Grounds Rental

Have your wedding, birthday, fundraiser, company event, family reunion, celebration, or spiritual ceremony at Leila Arboretum or the LAS Children’s Garden!

The Leila Arboretum and Children’s Garden offers settings for special events unmatched by traditional indoor venues. These beautiful environments with their array of flowering collections, distinctive grasses, magnificent trees, and meandering pathways provide the perfect backdrop for events of many kinds and photo opportunities in abundance.

In early spring, the Arboretum bursts into fragrant bloom with thousands of bulbs and flowering trees. In summer it is a colorful canvas of daylilies, coneflowers, daisies, and other hardy delights. By autumn, the trees take center stage adorned in reds, yellows, and hues of orange against the richness of evergreens. When winter settles in, varieties of grasses show off their amazing colors and textures against white snow.

The Arboretum offers five distinctive locations, though certainly others may be chosen.

Miss Iva Doty Native Plant Garden
Brides or couples renewing their vows can make a heart-touching entrance from a pathway into the oval-shaped gardens, the heart of which can be set with chairs providing seating for as many as 300.

Perennial Gardens
These beds, carefully placed along the Arboretum’s central walkway provide an inspiring setting for a garden wedding or spiritual ceremony. Floral displays begin in mid-April and continue throughout the summer. Seating can be arranged at the Perennial Gardens for about 500.

Grand Arbor
The Arbor overlooks what is known as Shepherd’s Meadow and is just beyond the entrance to the Arboretum and to the left as you face the fountain. Its broad white pillars lend a sense of grandeur and strength to a ceremony.

Gazebo
The Arboretum has a gazebo for small, private ceremonies which is quietly nestled in the hollow of the hills offering inspiring grand vistas.

Peace Labyrinth
Labyrinths are nearly as old as time, but have only recently come back into public attention for their extraordinary ability to help individuals block out the stress, confusion, uncertainty of life and focus their minds to find peace and direction. Set in a hillside to the left as you enter the Arboretum, a small group can gather at the Labyrinth for a time of spiritual unity or individual exploration. Guided events can be arranged.

Children's Garden
The Children’s Garden offers people another type of celebration experience. This fenced, one-acre setting which provides a sheltered pavilion, restrooms, water fountain, picnic tables, and a small food preparation area, can be rented in its entirety for private gathering when public Children’s Garden events are not being held. Families or groups can also reserve a table or tables under the pavilion during public events, bring their own picnic fare, and combine their gathering with activities going on around them. The Children's Garden has a paved parking lot contiguous to its location.

Fountain
While the Leila Arboretum fountain has been a very popular site for weddings for many years, we are unable to limp along the aging system for another year. The fountain pumps and motors need major work and will not be working or available this year. It is uncertain when we will be able to start this huge project. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Arboretum Parking
Parking in the Arboretum near these locations is limited as it is essential that the soil not be compacted. This inhibits plant and tree growth.. Ample paved parking exists at the Kingman Museum and at the Children’s Garden (158 spaces). Car-pooling from paved lots is encouraged. Arranging for shuttle service may be appropriate.

Any other special requests may be discussed with the LAS Events Coordinator. Rates do not include set-up and take-down. Rates are subject to change without notice. All items must be rented from an LAS approved business/vendor to be used on-site.

To find out more about facility rentals and available dates, fill out the form below, or call 269-969-0270, ext. 116.

Agreement Policy
- A $125 deposit is required at the time an agreement/application is signed.
- Final payment is due 30 days prior to your event.
- If an event is cancelled more than 270 days prior to the event, 50% of the deposit will be refunded. Cancellations under 270 days will result in forfeiture of the full deposit.
- A $150 damage fee is required 30 days prior to your event. This will be refunded to you providing there is no damage to the grounds or property.
-No alcoholic beverage will be permitted for any funtion in the Leila Arboretum.

Leila Arboretum is owned by the City of Battle Creek and is managed by the Leila Arboretum Society. The Children’s Garden is owned and operated by the Leila Arboretum Society.