Final Touches Happening on Isla Vista’s “Soltopia” Spring Festival

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) - A new, fresh and innovative festival is sprouting up for the Spring in Isla Vista known as Soltopia.

It takes place Saturday April 4 from noon until 6 p.m.

This is a permitted event that has cleared all the hurdles with Santa Barbara County Supervisors, Sheriff's Department and other agencies after it was presented by the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) earlier this year.

Organizers said clearly it "is in no way" anything related to the unpermitted "Deltopia" event that has been a problem-filled and costly annual activity about the same time in Isla Vista. "Deltopia" was created out of the "Floatopia" event that left beaches strewn with trash and other waste in 2009 after a massive social media blitz promoting it to area residents. The next stop was Del Playa Drive and the name Deltopia.

This year the most significant change has been the ban on amplified music (except for the permitted event.)

The IVCSD has been working closely with the UC Santa Barbara Associated Students on a focused, community oriented festival with live music, art, food, bathrooms and security. All residents and their families have been invited. The goal is to keep it local.

There will be 18 bands, including many suggested by the residents of the area as part of an outreach to create a festival-for-all.

Earlier this week wristbands for local residents were given out for special food perks.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department has said it will still be staffing with extra deputies on Del Playa Drive for any large crowds or needs in the area. In the past there have been numerous calls for medical issues, cliff falls, and injuries.

Most arrests were from out of towners.

The beaches closed on the order of the county at 8 a.m. today and will reopen Monday.

Parking in the area will have restrictions. The nearby Goleta streets in some areas will have local permit parking only.

(More details, photos and details will be added here later today.)

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