Goodtree Farmstead is a fabulous place to hold your wedding! As a new venue, we have openings available for the 2025 season. With upper barn space that can seat 100 people and outdoor spaces that can accommodate a tent if desired, we can help you host the wedding of your dreams. Our pond is surrounded by birch trees and a meandering path to take you and your guests out to our prairie, the perfect location for a cocktail reception or yard games.
The weeping willow tree provides shade and a striking backdrop for your ceremony. On the stage in front of the willow you can exchange vows in front of your guests. If getting married by the water is your idea of perfection, we have a beautiful pondside wedding site that is surrounded by birch trees. Our third outdoor site overlooks the barn and is surrounded by trees. We also have an indoor ceremony site in the lower barn with pews that can accommodate groups of up to people. We call it “The Parlour” because it was once the milking parlour, but now it works great for cocktail receptions, concerts, or just hanging out.
Take a tour (filmed in 2017) of Goodtree Farmstead, see the heritage barn, fly over the pond and say hello to the farm animals. We have added many structures and made improvements since this was filmed.
Meet our farm friends, past and current. Olaf was our guard llama alongside Randy the goat. Now we have the sisters Lorraine & Olive with big brother Wesley!
Olaf was our resident body guard at the farm. He was always on the look out for any kind of trouble that could be approaching his best buddy Randy, and little man Wesley, who is part pygmy and part fainting goat. He liked to eat lots of hay, apples, carrots and his morning ration of sweet grain.
Now we just have the sisters, who have fancy horns they like to sometimes get caught in fences. Wesley thinks they’re pretty nice, but gets jealous when they get all the attention.
All three of the goats have said that they're happy to pose for photos with you on your special day, especially if you have an apple in your pocket.
Captain Crook is the resident rooster and hen protector. He has crooked claws on his feet, but he’s a pretty sweet guy. The hens like it when he sings for them and will follow him around the farmyard, scratching happily for food.
The ducks love to swim in their pond, splashing and preening. They used to lay eggs that made really great breakfast for our family, but these days, like most of the hens, they’re enjoying the retired life and have stopped laying.
The Upper Barn is a wonderful space for your event dinner or reception. The adjacent buffet room is easily accessible for your caterer and guests alike. For larger groups, the 30x46' room is best suited for 6' or 8' banquet rectangles but can also hold 60" banquet rounds as well. After clearing some of the tables away, use our sound system to dance to your band or a DJ while the disco ball spins above.
Cafe lights are strung from the beams, but you can add your own touches to the natural decor as well. Just take down all nails, tacks, and tape before you leave the property. Open flames, confetti, glitter, bubbles and silly string may sound fun, but they could harm our heritage barn. We have plenty of suggestions for fun decor--just ask!
We have a fun bar space set up for your convenience. Ask us about hiring a licensed bartender for your event.
The Lower Barn, or The Parlour, is our dedicated indoor wedding space. It works great as a concert venue or serves as the perfect place for your cocktail hour. This space was once the milking parlor at Goodtree Farmstead and features the original stone foundation as the backdrop for your special event. We have a selection of wicker furniture and metal chairs that can be used to create the set-up you desire. Giant wooden spools serve as funky tables for pizza parties, or we can set up banquet tables if you would prefer to dine in the Parlour, overlooking the pond. There are three sets of french doors that look out over the pond and the island.
Goodtree Farmstead is located on the original farmstead of a dairy farm dating back to 1897 in Greenvale Township in Northfield, Minnesota. We have 14 acres of prairie, woods and wetlands for you to explore. Birch trees surrounding our pond lead you to our upper prairie, filled with wildflowers, native grasses and milkweed for the monarch butterflies. Dutch Creek also meanders through the farm. Your guests are free to wander the property, chasing frogs or watching the deer settle in for the night. We spray the property for mosquitoes, but occasionally a few sneak in at night.
How big is the barn?
The upper barn reception area is 46x30'. It can hold about 100 guests at a seated dinner. It also has an adjacent room for your food buffet or a stage area for your band or DJ.
Can we use a tent?
Yes, you may add a tent near the barn or in the prairie by the pond. The space near the barn will fit a 20x30' tent and the prairie can accommodate a 40x60' tent. Our rental contract provides chairs and tables for up to 100 guests; additional tables and chairs can be rented through an approved rental company.
What is the bathroom situation?
We have extra clean porta-potties available near the barn for your convenience. You will have access to the farm house to get ready and will have a full bathroom.
Do you provide tables and chairs?
We provide tables and chairs for up to 100 guests. The chairs are white folding chairs and tables are both 6' & 8' banquet rectangles. A small number of cocktail tables are also available upon request. We can recommend a rental company for linens to fancy up the tables.
What about parking?
We have parking on-site for about 40 cars. Goodtree Farmstead is in the middle of farm country and tractors and other large vehicles travel down our roads, so we ask that you do not park on the road. We recommend a shuttle to Northfield for the convenience of your guests as well as parking ease. Upon booking, we will provide you with contact information and details for the shuttle. A neighboring farm also rents out their field if you want everyone to park close by.
Do you have a caterer on-site?
We have several catering companies and food trucks we can recommend to you, from local Northfield establishments to Minneapolis/ St. Paul favorites. Feel free, however, to use the caterer of your choice.
My uncle is a bartender, is that ok?
We think that parties are fun with alcohol served, but we want it served safely and legally. We require you to hire an insured bartender from our list of preferred vendors to serve it up, but you can be in charge of the purchasing if you'd like. Our bartender friends can take care of all the details for you including glassware, ice and fancy umbrellas in the drinks, or can simply serve the drinks you've brought to the farm.
Is the barn heated?
No, we do not have any heating systems in place in the barn. We can help you rent pole heaters for your event if you would like. We have two large barn fans available for warm days.
What about a sound system?
We recommend that your DJ or band brings their own.
What about bugs?
Mosquitoes are not invited to our events, so we try to get rid of every last one without harming the bees that live at Goodtree Farmstead. Bug spray isn't as nice as perfume on your big day. We'll take care of them.
Why isn't the address listed here?
We keep the address unlisted for privacy. Please contact us for the address if you need it. Caretakers live onsite.
Can we bring our dog(s)?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome. Our own dog loves to swim in the pond, but is not present on the property during events.
Do you have any yard games?
Yes! We think they make events more fun. We have the corn-bag toss, large Jenga and bocce ball. Feel free to bring more to add to the merriment. There is also a tire swing and other swings to keep you feeling kid-like and smiling.
Can we swim in the pond?
No. If you have children at your event, please note that we don't have a lifeguard. You need to keep an eye on the kiddos.
Consider Goodtree Farmstead for your next family reunion! Dinner is served in the barn with plenty of space for your potluck or catered meal. We have plenty of lawn games to set up for the younger and older sets as well. Let us know how many people you're expecting; we'll have your tables and chairs set up and ready to go!
We specialize in unique events, especially fun evenings such as a farm to table dinner or groom's dinner. With ample space both indoors and out, the barn provides a fun environment for an easy evening. Bring in a caterer and we will take care of the rest.
Want to take the event to another level? Ask us about event planning services. We can take care of rentals, specialty lighting, menu selections and more. Full service dinners available. We know local chefs from the Twin Cities who would love to cook for you!
