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Facility Rentals

Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall & outdoor seating near Australian Rock Garden

Facility Rentals at the UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden 

Our gardens provide a stunningly beautiful place to hold a special memorial or wedding celebration, a symposium, business meeting or professional training. 

When renting one of our indoor spaces, 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. 

All of our rentable spaces may be enjoyed between 9am and 5pm daily, as available. All rentals must be cleaned up and off the premises by garden closing time at 5pm. No exceptions and no 'after-hours' available.

Indoor and Outdoor Venues available to rent:

  • Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall (Hort 2)
  • Jean & Bill Lane Library (for very small groups)
  • Hort 2 Patio (add-on only)
  • Australian Picnic Area
  • Combination Rental: Australian Picnic Area & Hort 2 Meeting Hall

 

INDOOR VENUES             

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 75 persons and for seating with tables is 65 persons.                                         

Rental Fees - Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall (Hort 2) 

 

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
Micro Meetings:       2 hr period  < 20 people                    
  • $150 campus users
  • $200 non-campus users   
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NOTE: Each rental option must include ALL SET-UP (if doing your own set-up) AND CLEAN-UP WITHIN THE STATED HOURS

Dimensions:

1,630 sq. feet- 35’ wide x 48’  Carpeted area is 35’ x 35’ & concrete area is 35’ x 13'

Capacity:

Lecture seating / no tables - 75 persons
Classroom with tables / Meal seating - 65 persons

Amenities:

  • 75 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 

Parking: 

LIMITED to a total of 35 vehicles. Encourage your guests to car-pool, ride bikes, bus or walk to the Arboretum. Our Visitor Parking lot has 70 parking spots, half of which can be used for special events, the other half are reserved for our daily garden visitors. 

Additional parking & shuttle service may be coordinated with the campus’ Transportation and Parking Services unit, TAPS. For information and booking contact TAPS at: https://taps.ucsc.edu/parking/event-parking/index.html  

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                                                      

Music:

Live accoustic music (no amplification) in Hort 2 AND in the gardens is permissable. Please inquire with the Arboretum Staff cordinator about your musical intentions. 

Hours:

All rental fees apply to 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m. 'Early Hours' may be arranged. Fee is $100/hr. Renters must be cleaned up and off the premises by 5pm. No after hours.

hort-2-small-conference-table--luncheon-set-up.jpg       hort-2-food-serving-area--tables_chairs-storage-area.jpg

Hort 2 Meeting Hall set up for small staff retreat (1st photo) with large serving table and food assembly area in the back of the room. 

Outdoor Patio Area

Available as an Add-On to Hort 2 Meeting Hall Rental or as an Add-On to Outdoor Venue Combination Rental (combined Australian Picnic Area & Hort 2 Meeting Hall - see OUTDOOR VENUE below).      

Hort 2 Patio (as add-on):   

  • $300 campus and non-campus users 

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

Catering allowable both inside the meeting hall OR outside in the Hort 2 patio. 

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         Lower patio in between Hort 2 building & Main Office.            Upper Hort 2 Patio looking toward the lower patio and Hort 2 building.

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 4-10 persons. (10 pp max)

  • $175 Campus user (9-5)                 
  • $200 Off Campus user(9-5)               
  • $125 Campus user (4 hrs between 9am-5pm)          
  • $175 Off Campus user 4 hrs between 9-5    

library-tables-tv-from-entry.jpg       library-entrance-books.jpg

 

OUTDOOR VENUE

The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden provides a lovely setting for a small informal celebration. You can enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings of the Australian Picnic Area for a small, rustic wedding ceremony, or memorial service, departmental retreat, poetry reading, or family gathering. The open spaces around the Australian Rock Garden that are adjacent to the Australian Picnic Area are considered part of the rental site. (more photos forthcoming)

If you wish to have a sit-down catered meal or slide show in addition to your outdoor activity, you are invited to select our Combination Rental which includes the Australian Picnic Area AND the Hort 2 Meeting Hall, located a short walk from the picnic area. See rental details below. 

