Newsroom

August 10, 2022
Two years later, Big Basin Redwoods State Park bounces back from CZU fire
August 2, 2022
My Scotts Valley: Big Basin Redwoods State Park Reopens; Reservations Required
July 31, 2022
Lookout: Big Basin is back, and redwoods deliver a tonic for our times
July 21, 2022
Bay Nature: In the Wake of Wildfire, Big Basin Redwoods State Park Partially Reopens to the Public
June 30, 2022
Press Release: Big Basin Redwoods State Park Reopens July 22 with Reservation-Only Day-Use Access
June 6, 2022
Good Times: Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe Gets a New Roof
June 6, 2022
Press Release: Castro Adobe State Historic Park Gets New Roof, One Step Closer To Restoration
May 27, 2022
Lookout: Reimagining Big Basin: Following CZU fire devastation, what should the park become?
May 26, 2022
KRON: New plans for Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek
May 26, 2022
KPIX: Nature battles back in fire-scarred Big Basin Redwoods State Park
May 26, 2022
KSBW: Big Basin Redwood State Park is getting ready to reopen to visitors this summer
May 26, 2022
SF Chronicle: Fire-ravaged Big Basin Redwoods State Park to reopen this summer
May 26, 2022
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Reopening planned for Big Basin Redwoods State Park
April 29, 2022
My Scotts Valley: Ten Years Later: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Thrives, Community Saved The Park From Closure
April 28, 2022
My Scotts Valley: Popular Gerbera-N-Go Flower Sale Fundraiser Returns
April 28, 2022
Press Release: Ten Years Later: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Thrives, Community Saved The Park From Closure
April 26, 2022
Press Release: Popular ‘Gerbera-n-Go’ Daisy Sale Returns; Flower Preorders Begin May 6
April 26, 2022
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Coast Line: Gerbera Festival flower sale set for May
March 28, 2022
My Scotts Valley: Registration Opens April 1 for Kids2Parks Free School Field Trip Program
March 28, 2022
Press Release: Registration opens April 1 for Kids2Parks free school field trip program in local state parks
March 2, 2022
Good Times: The Rebirth of Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe
February 9, 2022
Half Moon Bay Review: 'Tribute Tables' available for local parks
February 2, 2022
My Scotts Valley: Custom Tribute Tables Available to be Placed in State Parks to Honor Loved Ones
January 27, 2022
Lookout: Why a Boulder Creek land purchase has conservationists so excited
January 3, 2022
Patch: Santa Cruz Sees Lowest Tides Of 2022
December 15, 2021
Aptos Times: Wilder Ranch Lemon Prints
December 1, 2021
Aptos Times: Annual Holiday Sale
November 23, 2021
My Scotts Valley: Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale to be held Online and at Four Local State Parks and Beaches in December
November 23, 2021
Press Release: Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale to be held Online and at Four Local State Parks and Beaches in December
November 7, 2021
SLV Post: Big Basin — You must never forget this story
October 3, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Big Basin: Lost History of the Lost Redwoods
September 18, 2021
Lookout: Untold story of the original effort to preserve Big Basin shared in new book
September 9, 2021
My Scotts Valley: New Book Chronicles Untold Story of the Effort to Preserve Big Basin Redwoods State Park
September 6, 2021
Half Moon Bay Review: Book details history, future of Big Basin Redwoods
August 31, 2021
Press Release: New Book Chronicles Untold Story of the Effort to Preserve Big Basin Redwoods State Park
August 25, 2021
GoodTimes: Opinion: Tracking Preservation Efforts in Santa Cruz County
August 24, 2021
Lookout: New documentary explores fire impacts, recovery process at Big Basin
August 23, 2021
Patch: 'Reimagining Big Basin': Timeline Released For Park Recovery
August 18, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Coastlines: Film and 3D tours offer a view of Big Basin
August 17, 2021
Press Release: Big Basin video documentary and 3-D virtual tour provide first immersive look at the park on one-year anniversary of CZU lightning complex fire
July 9, 2021
Press Release: Celebrate the paperback release of 'Vesper Flights,' an essay collection about our relationship with the natural world
July 8, 2021
My Scotts Valley: Celebrate the Paperback Release of ‘Vesper Flights’ with Free, Virtual Book Talk
June 25, 2021
Pajaronian: Castro Adobe to reopen after two-year closure
June 24, 2021
Press Release: Iconic 'That's My Park' Art Series Marks 15 Years
June 3, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Home & Garden Digest
