Ohio’s small towns are full of surprises, from one of the largest Amish communities in the country to world-class museums, world-renowned art and world-changing history, making these communities distinctive places for groups to host conferences or events.
Lima
Located off Interstate 75, Lima is easily accessible from Toledo, Fort Wayne, Dayton and Columbus. The city offers a hometown feel paired with personalized service and unique local touches. The Allen County Museum boasts an eclectic mix of exhibits, including a Shay geared steam locomotive, a John Dillinger gang exhibit and the “Things Swallowed” collection.
Art lovers can visit ArtSpace/Lima for rotating exhibits and group classes — the 24-foot-tall wooden cow statue at the Allen County Fairgrounds, aka Moorice, is a local favorite. The Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center hosts concerts and live events. It is also the city’s largest event venue and features 10 meeting rooms that can accommodate groups of 30 to 200 attendees, a banquet space for up to 1,000, and a performance auditorium with more than 1,000 seats. City Club, located on the third floor of a renovated 1885 building, can host up to 180 people.
The Allen County Fairgrounds offers four flexible spaces that can host up to 900 guests, while the UNOH Event Center can accommodate 700 for a banquet.
Unique venues include 19 Hawthorne Wedding & Event Venue, which can accommodate 500 guests, and Whitetail Acres Wedding & Event Venue, which can host up to 450. Allen County has 1,451 hotel rooms, and all but 56 of those are located in Lima.
The convention center is in the heart of downtown, and attendees can walk to dining, shopping and entertainment, including Corner Pins for duckpin bowling. The historic Central District is a popular stop for shopping.
Youngstown
Located between Cleveland and Pittsburgh in Northeast Ohio, Youngstown and Mahoning County offer a rich mix of recreational opportunities, dining and culture. Groups meeting in the area can explore the scenic trails of Mill Creek MetroParks, enjoy works of art at The Butler Institute of American Art, play golf on a championship course or enjoy live entertainment downtown.
The 125-room DoubleTree by Hilton Youngstown Downtown offers historic charm and neoclassical architecture. The 12th-floor ballroom offers stunning views of the city skyline, and the facility has more than 5,000 square feet of event space. It is within walking distance of Covelli Centre arena, DeYor Performing Arts Center, Youngstown State University and the Oh Wow! children’s science and technology center.
Waypoint 4180, a banquet and conference center in Canfield that overlooks the Kensington Golf Club, offers 26,000 square feet of event space and can host groups of up to 1,000 for a banquet. It is connected to the 110-room Courtyard by Marriott Youngstown Canfield, which has two small event spaces for up to 78 guests. For meeting planners wanting a historic or artistic backdrop for their events, Stambaugh Auditorium features a 2,553-seat music performance venue, a ballroom that can accommodate up to 550 guests for a banquet, and two lobbies perfect for parties or receptions.
Mill Creek MetroParks offers elegant indoor and outdoor venues surrounded by lush gardens, lakes and trails. Rossi Auditorium is located inside the Davis Center at Fellows Riverside Gardens, a public display garden.
Hamilton
Known as the “City of Sculpture,” Hamilton is located between Cincinnati and Dayton in Southwest Ohio. The historic city is named after Alexander Hamilton and is home to more than 40 sculptures. Its walkable downtown features locally owned boutiques and shops, and the city is also dotted with murals and street art.
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum encompasses 400 acres and boasts over 80 monumental sculptures. The site’s former home, the iconic Pyramid House, is now a museum.
The Champion Mill Conference Center at Spooky Nook Champion Mill has over 1.2 million square feet of flexible indoor meeting and event space, including three large ballrooms that can host groups from 300 to 700 and 13 smaller spaces for breakout sessions. Across the street from the conference center is a 90,000-square-foot multi-surface space for trade shows, expos and team-building events.
The Warehouse Hotel at Champion Mill has 233 guest rooms along with dining options, a riverfront brewpub, shopping and attractions, all within a short walk of downtown. The 120-room Courtyard by Marriott Hamilton has a large ballroom that can host up to 300 for a banquet. The Well House Hamilton hotel, which sits next to the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, has 54 guest rooms. RiversEdge outdoor amphitheater hosts concerts and other events.
For fun, groups can follow the Butler County Donut Trail, which features 14 donut shops, two of which are in Hamilton, or visit Jungle Jim’s International Market, which offers 200,000 products representing 80 countries. It also hosts international food and drink festivals.
Millersburg
Millersburg is a small community in Holmes County, but visitors come to the area from all around the globe because the county is home to the second-largest Amish settlement in the world. Following Amish horses and buggies along rural roads and passing by rolling hills and farms gives visitors the feeling of stepping back in time.
The Ohio Star Theater at Dutch Valley in Sugarcreek produces faith-based musicals, concerts and comedy shows. Its new show, “Elijah: Prophet of Fire,” runs May 15 through November 5. Groups can book tickets to the show, partake in a hearty Amish buffet at Dutch Valley Restaurant adjacent to the theater, and stay at the 69-room Carlisle Inn Sugarcreek.
The 81-room Berlin Encore Hotel & Suites in nearby Berlin is in the center of Amish country with its local shops, boutiques, restaurants and coffee houses. It offers 16,000 square feet of event space that can host groups of up to 600. The Amish Country Theater, attached to the hotel, presents a regular variety show that includes music, comedy and stage acts.
The Berlin Grande Hotel has 102 guest rooms and 3,500 square feet of event space for up to 150 people.
For fun, groups can book a tee time at two local golf courses or learn how to shoot at Airport Ridge Sporting Clays. Heini’s Cheese Chalet and Guggisberg Cheese offer cheese tastings and a chance to see how cheese is made. Groups can also tour an Amish farm or have dinner with an Amish family at their home.
Canton
Two of Canton’s major attractions may seem like unlikely bedfellows: One celebrates professional football, while the other honors presidential achievement. But Canton has earned recognition as home to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame offers opportunities for groups to not only tour the museum, but also host events. Located on the main floor of the museum, the Nash Family Event & Conference Center can accommodate up to 332 guests for a banquet. In the Hall of Fame Village, the Center for Performance is a domed facility that offers 100,000 square feet of space for sporting events, concerts and conventions.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently broke ground on the KeyBank Center, which is being constructed next to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The new multilevel facility will have 28,000 square feet of event space and is scheduled to open in spring 2027.
The William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum can host events for up to 500 guests, including banquets for up to 120 people in its recently renovated auditorium. Less than 2 miles away — and in keeping with the presidential theme — the First Ladies Library & Museum features a courtyard space and a small theater inside that can be rented for events. The museum sits across the street from the 164-room DoubleTree by Hilton Canton Downtown, which has 11,400 square feet of event space.
The city’s walkable downtown area is bustling with locally owned restaurants, art galleries, public art installations, nightlife and entertainment.
Other event venues include La Pizzaria, which offers several elegant event spaces that can host groups of up to 700 for a seated dinner. Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa is a winery with six villas that overlook a lake, a 48-room boutique hotel, and both indoor and outdoor event spaces.
