have new babies a year or under), I'm probably going to do a co-ed baby shower for the one here in Gainesville.  What do you all think about a "Baby-Q"?  Figured it might be something a little more guy friendly, and certainly less expensive if we can find the right place.  

 

If we did something like that, I would like to find a park with a grill and a nice open space (or pavilion!).  Do any of you have suggestions for a park in the area that might work?

 

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth Boulet on April 7, 2011 at 3:57pm

The Gainesville City Parks are nice, but you have to stake out the picnic pavillions early in the am. I like Cofrin because it is smaller. It has a trail and a playground. The Bouleware Springs Park on the east side of town is also one of my favorites. It has a picnic area, the waterworks, a nature trail, lots of parking, and is the start of the Hawthorne trail. Westside and Kanapaha parks are local favorites, but get crowded quickly.

 

I was at Dudley Farm in Jonesville for the first time recently. It would a lovely place for a Baby-Q. They have a picnic area with some tables and a few grills. There's a museum, bathrooms, gift shop, and your guests can tour the homestead. So, they'd have an option to get out of the heat. The children will love the animals on the farm. Admission is $5 per car.

 

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park is is a bit farther out, but it is also an excellent site. The park area is just outside the homestead on the water. The park is owned by the county, so I don't think there is a charge for using it. There is a large playground, nice bathrooms, and picnic facilities, some covered (I think). I don't remember if they have grills, but you could probably bring one. For a $5 per car admission, your guests could tour the orange farm, which has chickens and ducks. For another $3 per adult, they could take the guided tour of the house. I just recommend going there. It is so cool, and I am amazed that so many Gainesville folks have never been there.

 

O'Leno park in High Springs is farther out of Gainesville. They have really nice picnic facilities with grills and covered pavillions, playgrounds, trails. Unfortunately, it is knows for ticks, although I have never gotten a tick there.

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Permalink Reply by Kim Kruse on July 9, 2012 at 12:13pm

I'm in the same boat and was excited to find this thread. Thanks everyone for the good ideas! I'll pass them along to my shower organizers. FYI -- the City of Gainesville no longer rents out the pump house at Boulware Springs, but the picnic facilities are still available there.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Cartechine on July 9, 2012 at 12:18pm

Wow, I forgot about this thread! In one week my baby girl will be a year old! Congrats on your little-on-the-way!

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Permalink Reply by Kim Kruse on July 9, 2012 at 12:58pm

Thanks, Stephanie! Yes, I found the thread while Googling for good baby shower venues in Gainesville. Gotta love the internet! So where did you end up having your shower? 

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Cartechine on July 9, 2012 at 2:52pm

We had it at Kanapaha memorial Park on Tower. We got there super early and claimed a pavilion, which was nice because it was really hot outside. We were lucky to have a breeze that day, but that made for some interesting times with the decorations :-)

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Permalink Reply by L. Nemm on July 9, 2012 at 8:34pm

The Harn Museum just started doing rentals. I don't know the rates but you can call and talk to Vicki Tyson.

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