May 27, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Home & Garden Digest
May 20, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Home & Garden Digest
May 19, 2021
Good Times: Opinion: Don Letts’ Role in Iconic Culture of the Last 40 years
May 13, 2021
My Scotts Valley: Gerbera Daisy Sale Benefits State Parks — Begins Friday, May 14
May 10, 2021
Press Release: Reimagined Gerbera Festival planned for June 19; Flower preorders begin May 14
April 14, 2021
Good Times: Opinion: Honoring the Original Intentions of Earth Day
April 6, 2021
My Scotts Valley: Online Registration Now Open for Kids2Parks Field Trips
April 5, 2021
Press Release: Registration opens for Kids2Parks field trips
March 9, 2021
Patch.com: 8 Santa Cruz County State Beaches Now Have Beach Wheelchairs
March 8, 2021
My Scotts Valley: Beach Wheelchair Availability Doubles at Local State Beaches, Thanks to Grant Funding
March 5, 2021
KSBW: Santa Cruz unveils new beach wheelchairs
March 4, 2021
KION: Five new beach wheelchairs added at Santa Cruz County beaches
March 4, 2021
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Santa Cruz state beaches double available wheelchair inventory
March 4, 2021
Press Release: Beach wheelchair availability doubles at local state beaches, thanks to grant funding
October 28, 2020
KSBW: Regrowth and mudslide protection a priority at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
September 11, 2020
Mercury News: Big Basin: How California’s oldest state park might rebuild after devastating fire
September 10, 2020
KSBW: Update on Big Basin Redwoods State Park and the Friends Fire Fund
September 4, 2020
Santa Cruz Sentinel: State Parks group starts ‘Friends Fire Fund’
September 2, 2020
Press Release: ‘Friends Fire Fund’ created to support State Parks in aftermath of CZU Lightning Complex Fire
August 9, 2020
Aptos Times: Tribute Tables Available at State Parks, Beaches
June 5, 2020
Press Release: New Tribute Tables program announced in State Parks
May 4, 2020
Press Release: Local Parks and Beaches benefit from purchases at reopened ParkStore Online
April 7, 2020
Press Release: Registration opens April 20 for Kids2Parks 20/21 school year
March 12, 2020
KSBW: Luck o’ the Castros open house at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
August 29, 2019
Press Release: 7th annual Mole & Mariachi Festival on September 7 features all-day line-up of music, food & fun.
August 2, 2019
San Francisco Chronicle: Castle Rock offers a new answer to car-parking crush
July 16, 2019
Press release: Favorite chefs, bands return for annual Mole & Mariachi Festival on September 7th
June 7, 2019
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Free tours offered of local greenhouses
May 29, 2019
Press Release: Enjoy Tacos on the Terraza as Popup Picnic Thursdays Return to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park This Summer
May 23, 2019
Press Release: Find Yourself Among the Flowers at the 10th Annual Kitayama Brothers Farms Gerbera Festival on June 8
May 6, 2019
Visit Santa Cruz County: History Hidden in Plain View: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
March 21, 2019
Press Release: Registration opens April 1 for Kids2Parks, a Field Trip Program Partnership Between Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks
January 6, 2019
Visit Santa Cruz County: Five Historical Points of Interest to Check Out in Santa Cruz County
November 22, 2018
Visit Santa Cruz County: Holiday Gift Guide
November 21, 2018
My Scotts Valley: Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale benefits State Parks
November 20, 2018
Press Release: Annual Parkstore Holiday Sale To Be Held at Four Local State Parks and Beaches Nov 30 & Dec 1-2
November 13, 2018
Aptos Community News: History Sharing Day at Castro Adobe
November 12, 2018
Register Pajaronian: History-sharing day planned at Castro Adobe
October 26, 2018
Press Release: Calling All History Buffs — Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Hosts History-Sharing Day at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
August 31, 2018
Register-Pajaronian: ‘Pennies for Parks’ program launched
August 20, 2018
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Launches New "Pennies For Parks" Program
August 16, 2018
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks’ Free Community Celebration Features Mole Tasting Competition, Mariachi Bands, Folkloric Dancers, Kids Activities & More
June 15, 2018
Aptos Times: 'Libro Castro' Benefit
June 7, 2018
Press Release: "Libro Castro" Benefit Celebrates Launch of Updated Castro Adobe Book
May 1, 2018
Register Pajaronian: State parks' advocates to fund school field trips
