Alternatives conjured up to calm down Isla Vista Halloween weekend
ISLA VISTA, Calif. -- To divert what could be thousands of people from multiple parties in Isla Vista this weekend, community leaders and UC Santa Barbara are offering alternatives for both health and safety reasons.
In years gone by, large crowds came to Isla Vista for the non-permitted Halloween street party. In recent years, the size and popularity of the event has diminished significantly and the number of arrests has gone down.
UC Santa Barbara had been offering a low-cost concert on campus, but that is not taking place this year due to the pandemic.
The Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) has coordinated a Virtual Festival Halloween 2020 with the organizers of the Lucidity Festival LLC.
The event takes place 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. October 30 to 31. It is free with a pre-registration into a Zoom room and a Facebook/Youtube/Twitch livestream.
It will have a costume contest, music and spoken word participants. The Associated Students Program Board will host a virtual comedy show on October 30. Then, on October 31, Halloween, there will be a virtual concert for students.
The IVCSD believes this event will offer a way to stay home, have fun and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in an area that has had a spike recently.
UC Santa Barbara Police Officer Victoria Saunders was handing out masks at a specially set up table on Pardall Road Tuesday and said there's a strong sense of collaboration.
The effort is to slow the spread of COVID-19 which has been challenging with so many residents in Isla Vista and many living tightly in the same apartments.
"What we really want is mostly just to have a safe community. We want to slow the spread of COVID and just help each other out," said Saunders.
The table she was at had university logo masks and health information as the community heads into the festive Halloween weekend.
Some residents say they received an information flyer and are going to play it cool. "Some people will do their own thing but the smarter crowd just kicks back and doesn't go out," said Mathew Roberts
The plan is to do several days with daytime information tables then, this weekend, pivot and do night time outreach.
Anyone planning large Halloween events have been discouraged because it could violated the county health order, and county noise rules.
Signs are posted on the roadside throughout Isla Vista for visitors about parking restrictions, and special fencing is up around several buildings to prevent trespassers. Only residents will be allowed in.
It's a plan that has worked in the past.
IVCSD General Manager Jonathan Abboud says "Our goal is to provide a safe and fun event. "
The district and A.S. board will confidence many people will tune in to the virtual entertainments, standup comedy and contests for best decorations that could win a household a thousand dollars.
The plan is to keep resident in and not going out due to the spike in COVID cases lately.
"Yes it's been bad but we have been doing all we can to get it out so one thing that is starting this weekend we usually have safety stations with a community service officer out right here," said Abboud.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and the UCSB Police will be patrolling in tandem not just in the main areas of student housing but throughout the crowded community of about 15 to 20,000.
"We also have families who don't go to UCSB and we want to make sure that every single person in Isla Vista feels like they are being taken care of as best as possible," said Saunders.
