The Grove is located in Upper DeLaveaga Park at 501 Upper Park Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95065

501 Upper Park Rd
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Box Office: (831) 460-6399

Yes. More details will be released as we get closer to the season. Our team is working diligently to ensure a safe and fun season for everyone!

The gate to the The Grove venue opens 90 minutes prior to show time, this allows access to parking & picnic areas, wine bar, concessions and the beer garden.

The Early Entry line is only available to SCS Members, as well as larger groups that have made arrangements through our group sales office.

General entry is first-come, first-served, so the earlier you get in line, the better spot you’ll get if seating Groundling.

Parking at The Grove couldn’t be easier! Our accessible lot is directly adjacent to our new home. Parking is FREE for carpools of 4 or more. Parking for cars and motorcycles with fewer than 4 people (including those with disability placards) is $5, cash only please. You can also pre-order your parking pass with your ticket order online. There are a number handicapped designated parking spaces as well as a drop-off zone.

Coined during Shakespeare’s time, “Groundling” refers to people who paid one penny in order to be able to stand in front of the stage to watch the play. Groundlings were known to be raucous and even throw food at characters they didn’t like. While we don’t encourage that sort of behavior, we do think being a Groundling is a fun way to watch Shakespeare!

Groundling seating is general admission. If you have a Groundling/General Admission ticket, you can sit on a blanket. Beach chairs are allowed in the Groundling Boxes and Groundling back row of the right and left side areas not in the center Grounding blanket section area as marked on the seating chart. Guests bringing beach chairs must have beach chairs that measure no more than 24 inches from the ground to the top of the chair. Blankets and beach chairs are available for rental prior to performance for $3.

Yes! They’re available for rental free of charge. Please check with the box office upon your arrival to reserve a unit for the performance.

Children age 6 and above are welcome to attend our performances; no children under age 6 please. While SCS’s summer festival plays are not specifically geared towards children, we do strive to be a theatre that welcomes younger audiences. The plays generally run between two and three hours in length, and you are the best judge of your children’s ability to enjoy each play.

This year, we are offering three matinees that are for patrons that wish to bring any family member of any age. All patrons, regardless of age, need a ticket. However, do note that we do not change artistic content for these productions. You are the best judge of what is appropriate for your children and use your discretion.

Seat Cushions and Beach Chairs (low height- no higher than 24 inches) are available for a $3 rental prior to performance. Beach chairs can be used for groundling box seating, and the back row on the Groundling left and right sides, not in the center Groundling blanket area. Cushions rentals are available for any seats in the house. SCS is pleased to share we’re partnering with the Soroptimists of Capitola, and partial proceeds from the rentals will support their scholarships for women and girls.

Since this is coastal California, seasoned Shakespeare festival-goers will tell you to be prepared for anything! There will be shade cloth protecting the bulk of theater seating for matinee performances, although hats and sunscreen are still recommended. For evening performances, please dress warmly (and you may wish to bring a blanket), as Santa Cruz evenings can become quite chilly. For the forecast on the day/evening of the performance, check out the Grove’s personal weather station.

Rain Policy: The Festival rarely has had to cancel a performance due to rain. We do, however, have a policy if such a situation were to occur.