If an event is in your future, you won't have to look any further than the Salem Convention Center for the perfect venue! We know that event planning can be quite a process, but rest assured that we know what to do when it comes to creating memorable events that flow seamlessly. But instead of just telling you about the top-tier event planning we can do here at the Salem Convention Center, let's talk about the event highlights from one of our many successes. One particular event that was a major hit with guests was the Arthur Murray Dance Showcase. This event recap may leave you feeling as thrilled as the 120 attendees that graced our Santiam Ballroom on October 27th, 2024. The First Half of the Event Being that the event was held on October 27th, you may have guessed it came with a Halloween theme. This was a two part event, starting with a dance competition. It felt like you were in the middle of a “Dancing with the Stars” episode! All of the contestants had numbers on their backs and we had expanded our dance floor with the help of A to Z Party Rental to get the client the correctly sized dance floor they needed for their event. Arthur Murray Dance Studio had 2 of their members running their song and dance selections, as they were all pre-determined in length and order. They did a fantastic job juggling between being dancing partners themselves AND running the music! A wonderful performance within a performance. The combination of our event venue with the pre-planned arrangements from our client created a dynamic day of music and phenomenal dancing. That was the first part of this grand event. But wait! There's more! The Second Half of the Event As the attendees changed into Halloween themed attire between their daytime and evening dance events, our talented and dedicated staff worked like ghosts in the night to set up an amazing place for their party. Attendees walked into an entirely different room in just an hour's time. We partnered with Danner & Soli for some of the best decorations in town to bring this event to life. Starting with pre-decorated mantels placed at the front of the stage, and supplemented with candles, the room quickly transformed into a spooky night fit for a Vampire. We set up tables, chairs, and linens and decorated them with a Vampiric theme, including vintage candelabras with webs and bats for the table centerpieces. Napkins were blood red with plastic vampire teeth for napkin rings. There was an assigned seating chart with attendees names in coffins. Every last detail came together to make this a night to remember. Let the Festivities Begin The evening festivities began with a social at 5 pm. Guests enjoyed small bites and big conversations. Appetizers included both an imported and domestic cheese display, as well as an antipasto display, both of which our catering team supplied. Glitter champagne was served tableside as guests entered the room. You could feel the excitement with the attendees all dressed up in their Halloween outfits, and everything appearing so on point with the evening themed Vampire decorations. As they came in from their social that took place in our gallery, they were treated to a professional show as our banquet staff served the sparkling champagne. Next up, spinach and arugula salad was served, but that was just the beginning of an incredible catered meal from our team. The dinner plate, served on silver chargers, was another layer of elegance. And what an elegant menu it was! Some guests dived into the savory flavors of Romesco Grilled Wild Salmon with a Lemon Herb Jus, Saffron Risotto, and Sauteed Snow Peas while others enjoyed Grilled Hanger Steak with a Creamy Green Peppercorn Sauce, Rosemary Gratin, and Roasted Baby Carrots. Our vegetarian Vampires bit into a Creamy Porcini Risotto with Goat Cheese, Grilled Portobello, Wilted Garlic Spinach, Crispy Shallots, and Micro Arugula. We even customized the menu to include a vegan risotto option. The dinner hour concluded with a delectable dessert of Sacher Torte and Brulee Cheesecake. For an extra fun twist, our kitchen team splattered Raspberry Sauce on Plates to resemble blood for this Vampire themed dinner. We took this theme seriously! Entertainment You might think that a great dance competition, social hour, professional show, and an amazing catered meal, amongst a fabulously decorated Halloween themed venue would be enough. But there's still more to this event! Next up was the evening dance party for guests. Apogee DJ played music during the event and provided a photo booth too. Guests got the opportunity to mingle, capture moments with friends on film, and bust a move on the dancefloor with the pros. The upbeat energy from the event could be felt throughout the evening hours. There were plenty of guests that had a blast and really made the evening so incredibly memorable and enjoyable for us all. Many of the guests also stayed at our adjoining hotel, The Grand Hotel in Salem, so when the night was over, they didn't have far to go to fall into their comfortable beds and dream of dancing, dining, and Vampires. Guests and our client were all very pleased with the event and how the flow of it was so seamless. There were many highlights that made this event a huge success, but we think the top moments included the decor, dancing, and food. Despite being on a Sunday night, no one was in a hurry to get home (or get to their hotel room) and get in bed - they could have danced the night away. Ready to book your next event with us? Click here.
