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?
We have two conference hotels — the Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West and the Fairfield Inn and Suites. Use the links https://bit.ly/HamptonMonster (by Sept. 15) or https://bit.ly/FairfieldMonster (By Sept. 12) to get the conference rates.
Will there be transportation to the Festival from the conference hotels?
Yes. We will provide van transportation from the hotels 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?
Friday: The Museum of Art and History (MAH), 705 Front Street, Downtown Santa Cruz, 95060. Saturday/Sunday: UC Santa Cruz's Digital Arts Research Center, 407 McHenry Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. Saturday Monsters' Ball: IAS, 100 Panetta Ave., Santa Cruz, 95060.
Where can I park for the Museum of Art and History?
There are two parking garages near the museum — 601 Front Street and 155 River Street. Both have disability parking available. Rates are $1.25/hour with $10/day max. There is also metered street parking.
Where can I park for the Digital Arts Research Center?
Accessible parking places are available in front of the DARC building on the left-hand side. Parking permits are required in the Arts lot on weekends. Permits are $5.45/day and can be only purchased through the ParkMobile app or website. The ParkMobile Zone is 15158.
Where can I park for the Monsters Ball
The Institute of the Arts and Sciences is located at 100 Panetta Avenue, Santa Cruz, 95060. The entrance to the IAS is on Delaware Street and has an accessibility ramp. Free self-parking is available on Panetta Avenue and High Road, adjacent to the galleries.
Are there scholarships available?
Yes. We want to make the Festival of Monsters as accessible as possible. Scholarships are available for the conference fees. Please email us at ucscmonsters@gmail.com.
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?
Yes and no. We are planning to livestream the keynote talks on Friday and Saturday. We are hoping to tape the panels and put them on our Center for Monster Studies Youtube Channel. Check www.monsterstudies.ucsc.edu for up-to-date information.
I just want to go to the free public day, how do I register?
The registration for the free public day, Oct. 13, can be found at https://bit.ly/PublicMonster.
I want to go to the whole conference, how do I register?
The registration for the conference can be found at https://bit.ly/MonsterConference.
I'm a UC Santa Cruz student. Do I have to pay?
No. But we would like you to register by going to https://bit.ly/MonsterStudents. The conference and festival are free to all current UC Santa Cruz students.
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. Check monsterstudies.ucsc.edu for updates.
What is your refund policy?
Please contact us at ucscmonsters@gmail.com if you need a refund. Keep in mind that we are a center within a public university and it will not be instantaneous. Eventbrite's fee is nonrefundable.
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.