Special Events & Weddings

Looking for a special venue for your family reunion, wedding or other event?  Dane County Parks offer locations in unique natural settings including shelters and the Lussier Family Heritage Center facility. 

When is a Special Event Permit required?

Will your event need a little extra planning and coordination on our part?  If so, it may require a Special Event Permit (PDF) issued by Dane County Parks.  Criteria that may indicate a special event include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Public event (such as a walk/run; bike event, music event, fishing tournament, etc.). Once your application is approved, you can submit the event to our Events Calendar.
• Charging a fee for people to attend or participate in
• More than 200 people are expected to attend (exceeding 200 does not automatically mean that it’s a special event)
• Sale of food, alcohol or merchandise
• A school event, such as a cross country meet, etc. (a shelter reservation for a school picnic would most likely not rise to the level of a special event unless a large volume of people were expected that would trigger other needs, such as mowing for parking, or special waste collection)
• Use areas of the park other than shelters or group camps (such as trails, boat launches, open areas, etc.)
• Use of extensive or multiple park areas
• Use of park areas outside normal park hours (this is generally discouraged, even for special events, but there may be exceptions)
• Require additional:
  • Parking - more than is provided
  • Waste collection (trash and recycle) than is provided
  • Mowing of areas not usually mowed
• Require portable toilet.
• Deviate from the Park Rules and Regulations (ex. camping in an undesignated area)