April 30, 2018
Aptos Times: Friends Launches Kids2Parks
March 30, 2018
Bay Nature: The New California State Parks
March 29, 2018
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Launches Kids2Parks, A New Field Trip Program in Partnership with California State Parks
February 15, 2018
Capitola-Soquel Times: California State Parks Awards
January 31, 2018
Aptos Times: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks & Local California State Park Staff Honored with Awards
November 30, 2017
KCBS Radio: Bear and Bull Fight Ring Discovered
November 22, 2017
Press Release: Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale to be Held at Four Local State Parks and Beach Dec. 1-3
September 9, 2017
Latin Bay Area: Mole & Mariachi Festival
September 5, 2017
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mole & Mariachi Festival celebrates fifth year at Santa Cruz Mission
August 22, 2017
NBC Bay Area: Mole & Mariachi Festival: Santa Cruz Celebration
August 9, 2017
Press Release: Mole & Mariachi Festival features mole tasting competition, authentic Mexican food, mariachi music, folkorico dancing, kids activities & more
June 29, 2017
Press Release: Public Invited to Explore Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach
June 10, 2017
Hilltromper: Boho Castro
June 7, 2017
Santa Cruz Sentinel: 'Boho Castro' celebrates the Jowers family and Santa Cruz's cultural past
June 6, 2017
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Lunch at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
June 3, 2017
Press Release: Food Vendors Announced for Summer 'PopUp Picnics in the Park' at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
May 31, 2017
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks announces Public Archaeology Day on June 3 at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
May 23, 2017
Press Release: 'Boho Castro,' a Bohemian-themed party, celebrates the artistic roots of South County's Castro Adobe
May 17, 2017
Press Release: State Parks annual passes now available online from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
May 10, 2017
Press Release: Kick off summer special events with 'Movie at the Mission'
April 13, 2017
Register Pajaronian: History comes alive; Castro Adobe event to highlight Vaquero tradition
April 11, 2017
Aptos Community News: Vaqueros on the Rancho
April 10, 2017
Press Release: Vaqueros on the Rancho event highlights ranching heritage at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
March 29, 2017
Press Release: Food vendors sought for summer 'Popup Picnics in the Park'
March 27, 2017
Santa Cruz Style: California Vaqueros' Home on the Range
March 9, 2017
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks develops bilingual curriculum for Castro Adobe State Historic Park
March 2, 2017
Press Release: Volunteers sought for Moore Creek restoration day at Natural Bridges State Beach
November 26, 2016
Hilltromper: 2016 Friends Holiday Sale
November 21, 2016
Press Release: Annual Holiday ParkStore Sale to be hosted at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
September 10, 2016
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mole & Mariachi Festival brings flavor to Santa Cruz park
September 7, 2016
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mole meets mariachi at Santa Cruz food/music festival
September 6, 2016
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mole and Mariachi Festival: Enjoy the tastes, sounds of Mexico at Santa Cruz Mission
September 6, 2016
Edible Monterey Bay: Mole & Mariachi Fest Offers Spicy Good Time
September 2, 2016
Hilltromper: 4th Mole & Mariachi Festival
August 31, 2016
Press Release: Ten Mole Chefs to Compete at Mole & Mariachi Festival
August 29, 2016
Santa Cruz Life: 4th Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival: Sept. 10, 2016
August 17, 2016
NBC Bay Area: Mole & Mariachi Fest: A Park-Nice Fundraiser
August 12, 2016
Press Release: Mole & Mariachi Festival returns for fourth year with authentic Mexican food, mariachi music, dancing and more
July 18, 2016
Press Release: Castro-Coastal Connections Shares Pajaro Valley History
June 9, 2016
Santa Cruz student-designed public mural commemorates park anniversary
June 9, 2016
Press Release: Save the Date for the 2016 Mole & Mariachi Festival
May 17, 2016
Press Release: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Marks 25th Anniversary with Showcase of Student Mission Projects & Mural Installation
May 6, 2016
Press Release: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Mural Contest Winners Announced
March 18, 2016
Hilltromper: Someone Please Help This Wall!
