Hay Barn Rental Information

Thank you for your interest in the Award-Winning Cowell Ranch Hay Barn as a venue for your special event. We host many different types of events, including memorial services, book signing's, meetings, conferences and weddings!

bride and father dancing

The Hay Barn is a large and flexible space, easily accommodating an event any month of the year! The space is large enough to hold a ceremony and reception inside in the main hall, with the capability of extending to the outside parking lot in warm weather.

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For late-season events, the Hay Barn stays nice and warm with radiant floor heating, offering your guests a comfortable space in cooler weather.

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We also offer an outdoor ceremony site on the Farm at our Ocean View Field, which operates (weather permitting) from early July through October, as a separate hourly rental:

view of the Monterey bay

Answers to commonly asked questions:

  • We do not offer any in-house catering, or event staffing. 
  • The weekend rental rate (Saturday/Sunday) gives you 12 hours of event time that includes your set up and tear down/clean up. Additional hours are available. Week Day events are scheduled based on availability.
  • We have a 10 pm sound ordinance and an 11 pm event end time.
  • The Hay Barn rental includes 80 chairs and 14 tables

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  • Event holders are welcomed to bring in their own caterer and other event vendors, as long as they can adhere to the university’s insurance requirements and must produce a certificate of liability insurance.
  •  We allow the serving of beer, wine and champage. Hard alcohol is allowed only if served by a professional bartender with acceptable alcohol liability insurance and training.
  • A professional event coordinator is required, for at least the day of the event.
  • We maintain a preferred list if you need recommendations for local event vendors who are familiar with working here.

If you chose to move forward with the reservation, there are a few details that need to be covered before we can officially calendar your event:

  • Rentals are confirmed once we have confirmed the date, and have received your holding deposit ($500.00 for the Hay Barn, $150 for the Ocean View site), by check payable to UC Regents, mailed to:
UC Center for Agroecology
Hay Barn Event Coordinator
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA. 95064
along with a signed copy of the Hay Barn Rental and Use Agreement and/or Ocean View Field Rental and Use  Agreement. Rentals of both sites are confirmed on a first come, first serve basis, and full rental fees are due 60 days prior to the event date. 

 We are excited to work with you on your special event and are happy to answer the questions you have along the way. Please feel free to contact us...., we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Please call or email us if you would like to schedule a tour: 

Hay Barn Events Coordinator
UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology
University of California Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064

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