First Time Isla Vista “Soltopia” Spring Festival Expects Thousands
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.
"I feel really thankful for some of the people at the county that did sit down and walk us through important things that we had to consider along the way, even though it was a crazy timeline," said IVCSD Community Programs and Engagement Director Myah Mashhadialireza.
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 Flotopia 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 and keep it safe.
"And this hopefully hits all those marks that people will get to have their own event, really enjoy something to support our local businesses for the local artists," said IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud.
There will be six stages, 80 performers and eight entertainment zones, including many suggested by the residents of the area as part of an outreach to create a festival-for-all.
Mashhadialireza said, "We want people to be able to enjoy themselves, and they voted on all of these musicians and bands that we have and deejays, so we know they like them."
Abboud was part of a team handing out wrist bands for Isla Vista and UC Santa Barbara residen ts and verifying their local addresses. He said the crowd was enthusiastic. "People are so excited. They are telling us that it's going to be better than Deltopia.They are excited for the free food. They're excited for the curation element because we've curated six different stages."
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 linked to drugs and alcohol, 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.
One resident was not happy with the new rules but will check out the festival. C.J. Eftekhari said, "It's better than nothing. And I think they're doing a good job with the wristbands and I'm gonna check it out. I'm open minded, so we'll see how it goes."
Parking in the area will have restrictions. The nearby Goleta streets in some areas will have local permit parking only. This is mainly off Storke Road near Isla Vista. Special permits were issued to Girsch Park teams as well.