March 14, 2016
Press Release: Mural Design Contest Announced for Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
January 28, 2016
Aptos Community News: Castro Adobe 2016 Open House Dates Announced
January 26, 2016
Press Release: Castro Adobe 2016 Open House Dates Announced
January 25, 2016
Press Release: Naturalist-Led Backpacking Tours to be Offered
December 17, 2015
Press Release: Peet's Coffee to collect donations for Friends through Christmas Eve
December 6, 2015
Aptos Community News: Castro Adobe State Historic Park
December 6, 2015
Hilltromper: The 2015 Friends Holiday Sale
November 30, 2015
My Scotts Valley: Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale is this weekend!
November 30, 2015
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Hosts Annual ParkStore Holiday Sale at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
October 28, 2015
Aptos Times: Open House at Castro Adobe
October 6, 2015
Press Release: Fall Open House Days offered at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
October 1, 2015
Press Release: From Military Service to Green Service: Veterans Conservation Corps for Cotoni-Coast Dairies
September 19, 2015
Santa Cruz Waves: The 3rd Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival
September 19, 2015
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Santa Cruz Mole and Mariachi Fest continues to see growth
September 19, 2015
Hilltromper: Mole & Mariachi Festival
September 15, 2015
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Secret Sauce: Mole festival, contest celebrate the historic roots of a classic dish
September 11, 2015
Examiner: Santa Cruz hosts family-friendly Mole & Mariachi festival
September 7, 2015
Mercury News: La Victoria expands taqueria empire; Fremont gets two food-truck festivals
September 3, 2015
My Scotts Valley: Chefs and Judges Announced for Third-Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival
September 3, 2015
Press Release: Mole Competitors Announced for 3rd Annual Mole & Mariachi Festival
August 13, 2015
NBC Bay Area: Santa Cruz Fun: Mole & Mariachi Festival
August 13, 2015
Press Release: 3rd annual Mole & Mariachi Festival Features Mariachi Bands, Baile Folklórico, Authentic Food and Mole Tasting Competition
July 28, 2015
Hilltromper: Castro Adobe Receives Grant
July 19, 2015
Santa Cruz Sentinel: State Parks continues free concerts at New Brighton Beach; Friends wins grant for Castro Adobe
July 17, 2015
Aptos Community News: Castro Adobe Receives $100,000 Grant
July 16, 2015
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Receives $100K Grant From the Monterey Peninsula Foundation for Ongoing Restoration of Castro Adobe
June 15, 2015
Press Release: Stop and Smell the Daisies at the Sixth Annual Kitayama Brothers Farms Gerbera Festival on June 20
June 7, 2015
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Coastlines: Castro Adobe Open House Dates Announced
June 1, 2015
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks to Host Open House Days at Castro Adobe State Historic Park
May 26, 2015
Hilltromper: Mylo Jenkins at The Mission Adobe
May 6, 2015
Hilltromper: State Park Nonprofits Hope To Dust Bust Fire Road
May 2, 2015
Aptos Community News: Help Dust Off the Nisene Marks Fire Road
April 29, 2015
Press Release: Who You Gonna Call? Dust Busters!
