Events
College Night celebrations
College Night celebrations are a cherished UC Santa Cruz tradition. These special events bring each college community together to enjoy lively entertainment, a special menu, and a festive dinner in the company of friends. Each college generally hosts one college night per quarter during the academic year.
- College Night festivities will be held during dinner service, 5–8 p.m. (5–7 p.m. at Porter/Kresge Dining Hall).
- Note: The dining hall hosting the College Night will close 2–5 p.m. for event preparation.
- Standard dining hall entry pricing applies, and all students, faculty, and staff are welcome.
- Late Night service will still be available at participating locations—check the dining hall schedules for Late Night hours.
- For updates and upcoming College Night events, visit the campus calendar or follow @ucscdining on Instagram.
Upcoming events
College Night: Winter Wonderland – Celebration of the Arts!
College Night: Gotta Catch Them All? – a Pokémon themed event exploring animal rights
Annual events
Donation drives
UCSC Dining partners with campus and community organizations to address food insecurity. Through donation drives like Swipes for Slugs and the Second Harvest Food Bank Holiday Donation Drive, students can contribute meal plan points to support fellow Slugs and local residents, making a real impact with every gift.
Harvest Meal
Each year during fall break, UCSC Dining and the Dean of Students Office co-present the Harvest Meal, a festive celebration held in one of the campus dining halls. The event welcomes students, faculty, staff, and their guests—especially those staying on campus over the fall break—to share a delicious meal and a sense of community.
Passover
UCSC Dining offers Passover-friendly meals at select dining halls and markets, featuring matzo ball soup, Passover-inspired dishes, and Kosher market items. While not prepared in a Kosher facility, offerings follow key dietary guidelines and aim to respectfully support observance throughout the holiday.
Ramadan
During Ramadan, UCSC Dining expands Halal offerings to support students observing the holy month. Iftar meals—including traditional dates—are available at select dining halls, and suhoor options can be picked up at campus markets or packed to-go.