Venues & Event Spaces in Jasper, IN

“We booked the Spirit of Jasper for our wedding cocktail hour and it was such a fun and unique venue! We loved the vintage vibe of the lounge car and the bartenders were so nice. We'd highly recommend this space for events!”

“The Astra Theatre is a 357-seat historic theatre located in Jasper, Indiana that first opened in 1936 and was operated as a family-owned movie theatre for the next 66 years. Located directly on Main Street, the theatre was reconfigured to become a duplex cinema in the mid-80's. However, surviving in a world of multiplexes ended up being too tough and the Astra was closed in September, 2002. After a few years of interest followed by no action in claiming the Astra, Next Act, Inc. bought the theatre in 2015 and began a move toward restoration with a $400,000 historic preservation grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs followed by a $1.7 million major restoration in 2017-2018 that replaced all major infrastructure (electric to and throughout the building, plumbing, HVAC units and ductwork) while also allowing for the installation of a new accessible restroom on the first floor, an expanded stage, new seating throughout, re-opening the balcony, new sound and lights, a new men's restroom, a renovated women's restroom, a new concessions area, new doors, a refurbished marquee, new doors, refurbished windows, and more. I had heard of the Astra prior to its renovation, however, I'd never visited prior to a recent visit. Thus, I can't speak to the level of improvement other than nothing accessibility improvements are obvious. The Astra Theatre has 269 seats on the main floor and the balcony tends to only be opened when the actual need arises, though for reserved seating events they do make the balcony available. The second floor is not accessible. Accessibility features include an accessible restroom on the main floor, accessible seating toward the front of the theatre, and an accessible platform in the back. It's not perfect, but it's quite good for a historic theatre. The Astra has concessions at all events - Pepsi products along with the usual popcorn, candy, and chips. They do also have beer and wine available for those age 21+. They do accept cash or credit/debit cards. The Astra is not a regular movie theatre at this point, however, they do host movies, special events, comedy, and concerts. On my visit, it was for a movie screening but I've also heard good things about the Astra for other special events. I don't get to the Jasper area as much as I used to, but I'm a fan of historic theatres and am slowly getting myself to as many of Indiana's best theatres as I can. The Astra has operated for the past seven years utilizing volunteers. So, if you're expecting all the creature comforts of a multiplex think again. This is a historic theatre run by the community for the community and utilizing volunteers who are passionate about the space. They are friendly and helpful. If you're going for a special event, there are several hotels in the Jasper area at a variety of price points. The website tends to be updated when a new event is coming up. However, the Astra is also active on social media. I saw a statement on their website describing the Astra as a brand new 80+ year-old theatre and this sounds about right. With significant upgrades, the Astra is comfortable, beautiful, surprisingly accessible, and the kind of Indiana event space you should experience at least once. Southern Indiana is ideal for a day trip. Oh heck, make it a weekend and check out the Astra.”