Turning sixteen, staged like the main event.
Real stage lighting, a sound system built for a crowd, and a dance floor that photographs like a concert instead of a cafeteria. Minutes from Westport and Fairfield, with parking for every friend on the list.
The stage lights are not a rental add-on. They are the room.
Rec rooms and country club function rooms all look the same by ten o’clock. The Knowlton gives the guest of honor real stage lighting, a sound system that can carry a packed floor, and a dance floor that fills before the cake even comes out. Guests remember the room as much as they remember the cake.
One address, the whole show.
Entrance, dinner, dance floor and the extras that make Monday’s stories, without changing rooms or losing momentum.
The Room
Red-draped walls, a mirrored dance floor and a lighting rig built for an entrance, not a folding-table setup with a rented spotlight.
The Details
A black tiered cake with sugar flowers and gold leaf, staged the way a milestone this size deserves to be staged.
The Extras
A photo booth swing and the small moments that end up screenshotted and shared long after the playlist ends.
Confetti drops. Every phone comes up at once.
A few nights that did not feel like a rental.
What parents ask before they book.
Does The Knowlton have real stage lighting and sound for a Sweet 16?
Yes. The Boathouse has a lighting rig and a sound system built to carry a packed dance floor, so the entrance, the cake moment and the dancing all get real stage production instead of a rented spotlight.
How many guests can a Sweet 16 invite?
The Boathouse holds up to 350 guests seated or 500 guests cocktail-style. A Sweet 16 guest list can run from a close friend group up to the whole grade.
Can we set up a photo booth or an arcade area?
Yes. Families commonly add a photo booth swing and a lounge or arcade area as extras, giving guests something to do between songs.
Is there parking for a large group of teenage guests?
Yes. The Knowlton offers 200 secured on-site parking spaces, so drop-off and pickup are easy even with a full guest list. Parking attendants are required once about 50 or more vehicles are expected, and parties of 100 or more guests also require licensed security at one guard per 50 guests, booked in addition to the rental.
Can the room be themed or lit for a specific color or style?
Yes. The Boathouse can be draped and lit to match a chosen color or theme, from red-draped walls to a mirrored dance floor, and the lighting rig is built for a real entrance moment.
Is there a dedicated space for a cake presentation?
Yes. A cake table can be staged as its own moment in the room, separate from the dance floor and the dinner tables.
Can we bring in outside catering for a Sweet 16?
Yes. Outside caterers are welcome, so families can choose a caterer that fits the theme or dietary needs of the party.
How much does it cost to host a Sweet 16 at The Knowlton?
Pricing is customized to the date, the spaces used, the guest list and the production the party calls for, so families receive a tailored proposal rather than a fixed package. Send the date and a rough headcount through the form on this page to get one.
How far in advance should we book a Sweet 16?
Popular dates, especially Saturdays and fall weekends, tend to book well in advance, so it helps to confirm a date as soon as it is chosen. That said, dates open up as other events move, so it's worth asking even on a short timeline, and weekday events typically have the most flexibility.
Come see the room lit up.
Tell us the date and the guest count. We will walk you through the stage, the dance floor and the parking before you book anything.
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