Never Too Cool for School - Best Minnesota venues for educational events

It’s almost that time again — back to school. And while the kids are climbing on board the bus, you’ll want to get on board with the best venues for your training or educational event. Many of Minnesota’s most esteemed centers for higher learning offer some of the most beautiful surroundings, classic architecture, state-of-the-art amenities, and noteworthy catering services around, putting them at the head of the class for your next event locale.

With venues in both Minneapolis and St. Paul, the University of St. Thomas offers innovative locations with a comfortable advanced technology learning environment. Ideal for training or conferences, both large and small, with onsite catering and staff, and event planning services to ensure your success.

The O’Shaughnessy Auditorium on the gorgeous campus of St. Catherine University in St. Paul is a wise choice for your next function. A full-time event manager and well-trained staff are there to ensure that your event runs smoothly, while the newly renovated auditorium space, along with other options throughout the university campus, will surely draw applause.

Study the area, and you’ll find the Minnesota Humanities Center near Lake Phalen in St. Paul receives high marks. This beautifully restored architectural landmark is surrounded by parkland and manicured grounds. Accommodating groups of 5 to 150, the Event Center also offers 15 furnished hotel rooms with private baths, along with deliciously prepared meals from the chef and catering staff that surpass anything you’d find in a school cafeteria.

Take a field trip to a classy venue when you book your bunch at the College of Saint Benedict (CSB). Located just one hour northwest of the Twin Cities on 82 acres of serene rolling prairies and woodlands, you can choose from a wide range of venues for any type of gathering. On campus housing from apartments to residential halls is also available.

Get schooled in what it means to host your event in the Sanford Center, a 4700-seat, multi-purpose arena and convention center located near Bemidji State University. With a gorgeous view of Lake Bemidji, Sanford Center offers 45,000 total square feet of event space with a 10,000 square foot Grand Ballroom, 4000 square feet of break out meeting space, on-site parking and tech-ready meeting rooms.

Too cool for school? There are plenty of places where you can gather your group for a great event, beginning with the Schwan Event Center in Blaine. Featuring 36,000 square feet of event space, the center offers both meeting and exhibit space, WiFi, on-site catering, outdoor space on the NSC campus, and free parking.

Take a little recess from the hustle and bustle of the city and head to Mount Olivet Conference & Retreat Center in Farmington. With 150 acres of pretty prairie land that hugs the shores of Chub Lake, Mount Olivet features accommodations for up to 120 for day meetings or 68 for overnight retreats. Discover modern meeting space, delicious local and organic food options, as well as 5 miles of hiking trails, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna.

If it’s your assignment to find a venue that offers peaceful surroundings, comfortable accommodations, state-of-the-art AV equipment, and status as Best Team Building Venue, then look no further than Oak Ridge Hotel + Conference Center in Chaska. Just 30 minutes from Minneapolis, this stunning center overlooks the clear waters of Lake McKnight.

And for an education in what it means to be where the movers and shakers congregate, book your bunch into the MSP Airport Conference Center. Conveniently located at the main Lindbergh terminal at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, this venue lets you conduct training on the fly with rooms for up to 100, AV and presentation equipment, administrative service, voice conferencing, catering and more.

Want to learn about other Minnesota conference centers and training centers? Check out our complete lists here.