John S. Knight Center

Downtown Akron has been home to the John S. Knight Center since 1994, when it began welcoming convention planners, tradeshow exhibitors and event attendees. The building at 103 S. High Street offers 123,000 square feet of customizable space that includes exhibition space, large ballrooms, a green room for speakers and breakout rooms, so it suits meetings and conventions both large and small. An in-house culinary department handles food service. The Ballroom is a signature banquet space with a tiered balcony staircase, ornate decor and a main stage, and more than 200 guests can gather there for dining, dancing and entertainment. Smaller rooms around the Greystone bar and its original Billiards Room suit more intimate functions of 50 to 80 people, and other rooms hold up to 200 people. Upcoming events include the Ohio Bridal & Wedding Expo, the Akron Children's Holiday Tree Festival from November 14 to 22, 2026, and the 2026 Akron Arts & Crafts Market. Planners can submit an RFP. Rated 4.5 from 1049 Google reviews, 697 of them five stars.