Seat of the California's vast Golden Empire, Bakersfield is home to nearly 348,000, making it the 11th-largest city in the state. While agribusiness is the main driving force of the region's economy, the medical, oil and energy industries also factor in. As a result, Bakersfield event venues can accommodate diverse clients.
Conveniently, the meeting spaces in Bakersfield are a four-hour drive from 90% of California. For those groups that are more in a hurry, Meadows Field Airport is less than five miles from downtown and receives nonstop services from Denver, Houston and Phoenix via Allegiant, United Express and US Airways. Golden Empire Transit (GET) buses are convenient options for getting to and from Bakersfield meeting locations.
The largest event facilities in Bakersfield are part of the Rabobank Arena, Theatre & Convention Center. These include 20,000-square-foot Rabobank Arena with 10,000 permanent seats, a 29,500-square-foot exhibit hall, 13 breakout rooms and the 3,000-seat concert hall.
Bakersfield has over 5,400 hotel rooms, and the 250-room Marriott Bakersfield at the Convention Center, connected directly to Rabobank Arena, features 9,136 square feet with a grand ballroom for 900 and 10 meeting rooms. The 262-room DoubleTree By Hilton Bakersfield has a 7,560-square-foot ballroom and 14 meeting rooms for groups up to 1,000. The 197-room Four Points by Sheraton includes 6,800 square feet of function space with 12 meeting rooms, the 3,000-square-foot Bistro Ballroom for 230, 10 breakout rooms and an interior courtyard. A renovated ballroom for 275 is available at the 165-room Hotel Rosedale.
Special event spaces in Bakersfield include the Kern County Museum, a 16-acre campus featuring 50 historic structures and exhibits. The museum's 1910 Hotel Fellows has banquet space for 50 and a verdant green for 2,500. The Bakersfield Museum of Art's regional and international exhibits provide a sophisticated backdrop for 300-person events; CALM (California Living Museum) has four outdoor pavilions (one near its endangered animal exhibits) and a gazebo near the raptors; and the historic Fox Theatre, a restored 1930 movie palace, offers seating for 1,500.
Dining settings perfect for meetings in Bakersfield include nine banquet rooms for 500 at Hodel's Country Dining. Trout's features great music as well as private dining for 400. El Portal serves Yucatan cuisine in three private spaces, including a delightful rooftop terrace for 80, and groups of 75 can enjoy Italian fare at Luigi's Delicatessen.
Between sessions, groups can soak in Bakersfield's music scene with an informal get-together at Buck Owen's legendary Crystal Palace or hold an impromptu dinner meeting at a Basque restaurant like Wool Growers.
Photo by Wikimedia Commons user : Bobak Ha'Eri
