The unpopular, unlicensed spring break party known as “Deltopia” near UC Santa Barbara has ended with more than twice the number of hundreds of quotes and arrests since last year.
The annual Bluffside Street party, held at Del Playa Drive in Isla Vista, a community adjacent to the university, usually brings out thousands of people, leading to regular medical calls, arrests and quotes.
Authorities announced Monday that over the weekend, law enforcement agencies saw a crowd larger than the usual crowd, issued 485 citations and made 84 arrests.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said that for context there were 256 citations and 32 arrests in 2024, and 151 citations and 23 arrests in 2023.
This year’s Deltopia event began on Friday, April 4th. This was described by the Sheriff’s Office as “relatively gentle,” with a total of 20 citations and one arrest.
“However, the sheriff’s office details in the release: “On Saturday, there was a huge increase in both crowd size and emergency medical calls, most of which were linked to alcoholism.”
Authorities had recorded at least 19 medical emergency by noon on Saturday.
The first two arrests on Saturday happened around 9:20am to obstruction and donate alcohol to minors. As of 3:30pm, the sheriff’s office said more than 60 arrests had been made.
Of the total 84 arrests made this year, the sheriff’s office noted that at least one person was arrested for firearms fees and six were arrested as a result of a longer investigation.
The two suspects in this photo were accused of donating alcohol to minors. At least 84 people were arrested at the 2025 Deltopia Weekend event at Isla Vista. Emergency personnel in April 2025 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office) are responding to one of at least 19 medical emergency situations in Isla Vista at the 2025 Deltopia Weekend event. April 2025 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office) The gun seen in this photo was seized in one of at least 84 arrests at the 2025 Deltopia weekend event. Two of at least 84 people arrested at the 2025 Deltopia Weekend event in April 2025 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office) are seen in this photo. April 2025 (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
The arrest for arms violation occurred around 11am on Saturday when lawmakers approached a group of people along a market drive on their way to Deltopia. Deputies have discovered that members of the group carry a loaded gun and arrested the suspect.
Almost 20 minutes later, deputies provided a warrant and arrested six other suspects revealed by a month-long investigation into a conspiracy violating the festival ordinance.
Six suspects arrested in the 6600 block of Del Playa allegedly sold tickets through officials who are only described as “ticket platforms” for throwing paid parties that violate county regulations.
“Thankfully, no deaths were reported from Cliff Falls or fentanyl overdose,” the sheriff’s office said. The release added that he was not injured by law enforcement officers or the use of force.
“Our team of nearly 300 representatives and officers from eight law enforcement agencies made tireless efforts to maintain public safety and respond quickly to medical emergencies,” said Schmidt, manager of Isla Vista Foot Patrol Station. “Because the crowd is bigger than the normal crowd, our executives did a great job and ensured the safety of our community.”
Deltopia began at the beach of Ira Vista, known as the “Flotopia” nearly 200 years ago, and party attendees gathered at beaches and rafts off the coast and intubes.
But years later, county officials began cracking down on the event due to cluttered, damage to public beaches and concerns from neighbors.
The large gathering reached its darkest point when the riot broke out in 2014, with dozens of students and more than 20,000 participants out of town arrested or cited.
Since then, authorities have actively curtailed the number of medical calls and arrests made through parking restrictions and education campaigns, and have attempted to keep the party “local.”
On the release of the sheriff’s office, Li praised the seaside residents of Delpura, saying, “I would like to thank those who refrained from hosting parties on the overloaded balcony.
Travis Schlepp contributed to this report.
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