november_moon

I am planning a milestone birthday party in August and want to do an outdoor barbecue for about 100 people. I am brainstorming possible locations and could use some help. Anybody have a park that they enjoy that has group picnic areas?

Most of the guests are from Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties, so holding the party in either county would be fine - I'd prefer someplace on the coast or in the redwoods, but I am open to suggestions.

I need someplace where we can reserve the picnic area - this is too many people to wing it. We'll be barbecuing, so a pit would be great. And I am thinking of having a band come and play - probably acoustic, so nothing terribly loud. If we are in Santa Clara county, shade is important since it will be August. I don't want the guests to melt. In Santa Cruz county, shade isn't as big of a concern.

We've had larger barbecues like this in the past at Mt. Madonna county park, Pinto Lake park, Hellyer, and Sanborn. Mt. Madonna and Sanborn are both on the list of possibilities, but I don't care for Pinto Lake very much. Hellyer will be quite hot in the summer, so that's out. We've done beach barbecues too - usually at Seacliff, but I don't think they have reservable areas and no barbecue pits.

Any and all ideas are greatly appreciated.

november_moon

Topping

sf7307

I don't have a suggestion, but have you perused this website?

http://www.parkhere.org/portal/site/parks/

OJudy

There is a county park in Aptos at the entrance to Nicene Marks State Park. Large green lawn, surrounded by redwoods. Indoor areas also. The Santa Cruz Blues Festival is held here each May. I believe its name is simply Aptos Park.

Michael

Big Basin might have a group site.

Michael

I just remembered, Santa Cruz county allows no alcohol whatsoever in its state parks--unless it is only applied to Henry Cowell SP.

J62

I like Washington Park in the city of Sunnyvale. Very well shaded with mature landscaping. Fun stuff for kids.

http://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departme...ngtonPark.aspx

Wellvis

Here are the park picnic areas for Santa Clara County:

http://tinyurl.com/6bvd5rb

and here's a less informative list for Santa Cruz County:

http://www.scparks.com/picnic_areas.html

Have a great birthday!

november_moon

Thanks everybody. That definitely gives me some ideas to work with.