Planning an Event in the San Lorenzo Valley: Halls, Caterers and Where to Start

Most events in the valley start with the same question: where can we fit everyone under a roof? For a wedding, start with our guide to getting married in the San Lorenzo Valley, which covers the redwood venues and every vendor type from florists to officiants. For a child's birthday, go to kids' birthday parties in Boulder Creek. For everything else, an anniversary, a memorial, a quinceañera, a retirement or a work gathering, start with the halls below. Many of the vendors in both guides take other events too, so ask.

The halls you can rent

Felton Community Hall, on Highway 9 in Felton, has been renting to the valley since 1926 and is built for exactly this: weddings, quinceañeras, memorials, parties, meetings and stage events. The auditorium seats about 180, or about 140 at tables, and the meeting room holds about 68. A kitchen comes with other rooms. Nonprofits get a discounted rate, alcohol needs approval ahead of time, and every event needs insurance. 831-335-5621.

The I.O.O.F. Hall downtown in Boulder Creek is the Odd Fellows' 1900 lodge, with a lodge room, banquet and meeting rooms, and a kitchen stocked with china and flatware. Events need liability insurance, so call the lodge office first at 831-338-2531. Our history of the hall covers the building.

Highlands House in Highlands County Park, Ben Lomond, is a 1940s house run by County Parks, with a grand room for dancing, a kitchen, tables and chairs on site, and riverside trails outside. It holds up to 200 guests April through October and 100 November through March. Book it through County Parks at 831-454-7901.

The Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District rents its parks and community spaces by application, usually by quote rather than online. The downtown office is 831-338-4144.

For a bigger or more formal event, the Hilton in Scotts Valley has event space for up to 300 guests with in-house planning, and two Santa Cruz Mountains wineries host events: Big Basin Vineyards at its Boulder Creek estate and Byington on Bear Creek Road.

Food, flowers and the rest

• Catering: Wylder Space, Chef Molly Bravo's farm-to-table catering from Scotts Valley, caters weddings and other events. The wedding guide lists the Santa Cruz caterers and the mobile tap bar.
• Flowers: in Felton, Wild Iris Floral and Botanical (831-278-0151, delivering into Boulder Creek by phone order) and Redwood & Ranunculus (831-706-8447), which also rents its shop as a party space. In Boulder Creek, Woodland Floral & Creations makes painted sola wood arrangements that keep.
• Cake: Dessert First Bakery bakes custom cakes to order out of Jenna Sue's kitchen downtown.
• Music: DJ Warwick works the Ben Lomond area, and the Santa Cruz DJ Company in Scotts Valley covers parties and work events (831-425-2048).
• Balloons and decor: Luzovich Celebrations does balloon styling and party decor for valley celebrations (831-818-5407).

Tables, tents and linens come from Santa Cruz rental companies; the wedding and birthday guides list them.

Before you book

Check the season when you ask: Highlands House drops from 200 guests to 100 from November through March, and some outdoor venues in the wedding guide book only May through October. Ask every venue about insurance, alcohol and the latest end time, and ask caterers whether they will cook on site or deliver, since kitchens vary from hall to hall. For guests coming from over the hill, give them the address and a note to check Mountain Status on the day, because Highway 9 and Bear Creek Road both close in storms.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I rent a hall in Boulder Creek?

The I.O.O.F. Hall downtown rents its lodge room, banquet rooms and kitchen (831-338-2531), and the Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District rents its parks and community spaces by application (831-338-4144). Felton Community Hall and Highlands House in Ben Lomond are the next-closest.

How many people can a valley venue hold?

Felton Community Hall seats about 180 in its auditorium, Highlands House takes up to 200 in summer and 100 in winter, and the Hilton in Scotts Valley has event space for up to 300.

Where is the guide for weddings or kids' parties?

Weddings: getting married in the San Lorenzo Valley. Children's birthdays: kids' birthday parties in Boulder Creek.

Details change; if something here is out of date, tell us.