Festival of Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions
What airports serve Santa Cruz?
San José International (SJC) Airport is approximately 35 miles from Santa Cruz. San Francisco International (SFO) Airport is approximately 62 miles from Santa Cruz. A list of airport transportation can be found at https://conferenceservices.ucsc.edu/transportation/travel-options.html .
What hotels have conference rates for the Festival?
The 2024 Festival of Monsters academic conference has a block of room reserved at the Dream Inn. Please use this link — https://bit.ly/MonsterDreamInn — by Sept. 25 to reserve your room at the conference rate of $249/night plus tax.
Will there be transportation to the Festival from the conference hotels?
Yes. We will provide van transportation from the Dream Inn to the conference locations. Please let us know in advance if you need extra accommodation. Email us at ucscmonsters@gmail.com.
What are the conference locations?
Wednesday/Thursday/Friday: UC Santa Cruz's Digital Arts Research Center (DARC), 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Friday Monsters' Ball: UC Santa Cruz Hay Barn, 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, 95064.
Where can I park for the Digital Arts Research Center?
Park in the Arts Lot (#126). Accessible parking places are available in front of the DARC building on the left-hand side. Daily visitor “A” parking permits are $10 and can be bought at ucsc.aimsparking.com. From the dashboard, select “Order Permits.” Then, select “Temporary Visitor Daily.” Select “Add Vehicle” and add your vehicle’s information (license plate, make and model), then select “Confirm.” Select “Add Permit to Cart.” Complete the verification step, if prompted. Select the payment type. Fill in the requested contact information and payment, then select “Checkout.” A copy of your receipt will be sent to the provided email. Please keep it for your records. The license plate of your car will serve as your permit in any lot that accepts A permits (including the Arts Lot). A map of UCSC lots can be found here. A permit is not required for visitors with a valid DMV-issued disability placard.
Where can I park for the Monsters Ball
The Hay Barn is located at 94 Ranch View Road, Santa Cruz, 95064. There is limited parking next to the Hay Barn, with additional parking available at Campus Facilities Lot 116, across Coolidge Drive. The Ball is after hours, so no parking fee is needed. NOTE: There is no parking on Ranch View Road or in the Ranch View Terrace community (which is up the hill from the barn).
Do I need to dress up for the Monsters Ball?
While it's not required, we hope you do! Wearing a costume makes doing the Monster Mash feel much more monster-y!
Will the conference be online at all?
No. We are planning to tape the panels and put them on our Center for Monster Studies Youtube Channel.
I'm a UC Santa Cruz student/staff/faculty. Do I have to pay?
No. The conference and festival are FREE to all current UC Santa Cruz students/staff/faculty. If you are a current UC affiliate who is NOT presenting at the conference, please register by going to https://bit.ly/MonsterUCSC. This free registration DOES NOT include food. If you are a UC affiliate who IS presenting at the conference, please go to https://bit.ly/2024Eventbrite to register and use the code you were given to get a free ticket.
There are two panels at the same time and I want to go to both!
We are so glad you are excited about the amazing work being presented at the Festival. We are hoping to have videos available of all of the panels on our YouTube channel — https://www.youtube.com/@ucscmonsters. — after the conference
What is your refund policy?
Refunds are available until Oct. 8, 2024, minus Eventbrite’s fee, which is nonrefundable. Please contact us at ucscmonsters@gmail.com. Keep in mind that we are a center within a public university, and refunds will not be instantaneous.
What is your COVID policy?
We request that all conference attendees test for COVID 24 hours before attending. While masking is not required, it is strongly recommended.