April 22, 2015
Santa Cruz Life: Music, Art, Movies and Mole Sauce: Free Summer Series at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
April 13, 2015
Hilltromper: Music, Mole and Mini Fashion Moguls
April 9, 2015
Santa Cruz Waves: Music, Art, Movies and Mole Sauce
April 7, 2015
Press Release: Music, Art, Movies and Mole Sauce: the Free Summer Series Starts May 1 at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
April 13, 2015
Hilltromper: Misson Adobe Gets Its Virtual Closeup
March 21, 2015
Santa Cruz Tech Beat: Mission Adobe Digitally Preserved Using 3D Scanning
March 18, 2015
Press Release: Mission Adobe at Santa Cruz State Historic Park to be Digitally Preserved Using 3D Scanning by Oakland-Based CyArk, University of San Francisco
January 22, 2015
Press Release: State Parks Annual Passes Available at Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park
December 3, 2014
Hilltromper: The 2014 Friends Holiday Sale
December 3, 2014
Hilltromper: Help Paint the Wilder Victorian
December 1, 2014
Press Release: Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park Expands Hours, Hosts ParkStore Holiday Sale
November 26, 2014
Hilltromper: Meet Augie Ceballos
October 20, 2014
Hilltromper: Wilder Ranch 40th Birthday
October 19, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Wilder Ranch State Park to celebrate 40th anniversary
October 14, 2014
KSBW: Beautiful monarch butterflies return to Santa Cruz (video)
October 13, 2014
Press Release: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Wilder Ranch State Park at the annual Heritage Harvest Festival
September 20, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mole and Mariachi Fest a hit in Santa Cruz
September 17, 2014
Good Times: Olé Mole
September 16, 2014
KION: Santa Cruz Mission hosts 2nd annual Mole and Mariachi Festival Saturday
September 15, 2014
SantaCruzLife.com: Mole & Mariachi Festival at the Mission Santa Cruz
September 10, 2014
SanJose.Com: Mole & Mariachi Festival Slated for Santa Cruz
September 10, 2014
Hilltromper: The Return of Mole & Mariachis
September 8, 2014
NBC Bay Area: Santa Cruz Celebration: Mariachis, Mole, and Mojigangas
August 27, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Quick Bites: Mole Festival seeks masters of mole
August 27, 2014
Good Times: Outdoor Feasts
August 27, 2014
Patch: Live music, 'mojiganga' puppets, dancing on tap for second annual Mole Mariachi Festival
August 26, 2014
July 21, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Panel wants overhaul of state's parks system
July 2, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: The encyclopedia of Wilder Ranch
July 1, 2014
Press Release: Mole & Mariachi Festival Returns to Santa Cruz Mission Adobe State Historic Park in September
June 2, 2014
Hilltromper: 10 Reasons to Love The Castro Adobe
May 30, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Progress on historic Castro Adobe restoration celebrated
May 29, 2014
Press Release: Castro Adobe Welcomes Visitors for Open House
May 23, 2014
Hilltromper: Friends of SC State Parks Honored
May 2, 2014
Hilltromper: Sweet Summertime at the Mission Adobe
March 18, 2014
Hilltromper: Teaching Kids About Science via PORTS,
March 14, 2014
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Virtually a classroom: Seacliff program beams interactive video conference presentations throughout state
March 13, 2014
Press Release: Friends-funded State Parks Virtual Classroom Program Honored with Excellence in Museum Education Award
January 31, 2014
Hilltromper: A Migration Festival for the Books
November 14, 2013
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Not just any old map will do for Santa Cruz County
November 8, 2013
Santa Cruz Sentinel: National Geographic creates new Santa Cruz area trail map
November 6, 2013
Press Release: National Geographic’s New Santa Cruz “Trails Illustrated” Map to be Celebrated at Release Party, Presented by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and Hilltromper
October 14, 2013
Hilltromper: Mmm-mmm Mole
October 4, 2013
Good Times: Festive Times – Mole & Mariachi Festival
September 30, 2013
Hilltromper: Mole & Mariachis
September 11, 2013
Hilltromper: For State Parks, A Whole New Direction
September 9, 2013
Remarks by Bonny Hawley, Exec. Dir. of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Parks Forward Workshop, Santa Cruz
June 25, 2013
Bay Nature: Who can resist a California state park when dinner and dancing is involved?
May 9, 2013
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Announces 2013 Mission Adobe Summer Series of Community Events
February 22, 2013
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Once near closing, Santa Cruz Mission now a hive of activity
February 22, 2013
Press Release: Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks Announces Key Improvements to Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
January 10, 2013
City on a Hill Press: Painting an Awareness of Nature
October 30, 2012
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Advocates hope to safeguard lifeguards
October 30, 2012
Press Release: State Beach Lifeguards to be Eliminated if Prop 30 Fails
October 15, 2012
Patch: A Colorful History: Bear-Bull Fights, 'Zip Horses' and Fandangos