Looking for a special venue for your wedding, run/walk event, fundraiser, or music festival? Dane County Parks offers a Special Event Permit which allows you to host an event program in the natural landscapes of our park system, including Shelters, open grassy areas, scenic overlooks, and Group Campsites.
If you are looking for a space to host a recurring outdoor program, visit our Recurring Program Permit webpage instead.
Dane County Parks does not manage special event or wedding rentals at Schumacher Farm County Park or Silverwood County Park. If you’re interested in hosting an event at either location, please reach out to the respective Friends group.
If your event requires extra planning and coordination by Dane County Parks staff or meets one or more of the criteria described below, a Special Event Permit is required. Use our Price Guide below to help with planning.
If none of the above criteria describes your event, you do not need a special event permit and can make reservations using our online system. Use the following links to learn more about our facilities or make reservations:
Special Event Permit requests must be made a minimum of two weeks before the first day of the event.
Dane County Parks charges a variety of fees for events held in county parks. These fees support park operations, maintenance and staff time involved in hosting events of all sizes. All fees are approved annually by the Dane County Parks Commission through a public process. Fees listed below may be applied in aggregate based on the specifics of your event.
There is a $50 nonrefundable application fee to submit your permit request. Once your permit is approved, you will be charged a $130 permit fee plus any additional fees detailed below.
Fee Waivers
Event fees cannot be waived or reduced for outside organizations, including nonprofits and fundraisers. The only exception is for officially recognized Dane County Parks Friends groups or partners. Fees may be waived if more than 50 percent of the event’s gross proceeds directly support a Friends group or Dane County Parks.
Depending on the nature of your event, additional fees may apply. These may include electric use, extra staffing needs, camping fees, overflow grass parking, or recreation permit requirements. These fees support the extra staff time needed to prepare these facilities.
| Large Structures (12' x 12' tent, bounce house, etc)* | $55 |
| Extra Picnic Tables (per load of 6) | $125 |
| Additional Grass Parking | $80 |
| Additional Electric Box Set-up | $215 |
* Large structures: required for structures with stakes longer than six inches. Most popular special event locations have pre approved tent locations already mapped. Please disclose staking needs during the application process so staff can mark underground utilities.
Required for events that allow alcohol consumption or that provide or sell alcoholic beverages.
| Groups of 25-100 | $50 |
| Groups of 101-200 | $80 |
| Groups of 201-300 | $110 |
| Groups of 301-400 | $150 |
| Groups of 401-500 | $200 |
| Groups of 500+ | $300 |
Required for the sale of food, beverages or merchandise, including food trucks and concession vendors.
| Groups of 1-100 | $105 |
| Groups of 101-200 | $125 |
| Groups of 201-300 | $150 |
| Groups of 301-500 | $200 |
| Groups of 500+ | $300 |
Shelter reservation fees apply when using a reservable park shelter or facility. Fees vary by whether your reservation falls on a weekday or a weekend. Find shelters on our Online Reservation System and pricing on our Fees webpage.
Some events will require organizers to rent their own dumpster or portable toilets at their own cost. Requirements depend on event size, duration and attendance. Staff will advise organizers if supplemental waste or sanitation services are needed.
If you are interested in having your wedding ceremony and/or reception at a Dane County Park property a Special Event Permit is required. We offer three wedding package options. Please review these to figure out which one is the best fit as you will need to indicate which wedding package option you would like in your Special Event Permit request.
What is Included?
Average Cost
Depending on the location, amenities, and the estimated attendance, the average cost for this package option is around $500-$900.
Best for Users Who...
What is Included?
Average Cost
Depending on the location, amenities, and the estimated attendance, the average cost for this package option is around $300-$500.
Best for Users Who...
What is Included?
Average Cost
Depending on the location, amenities, and the estimated attendance, the average cost for this package option is around $75.
Best for Users Who...
Special Event Permit requests must be made a minimum of two weeks before the first day of the event.
Thank you for choosing Dane County Parks for your event. We look forward to working with you!
