Frequently Asked Questions

Southern Events is located at 300 W. Madison Ave., Athens, Tennessee.  We are just a few blocks from the historic downtown square.  Southern Homes is just off Highway 30 / Decatur Pike and less than 4 miles from I-75, off exit #49. 

We can host everything from multi-day cultural events, continuing education classes, association meetings, showers, birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, small family reunions, memorials business meetings, trainings, expos/tradeshows, vendor and craft fairs, Home School Proms, sporting banquets, fundraisers, micro wedding ceremonies and receptions and more.

Pricing is set based upon the private/social, corporate/business, and non-profit/association/educational/governmental markets; week-day or week-end day; and time of year.

Southern Events is approximately 2600 sq. ft. of indoor venue space. We are an intimate venue with the ability to host up to 100 guests. This includes our primary open concept main banquet room, two handicap accessible bathrooms, a modest but efficient kitchenette and a small private office for our staff.  

The main entertaining space is just over 2000 square feet. The parking lot across the street is shared with Southern Homes. It is a private parking lot available for events. We do ask that you leave the parking spaces in front of the building, for those who need handicap or additional assistance /  accommodations. If it is during the week day and day time, you must keep spaces available in front of Southern Homes for their clients to park. 

 
You do have two options with bringing in food. We offer a list of Preferred Vendors that includes caterers. We do not allow any vendor onto the property without them being licensed and insured. If your vendor is not on our preferred list, we would ask that they contact us proper to your event so that we can obtain their information and have them sign a few documents for insurance purposes.  

We do allow the use of other caterers or DIY food. However, you would bring the food in and set it up after signing our documents taking responsibility for the food. This is something that is a non negotiable office policy that most venues support. 

 
Special event liability insurance and/or cancellation insurance is always recommended but not required for every event. Special event liability insurance is required anytime alcohol is served. Alcohol must be served by a licensed and insured mobile bartender that has been vetted through our office staff. 

Clients may purchase through their own insurance agent, or through a service with which we partner. Cost depends upon event size and type, but generally runs about $1-2 per person. 

We would prefer no alcohol. No outside alcohol is allowed to be carried in. However, for special pre-approved events with strict regulations, alcohol can be served but must be provided by the licensed and insured pre-approved caterer and or mobile bartender. *If the client is utilizing a Venue-approved bartenders, only beer, wine and up two, pre-mixed “signature drinks” may be served. 

Clients may not provide their own bartenders, even if they are ABC permitted.  This must be through a pre-approved licensed and insured vendor. ID is required from everyone seeking an alcoholic beverage from any bar. 

Violations of this strict policy will result in the event being shut down and a $1500 penalty. 

 
If you need time to set up prior to your event, you need to schedule that time to be included with your rental contract. For example, if you are hosting an event from 11 am to 2 pm and you need 30 minutes to set up prior to your first guests arriving, please add that additional time (1 hour) to your requested use of our facility. 

Please also take into consideration clean up time and add that additional time as well when requesting use of the venue.  You will need to pay for any time that you are occupying the venue space. 

Some days we will have more than one event booked, so it is important for you to be there only when it is your scheduled time. Please be mindful, you will not be allowed to enter prior to your scheduled time and you will be expected to cleanup and be completely vacated within your scheduled time.  Additional charges and or penalties may apply if you do not comply with your contracted scheduled time. 

Yes. We do have limited handicap accommodations. We have a few handicap parking place sin front of our building. We also have two handicap accessible bathrooms. The main venue space is all one level except for the area where the emergency exit is located. The flooring there is slightly sloped upward to the door but it is a gradual slope that is handicap friendly. 

We do have a step down into our kitchenette and there is a handrail available for use. There is not a ramp available into the kitchenette. So it is not accessible by wheelchair.