Facility Rentals

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum &
Botanic Garden Rental Information

Facility Rentals at the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden 

The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a stunningly beautiful place to hold a special celebration, a symposium, a business meeting or professional training. 

Please note: as a public garden open daily from 9am - 5pm, all Indoor and Outdoor rentals including wedding celebrations must be cleaned up and off the premises by 5pm when the Arboretum closes its gates. 

INDOOR VENUES  

Our Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall (Hort 2) and the smaller Bill & Jean Lane Library room are available to rent.             

Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall (Hort 2)

Our meeting hall is ideal for meetings, lectures, and receptions. There is a large conference table at the back of the room and a sink available for use (refrigerator is for staff only and there are no cooking facilities). Full payment is required to book the hall. 

The Hort 2 Meeting Hall is ideal for group sizes of 15-50 persons. Maximum capacity for Lecture-style seating without tables is 80 persons and for seating with tables is 70 persons. 

When renting a room at the Arboretum, you and your event attendees are invited and encouraged to walk about the gardens. Benches and picnic tables throughout the gardens are open to all visitors including event attendees. 

Indoor (and outdoor) spaces may be rented between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday and on weekends by special arrangement. All rentals must be cleaned up and off the premises by garden closing time at 5pm. No exceptions.

Rental Fees - Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall  

Full Day:    9am to 5pm                               

• $400 campus users
• $500 non-campus users

Small group/Low impact:   4 hour period  < 30 people        

• $250 campus users
• $350 non-campus users

• $150 campus users
• $200 non-campus users

Dimensions:

Capacity:

Amenities:

• 80 Chairs and 12 rectangular 6’ tables included
• Wall mounted projection screen (10’ x 10’) , microphone and amplification, wooden podium, and projection table, Wifi (via ‘UCSC Guest’ wifi service) 
• A large, wooden conference table at the back of the room is ideal for food and drink set up
• A small sink and kitchen countertop 

Indoor Rental Additions:

• $40/day:  Projector (4000 lumen - includes projector set up)     
• $150:  Set-up (chairs and tables)                                         
• $100/hr:  Early Hours (7-9am)                                                 
• $50:  Cancellation Fee                                                      

Outdoor Patio Area

Only available as an Add-On to Hort 2 Rental         $300 

Includes up to 30 white folding chairs and any folding tables not already in use from inside Hort 2.

Bill & Jean Lane Library Room 

Bill & Jean Lane Library Room is a small botanical library and multipurpose room that has two 3' x 5' wooden tables ideal for a small group meeting or training situation. There is a swivel-mounted 60” TV & monitor perfect for Zoom meetings or video and powerpoint presentations. The space is ideal for group sizes of 4-12 persons. (12 pp max)

• $175 Campus user full day 9-5                    
• $200 Off Campus user full day 9-5               
• $125 Campus user 4 hrs between 9-5          
• $175 Off Campus user 4 hrs between 9-5    

OUTDOOR VENUE

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden provides a lovely setting for your special event. The Australian Rock Garden and Picnic Area is ideal for a small, rustic wedding ceremony, a small memorial service, poetry reading, or family gathering.

Full day fees apply to 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. After hours are no longer available but Early Hours can be added to Full day rentals.

Australian Rock Garden and Picnic Area

              _{Facing 'Hummingbird Hot Spot' adjacent to Australian Rock Garden and Group Picnic Area.} 

Outdoor Site Rental Fees

For outdoor memorials, departmental retreats, small graduations, birthday or other family & friend gatherings:           

• Off campus renters      $1,500 full day  /  $800 half day (4 hr. max)     
• Campus renters           $1,400 full day  /  $700 half day (4 hr. max)     

Amenities:

• Four large wooden picnic tables with built-in benches in Group Picnic Area
• Full Day Rental -  fee includes up to 100 folding white chairs and three 6' x 2.5' folding tables (for light refreshments, flowers & photos).
• Half day rental - additional $150 set-up fee if chairs and tables (3 max) are desired. 

Maximum Capacity   -   100 persons / 40 vehicles (in shared Visitor Parking lot)

Light Refreshments only - no table seating for outdoor rentals.

Caterer & Event Coordinator must obtain a permit to drive & drop off at the Australian Rock Garden. Please inquire.

All rentals must be cleaned up and off site by 5pm.

See Additional Rental parameters below.

Weddings at the Arboretum

Outdoor Ceremony Only in the beautiful Australian Rock Garden Area

• Wedding Ceremony Only      $1,500

Includes set up of up to 100 folding white chairs and three 6' x 2.5' folding tables (for light refreshments, flowers & photos). 

Maximum Capacity: 100 persons / 40 vehicles (in shared Visitor Parking lot)

Outdoor Ceremony in the beautiful Australian Rock Garden Area & Indoor reception in Hort 2 Meeting Hall

• Wedding Ceremony & Reception in Hort 2 Meeting Hall     $3,000

Includes same as above plus use of the Hort 2 Meeting Hall for a reception (see details for Hort 2 above).  

Maximum Capacity: 80 persons / 40 vehicles (in shared Visitor Parking lot)

Caterer & Event Coordinator must obtain a permit to drive & drop off at the Australian Rock Garden. Please inquire. 

All rentals must be cleaned up and off site by 5pm.

See Additional Rental parameters below.

USEFUL FORMS (PDFs)
* How to Book a rental
* Rental Inquiry Form (pdf)
* Facility Rental Procedures Agreement
* Vendor Referrals
* Venue Gallery
  

Additional Rental Information

The Arboretum is a "self-supporting" unit on campus and all rental fees assist with our ability to keep the gardens alive.

All equipment, supplies, trash, etc. must be removed and all event attendees off the premises by the Arboretum's 5pm closing time. The renter agrees to pay an additional fee of $200 per hour for exceeding these times.

Early Hours: Early hours can be arranged if staff are available and for an additional fee on top of the base rental fees listed above. Option not available for half-day rentals.

Early Hours (7am to 9am):        $100/hour

Alcohol: ABC required for all events involving alcohol - Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and permit requirements can be found at www.abc.ca.gov/

Deposit and Payment 

Deposit: A $500 deposit is required to book the outdoor venue. The full deposit will be refunded three weeks after the event should no damages or additional fees be incurred.

Full payment is required to book the indoor meeting hall. The full facility rental fee must be received no later than 30 days prior to the event.  Failure to remit payment may result in loss of reservation and forfeiture of fees paid to date.

Damage to plants, equipment, furniture or carpet will result in charges equal to the cleaning or replacement costs.

Campus recharges should be signed and submitted to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden no later than three days prior to the event. Please inquire about the Arboretum's Facility Rental Recharge Form during the reservation process. 

Cancellations
Cancellations occurring more than 60 days in advance of the event will be reimbursed the rental fees received to date. Cancellation of a confirmed rental reservation within 30 days, will result in a $50 cancellation fee.

Parking
Arboretum parking is limited to 70 spaces and is shared with garden visitors. Additional parking may be coordinated with the campus’ Transportation and Parking Services unit, TAPS. Please see the TAPS website for information and booking: https://taps.ucsc.edu/parking/event-parking/index.html 

For ease of parking and to guide guests to the event site, we recommend having parking attendants for the hour prior to the event start time.