Service animals are welcome at the Baird Center.

We are sorry, but the National Square Dance Convention^® policy is to not allow registration transfers, as stated on our registration form. We would love to see you at the convention and look forward to your registration. 

You’ll need to use public transportation to get from the airport to your hotel. That could be taxi cab, Uber, or Lyft. The hotels do not have dedicated shuttles to the airport.

There is no single day registration fee for dancers at the convention. However, guests and visitors are always welcome to square dance events and there is no fee for them, but they must check in with registration first. 

Yes, visitors and guests are most welcome.  Not a gallery, as such, but they can visit the various halls as they wish. They must sign in as visitors/spectators at the registration table. We would love to have them.

All square dance halls will have plastic flooring and all round dance halls and other halls will have wood flooring. The live band hall is cement.

Great question! While we do not have an answer to that question, we have a link to Spot Hero where you can search for the local parking lots that will satisfy your needs. Choose the 73rd National Square Dance Convention from the drop down list and use the Filter button to refine your choice.

Dressy casual attire is allowed until 6 PM. Proper dance attire is requested after 6 PM for all dancers.

A 73rd NSDC Convention badge is required for entrance to all convention activities.

It’s true. We really did get asked this question. Which is a very common reason to come to our website, so thank you for the question/reminder to make sure the dates, times and locations are easily discoverable. The dates are Wednesday, June 26th through Saturday, June 29th, 2024. Other events such as the GSI Caller School start as early as Sunday, June 23rd. Please visit our Schedule Highlights page for other events taking place along with their dates.

Our sound vendor, Solid Gold of Burlington, IA, will have equipment for the hearing impaired.  You will need to check with them to determine compatibility.

There will be a GSI Trails End Dance on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024 at 8:00 PM that will cost $15 per person held in the Baird Center, Room S102ABCDE.

On Wednesday evening, June 26th, there will be multiple Trails End Dances held in the Baird Center.

On Thursday, June 27th, Opening Ceremonies and Media Recognition Event will begin at 4:30 PM, followed by the Wisconsin Singers at 6:30 PM. Trail End Dances will begin at 8:00 PM.
Dance halls will open at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 27th for the start of the convention.

It is okay to have a non-dancing roommate. If the non-dancer wishes to go to the convention as a guest or visitor, that person would have to register as such (no fee).

Facilities for recreational vehicles (RV) and tent campers will be needed. The number of RV spaces will depend on the geographical location of the hosting city. Approximately 100 – 200 spaces should be considered.

The number of hotel rooms used by a Convention will be equal to approximately 25 percent of the total attendance. For example, a 3,000 Convention attendance will use about 750 rooms, for a total of 3,000 room nights. Additional organizations meeting before, during and after the Convention may increase the hotel room nights needed.

At a minimum, the following facilities are required to host a convention: 175,000 square feet of floor space that may be obtained through use of convention center, arena, and hotel facilities. The total facility space must include at least 75,000 square feet of floor space capable of being divided into a minimum of 9 dance halls*. Space for 8 to 10 meeting rooms ranging in size from a seating capacity of 25 to 150 persons. An area for approximately 30 to 40 Vendor Booths. An area for Showcase of Ideas exhibits of approximately 80 tables, this can be a large hallway, atrium, or shared with a large dance hall. An arena, auditorium, or theater-type seating accommodating 1,500 people. Approximately 12 to 15 small miscellaneous type rooms.

The Pre-Convention is held approximately 15 months prior to a Convention at the Convention facilities. The meeting is conducted with the NEC observing and advising on the overall preparation and planning to be done by the Convention committees. This is a great opportunity for Future Conventions Members to hold discussions with Counterparts.

The NEC Advisors assigned to your Convention will provide invaluable information and recommendations during the planning of the Convention. The NEC will provide the Convention with electronic copies of the NSDC Guidelines containing extensive information for conducting the Convention.

You are invited to attend the next Pre-Convention held in the Spring. During this meeting you will have the opportunity to attend various breakout sessions covering many aspects of the Convention and a facilities tour. This information may be especially instructive for potential bidding cities. Contact your NEC Area Advisors for more information.

First, seek the approval of your Sponsoring Organization, typically a local association or federation. Next, contact the NEC Area Advisors for your state, listed on this website. The NEC Area Advisors will visit the location to meet with the square dance leaders and inspect the proposed facilities. If these are determined to be sufficient, the NEC Area Advisors will assist the bid team in the preparation of a comprehensive bid package. The bid package provides full details of both leadership and facilities and includes pledges of support from the state square dance organizations, hotel associations, convention facilities managers, governing city officials and many others. The bid package is due to the NEC 90-day prior to the start of the Convention at which the bid will be made .