As the semester comes to a close and the infamous Frat Formal Friday winds down, you’ve hopefully already made arrangements for your own organization’s formal. But for all you procrastinators out there, fear not, we’ve eliminated the guesswork and compiled a transparent guide to a selection of State College formal venues.

The Basement Nightspot

Booking: The Basement recommends you book at least 21 days ahead of time, but any groups including both 21+ and underage guests should keep in mind that this requires additional paperwork, which takes 14 days to file.

Capacity: This space can accommodate 550 guests for parties of all ages and 675 guests for groups that are entirely 21+. It’s recommended that groups have at least 100 guests to make the venue look full.

Hours: Events here can go until 11 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 p.m. on weekends, but can go until 2 a.m. for an additional cost.

Food: The basement provides 15 food options you can choose from and recommended amounts for your guest count. These options range from chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks to shrimp cocktail and veggie boards.

Drinks: Alcohol can be purchased at the in-house bar.

Entertainment: This space includes a dance floor, sound and light systems, and a DJ of your choosing from a company with which it holds a contract. Outside DJs can be used, but you’ll have to pay for them separately.

Price: On average, having your formal here will cost $3,500. This price is for 450 guests, both food and bar services, a DJ, and two hours in the space.

Manny’s Event Space

Booking: Manny’s recommends you book at least a month ahead of time, but as a newer business, it has some flexibility in this area.

Capacity: This space can accommodate up to 250 guests.

Hours: Events here can go until 2 a.m., with morning events able to start as early as necessary.

Food: Manny’s does not provide food, but it does have a designated mock kitchen space for caterers to set up, prep, and serve.

Drinks: Alcohol is not sold here.

Entertainment: This space has a sound system, projector, dance floor, and DJ equipment.

Price: Having your formal here will cost $1,200 to $2,000.

Mt. Nittany Overlook Event Center

Booking: The Overlook recommends you book many months ahead of time for events in its peak season (March through June) and events on busy days such as Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. However, slower months and weekdays can usually be booked only one month ahead of time, the same goes for its catering service as well.

Capacity: This space includes three rooms, which can be booked together or separately. The first room can accommodate 30 to 40 guests seated and 50 guests standing. The second room can accommodate 75 guests seated and 125 guests standing. The third room can accommodate 175 guests seated and 250 guests standing, including room for a DJ setup.

Hours: Events here must end by 11:30 pm due to the area’s difficult driving conditions at night.

Food: The Overlook has a catering service you can order from that has options ranging from finger food to casual meals and even fine dining. This service includes help from the staff to plan a menu that aligns with your budget, guest count, and audience.

Drinks: Alcohol typically isn’t served at undergrad events, but a variety of services are available for parties where all guests are over 21.

Entertainment: This space includes a sound system in the two larger rooms and beautiful views of the surrounding nature.

Price: During peak season, having your formal here would cost $3,500 on a Saturday, $2,200 on a Friday or Sunday, and $950 on a weekday. During the slow season, it would be $950 on a Saturday, $650 on a Friday or Sunday, and $500 on a weekday. Note that booking this space requires a 25% deposit, however, there is no deposit for the catering services.

Stage West

Booking: Stage West recommends you book at least two to four weeks ahead of time.

Capacity: This space can accommodate a maximum of 600 guests, with a recommended minimum of 150 guests.

Hours: Events here can be booked from either 7 to 9 p.m. or 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.

Food: Stage West collaborates with Giuseppe’s Pizzeria to provide catering at its events.

Drinks: Alcohol is sold at the in-house bar.

Entertainment: This space can provide a DJ and a photo booth in addition to their standard sound and light setup.

Price: Having your formal here will cost $3,000 to $4,000.

We Are Inn

Booking: The Inn recommends you book at least a week ahead of time, stating that if the space is free, you can book “as soon as you know.”

Capacity: This space includes two rooms that accommodate 50 guests and 100 guests, which can be booked together. Additionally, a new location opening soon will be able to accommodate 635 guests on its lower level and 300 guests in its main event space.

Hours: Events here can go until the typical 2 a.m. closing time. This space is also a hotel, so when closing time comes, you don’t have to go home, but contrary to the hit song, you can in fact stay here.

Food: The Inn’s restaurant serves everything from finger food to surf and turf, with their most popular item being their chicken wings. Food service here goes until 9 p.m.

Drinks: The on-site bar will be at your disposal until last call at 1:45 a.m.

Entertainment: In addition to sound and lights, this space comes with a full karaoke setup.

Price: Having your formal here will cost $10 to $15 per guest, as they don’t charge student groups for the space, only the wings and finger foods they put out for guests to snack on.

3 Dots Downtown

Booking: 3 Dots recommends you book four to six weeks ahead of time, but only one week ahead of time is necessary if the space is free.

Capacity: This space can accommodate a maximum of 204 guests.

Hours: Events here must end by midnight.

Food: 3 Dots is a BYOC venue (Bring Your Own Caterer).

Drinks: Alcohol can be served here, just bring your own booze and a RAMP-certified bartender.

Entertainment: This space has a built-in sound system that can be used for live performances or connected to via Bluetooth, a small art gallery towards the back, and a patio that can be enjoyed in the warmer months.

Price: Having your formal here will cost $85 an hour on a weekday evening and $175 an hour on a weekend, with a $125 cleaning fee added on.