Village Venue is in the heart of Freiheit Village, and owner Mike Norris said his vision for the development has been to create a space where people can gather together for events without being contained in a single area. With stores, a hotel, restaurants, bars and a new farmers market within a short walking distance, Norris said he wants people to be free to explore the businesses and areas around the venue when they come to visit, whether they are in town for a wedding or furthering their education at a corporate event. Norris is a New Braunfels resident, and over the years, he said he saw a need for a space where people could live, work and play, so he started working on the idea for Freiheit Village. Village Venue was Norris’ centerpiece for the community, and he opened it in December 2017. The first event was held there a few days later. “We already had [events] on the books ... and we’ve been busy ever since,” said Melissa Meneles, who started working at Village Venue in event sales six months prior in June 2017. The venue can host up to 600 guests within its 5,200 square feet of ballroom space, and it has tables and chairs available for that guest count as well. Village Venue also has multiple rooms both upstairs and downstairs to allow various events and classes to take place simultaneously. A person or company can rent out the entire space or a single room, depending on what suits their needs. However, Meneles said weddings always get the full venue in order to give couples the privacy they deserve on their special day. Meneles said Saturdays are typically reserved solely for weddings, but the venue has also hosted a variety of corporate events and fundraisers. “This is a great space to have a lunch or dinner because there is a stage for a presentation with enough room for a dance floor and a DJ and also enough room for a casino or a silent auction,” Meneles said. Village Venue 2032 Central Plaza, New Braunfels, TX 78130 830-460-3501 www.villagevenueatcreekside.com Office hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.