Australian Rock Garden & Group Picnic Area

telopea-and-bench-in-aust..jpg  aust-picnic-tables-line-up.jpg  aust_open-area-under-trees-facing-west.jpg     

                                        Telopea in bloom near Australian Rock Garden.  Picnic Area in the dappled light of a late Summer morning. 

Australian Picnic Area (outdoor site only):    9am to 5pm                               

  • $700 campus users
  • $800 non-campus users

Combination Rental - Australian Picnic Area AND the Hort 2 Meeting Hall (outdoor & indoor):  9am to 5pm

  • $1,400 Campus users 
  • $1,500 non-campus users          

Outdoor Venue: NO vehicles & NO additional furniture allowed, only what you can carry in a wagon or your arms.

Amenities:

  • Four large wooden picnic tables with built-in benches underneath the dappled shade of Eucalyptus trees
  • Rental includes up to 65 white folding chairs and one wooden-topped cocktail table perfect for a nice flower arrangement and a few photos or memorabilia. No additional furniture or furniture rentals allowed. 

Maximum Capacity:  65 persons max/35 vehicles max in shared Visitor Parking lot - no exceptions

Additional parking & shuttle service may be coordinated with the campus’ Transportation and Parking Services unit, TAPS. For information and booking contact TAPS at: 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.

Catering:

  • For 'Combination Rental' - drop off/delivery adjacent to Hort 2 building only. 
  • No catering allowed for Australian Picnic Area - outdoor site ONLY rentals. Aside from picnic tables on site, there is no table seating for outdoor rentals. (see exceptions below)

No vendor or personal vehicles allowed into gardens.

No additional furniture allowed in gardens.

Exceptions: Picnic blankets allowed in grassy open spaces. Hand-pulled wagon allowed for bringing in light refreshments, light-weight linens & table-ware, and/or small flower bouquet(s) to the site.

You must pack out everything you bring in, including all trash and recyclables. 

Hours:

All rental 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. You will be fined $200/hour for staying on site past 5pm.

See Additional Rental parameters below.

Weddings at the Arboretum - Small, Intimate, Rustic

If you're interested in holding a more intimate and natural, even 'minimalistic' wedding ceremony or ceremony and reception (65 people or less) then the Arboretum may be the perfect venue for your special day. 

Outdoor Ceremony Only in the beautiful Australian Rock Garden Area

  • $800  -  Wedding Ceremony Only        
  • includes up to 65 white folding chairs and one wooden-topped cocktail table perfect for a nice flower arrangement and a few photos or memorabilia.

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

  • $1,500  -  Wedding Ceremony & Reception in Hort 2 Meeting Hall      
  • includes up to 65 white folding chairs and one wooden-topped cocktail table perfect for a nice flower arrangement and a few photos or memorabilia.

Outdoor Maximum Capacity: 65 persons max / 35 vehicles max in shared Visitor Parking lot - no exceptions

Refundable Deposit Required for all Off-campus renters:  $500

The Arboretum will retain the full $500 Deposit for exceeding 65 persons or 35 vehicles or any other damages to Arboretum property, including damage to our plant collections.

No vehicles allowed into gardens.

No additional furniture allowed in gardens.

Exceptions:

Picnic blankets allowed in grassy open spaces. Hand-pulled wagon allowed for bringing light refreshments, small flower bouquet into rented space.

You must pack out all trash and recyclables. 

All rentals must be cleaned up and off site by 5pm. No AFTER HOURS available.

pano-wedding-audience.jpg

See Additional Rental parameters and important RENTAL FORMS 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 penalty 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. 

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 Affiliates: Discounted rental fees are offered for UCSC departmental and student organization meetings, events, trainings and campus-sponsored celebrations. The discount does not apply to students, staff or faculty using the space for personal events. In the case of memorials & celebrations of life for a UCSC student, staff or faculty member, we will offer the discount if a recharge is to be used for payment, thus confirming this is a department-supported event. 

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.