John Palminteri
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – With the problematic memories of Deltopia going into the history books, Soltopia is set for April 4 in Isla Vista.
It will be a six-hour event in park settings and it comes with a permit and an agreement with Santa Barbara County.
Deltopia was an unpermitted event that began as an oversized beach party known as Floatopia that overwhelmed government resources. When it was moved to Del Playa Drive it became Deltopia and the concerns increased with health and safety violations, arrests, and damage to public property.
Earlier this year, Santa Barbara County Supervisors approved a ban on amplified music for the expected Deltopia during the first weekend of April.
At the same time the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) began working on a new event that would not be a street party. Instead it would be a festival with music, food, art and interactive activities. It has been permitted by the county and organizers have a plan for needs that come with a normal festival. That includes security, ID checks for any alcohol, and bathrooms.
It will be using park settings in the center of town, known as the “Loop” filled with mostly college students. In the general area there are also also year-round residents, families and UC Santa Barbara faculty.
Soltopia will be 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day Deltopia would have taken place. It is unclear if any other activities will be held outside of this sanctioned event.
Myah Mashhadialireza is the Community Programs and Engagement Director. She told the Supervisors Tuesday, “I want to be clear. This is not a new Deltopia.”
She says there will be a complete structure to the event. “Four first aid tents. four safety stations, two ambulances, 70 bathrooms, 4000 gallons of water, two sheriff’s safety stations and over 70 security guards and so much more to make this possible.”
Efforts are underway to finalize teams of volunteers, choose bands, and fill out all the logistics.
“Our goal is zero medical calls, zero arrests, zero citations, no public disturbances and less people on the bluffs edge,” said IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud .
Some residents in Isla Vista did not want to see this event and told county leaders it was not all-inclusive as it was presented. They also said, the district should not be spending funds in its budget towards a college “Spring break party.”
The funding will be in excess of $200,000. It is a combination of the IVCSD budgeted money and a contribution from the Associated Students at UCSB. The county general fund is not directly providing money for this event, but first responders will have added costs.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says it will have extra deputies on duty and focus on Del Playa Drive and Sabado Tarde as two streets where they have had numerous calls for service during big events. That may change in future years depending on the way 2026 goes.
They are also going to be working on reducing injuries from anyone falling off the dangerous Isla Vista bluffs by staffing deputies in risky areas. This includes making contact with tenants or property owners if there are overcrowded balconies.
“Our presence will primarily be on Del Playa and Sabado Tarde. Close to the cliffs so to discourage the partying and noise ordinance violations,” said Lt. Joe Schmidt with the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Dept. He heads up the Isla Vista Foot Patrol Office.
“Every community in the world has some kind of community celebration and this is ours,” said Abboud.
Working with the county to get the appropriate approvals Mashhadialireza said, “without this we wouldn’t be able to do anything and this is essentially gives us the ability to create positive change.”
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