Facility Rentals
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum &
Botanic Garden Rental Information
The UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a stunningly beautiful place to hold a special event, a symposium, a business meeting or professional training.
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden comprises approximately 100 acres of gardens and research areas on the University of California Santa Cruz campus. It offers a truly unique and rustic setting for weddings and other special events. View our gallery of venue photos.
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 it’s gates. No exceptions.
NOTE: As of July 1, 2022 we will be offering more rental options for Hort 2 ('low-impact' & 'micro-meetings'). We will also be increasing the rental fees for the Outdoor Australian Rock Garden and Group Picnic Area. New fees will be posted by June 30, 2022.
INDOOR VENUES
Horticulture 2 Meeting Hall
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 60 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.
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Horticulture II Meeting Hall Rental Fees (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
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$500 for non-campus users
$400 for campus users
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Dimensions:
1,630 sq. feet- 35’ wide x 48’ Carpeted area is 35’ x 35’ & concrete area is 35’ x 13'
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Capacity: Lecture seating - 75 persons
Classroom/ Meal seating - 60 persons
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Amenities:
75 Chairs and 12 rectangular 6’ tables included.
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$150 for set-up fee
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Wall mounted projection screen (10’ x 10’) , microphone and amplification, wooden podium, and projection table, WiFi.
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Complimentary
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Video Projector Rental (4000 lumen).
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$40 per day
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Outdoor Patio Area - Add on to Hort II Meeting Hall Rental (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
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$300
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The Bill & Jean Lane Library and Multipurpose Room
Bill & Jean Lane Library Room is a small botanical library and multipurpose room that has two 3'x5' 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.
Campus User | 9am to 5pm | $175 |
Off Campus User | 9am to 5pm | $200 |
Campust User | 4 hrs between 9-5 | $125 |
Off Campus User | 4 hrs between 9-5 | $175 |
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 or graduation ceremony, 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
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Capacity 100
Facility Fees
Off campus renters $1,500 full day $800 half day (4 hr. max) $500 Refundable Deposit due at time of booking, required 45 days prior to event
Campus renters $1,400 full day $700 half day (4 hr. max) Deposit not required for campus renters
USEFUL FORMS (PDFs)
* How to Book a rental
* Rental Inquiry Form (pdf)
* Facility Rental Procedures Agreement
* Vendor Referrals
* Venue Gallery
Additional Rental Information
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 (before 9:00 a.m.): $100/hour
Deposit and Payment (recharge form for campus users)
A deposit is required to book an outdoor space. 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 60 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. The deposit for the garden spaces is non-refundable, if cancelled within 60 days of the event. Cancellation of the Horticulture II Meeting Hall within 60 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.