• Ballroom

Make it a special occasion

Imagine your wedding day surrounded by historic beauty, or your next corporate meeting using the big screen. The Civic Center auditorium and ballroom are available for rent for concerts, live theatre, film screenings, meetings, weddings and receptions, and other special events. The historic theatre building fronts Main Street in charming uptown Lexington and is an easy walk to several restaurants and unique retail shops.

The Civic Center’s facilities include an 1,100-seat auditorium and lobby, and a ballroom with capacity for up to 150. Rental rates vary depending upon the day and time of the event, staging and setup requirements, and front-of-house considerations. With a nearly full schedule every month, we highly recommend that you contact us to discuss your rental needs as you begin considering dates for your event. Find additional details below.

AUDITORIUM

classic theatre-style seating

SEATING CAPACITY

floor:
700 seats

balcony:
400 seats

BALLROOM

flexible space to host your reception or meeting

CAPACITY

formal space for up to 150 guests

KITCHEN

catering needs

KITCHEN

full kitchen with serving window to suit your catering needs

DRESSING ROOMS

get ready for your close-up

BE GLAMOROUS

4 backstage dressing rooms

2 bathrooms w/ showers

Special event rentals

Interested in renting the Civic Center for your next event? Contact info@smithciviccenter.org to discuss date availability and a detailed estimate.
Contact us
Say “I do” onstage. Our special setting offers a unique venue for you to take your vows under the stage lights and on our historic stage. Imagine your names in lights on our grand Main Street marquee! After the ceremony, continue your celebration in our ballroom, which is great for wedding receptions. It’s the perfect all-in-one space!
Our ballroom, located in the former Green Printing facility, is an elegant blend of old and new. It features beautiful hardwood floors, elegant lighting, a built-in sound system, full kitchen, and more. Guests enter through our historic lobby, which boasts the new Community Art Wall and its rotating exhibits. Our central location in the heart of uptown Lexington and easy access to street parking and surface lots make the Smith Civic Center a great choice for your reception.
One of the largest live entertainment venues in the area, the Smith Civic Center’s design and historic 1,110-seat auditorium makes for an unforgettable live concert experience.
The Smith Civic Center is a great place to hold a company meeting or special presentation. With several spaces to choose from, we have the flexibility to accommodate groups of nearly any size — whether it’s 20 people or 1,000, or anything in between. Use the big screen in the auditorium to present your slideshow to a crowd, or gather your colleagues for a more intimate gathering in the ballroom.
Picture your name in lights! The Civic Center can accommodate your name or special announcement on our vintage marquee for a moment you’ll never forget. Announce your engagement, wish someone a happy Birthday, honor a loved one’s memory, or have your picture made under the marquee. Contact us for rates and availability.
Have an idea for a special event? People are often finding new uses for our facility, and we encourage it. Call us to share your thoughts!

Rental Rates

Rental rates vary depending upon the specifics of each event (day of the week, time of day, equipment & labor, space used, and more). When you contact us, we’ll talk with you to determine each of these things and provide you with a price. Our calendar books up quickly, so it’s important that you call us as soon as you have a date in mind.

Auditorium rentals start at $1100 per day (minimum 8-hour rental required).

Ballroom rentals start at $385 per weekday, $660 per weekend day.*

*Auditorium rentals take precedence over the availability of the ballroom. If the auditorium is occupied, then the ballroom is unavailable for a separate event.  (Quote 2020)

What Clients Say

BRAVO!! BRAVO!! Standing ovation and loud applause to all of you! We cannot thank you enough for the courteousness, patience, helpfulness and professionalism shown to us.
Raeann Beisecker, The Charity League of Lexington
We really enjoyed working with you on the Take a Seat project. Thanks for helping to make it a fun and successful event for the Workshop.
Mike Foster, The Workshop of Davidson
Thank you so much for allowing us to use your beautiful facility for our United Way Benefactor’s reception. We appreciate all you did to help make our event so successful!
Kristie Hege, The United Way of Davidson County