Weddings and Private Events

Private Events at the Hay Barn

The Hay Barn’s large open floor plan can accommodate a ceremony and reception inside and extend to the outside in warm weather. For late-season events, the Hay Barn stays nice and warm with radiant floor heating, offering your guests a comfortable space in cooler weather. Sliding barn doors allow guests to gaze upon Monterey Bay and enjoy ocean breezes.

Each Hay Barn event rental features:

The Hay Barn is available all days of the week. Each rental must be a minimum of four hours. See the table below for rates.

Weddings at the Hay Barn

Situated at the base of the UC Santa Cruz campus, couples who choose to get married at the Hay Barn have easy access to breathtaking scenery with redwoods, meadows, and ocean views. The Cowell Ranch Hay Barn exudes a warm, inviting atmosphere that effortlessly blends vintage charm with modern amenities, ensuring your wedding day is as seamless as it is unforgettable.

Between June and October, those who rent the Hay Barn for their weddings can also rent the Ocean View Ceremony Site. Located just up the hill on the UCSC Farm, the Ocean View Ceremony site offers guests sweeping views of Monterey Bay while perched atop hay bales on a working farm offering the ideal blend of rustic elegance.

All Hay Barn wedding rentals are 12-hour periods, including your setup and tear-down. Additional hours are available at a separate hourly rate. We only host weddings on weekends and do not offer any in-house catering, event staffing, or coordination. Each wedding rental includes a two-hour rehearsal the Friday before your event. Schedule a time to tour the Hay Barn today.

Rental Rates

Rental Charges	FY2025 Season	FY2026 Season
Dates	(July 1st, 2024 – June 30th, 2025)	(July 1st, 2025 – June 30th, 2026)
Private Events (non-weddings)	$500 / hour (4 hour minimum)	$500 / hour (4 hour minimum)
Weddings	$6,350 / 12 hours, $500 / each additional hour	$6,500 / 12 hours, $500 / each additional hour
Security Deposit	$1,000	$1,500
Ocean View Ceremony Site	$375 / hour (2 hour minimum)	$400 / hour (2 hour minimum)
Ocean View Security Deposit	$100	$200

*If you experience an accessibility issue with the content in this table, please contact us.
**Hay Barn private event and wedding rentals rates organized by Fiscal Year.

Rental Policies

To request a reservation, please contact the Hay Barn events team (via form or email) with the event details, including the prospective date, type of event, and guest count. The Hay Barn events team will then contact you to confirm availability and schedule your event. Rentals are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and are confirmed upon receipt of a non-refundable $500 holding deposit and a signed copy of the Rental and Use Agreement.

The Hay Barn is considered a self-serve, “leave-no-trace” space. The event holder is responsible for general cleanup after the event. The Hay Barn does not provide event staffing, coordination, or catering services. Event set-up, clean-up, and rental delivery must occur within the scheduled rental period.

Beer, wine, and sparkling wine can be served. Hard alcohol is only allowed if served by a licensed and insured professional bartender or caterer.

Wedding Specific Rental Policies

A professional day-of-events coordinator is required for all weddings at the Hay Barn.

The Ocean View Ceremony Site is available as an optional add-on to the Cowell Ranch Hay Barn. The Ocean View Ceremony Site is unavailable as a stand-alone rental.

Wedding rentals are booked in 12-hour periods only. The Hay Barn is not available for micro weddings.