East Central Region
VisitMeridian.com; @VisitMeridian
With approximately 2,000 guest rooms, Meridian blends its unofficial “seat of culture” reputation with state-of-the-art functional spaces, according to the Visit Meridian website.
Housed in the beautifully restored 1889 Grand Opera House, the Mississippi State University (MSU) Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts is Meridian’s flagship venue; it offers more than 15 event spaces, including a historic theater with a capacity of 900 people. The Riley Center also features a first-floor exhibit hall with a capacity of 400 for receptions, a grand lobby for receptions of up to 150, breakout rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, and full audiovisual capabilities.
Hotel accommodations are a short walk away at Art Deco Threefoot Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. The Threefoot has 131 guest rooms and amenities, including the Boxcar rooftop bar, which offers panoramic views for evening receptions. The 133-room Hilton Garden Inn Meridian, just off Interstate 20, has four meeting rooms; its largest space accommodates 200 people for receptions. The 180-room Drury Inn & Suites has 3,400 square feet of meeting space.
For unique offsite events, the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience (The MAX) accommodates up to 600 guests for receptions in its largest space. Soulé Steam Museum, housed in a turn-of-the-century factory, accommodates up to 300 guests in its large machine shop. The 3,300-acre Bonita Lakes Park has nature trails and pavilions for group picnics.
