The 2010 Floatopia party near UCSB was canceled this year, as county officials stopped it from happening since the student organizers did not have an event permit. Roughly 12,000 people came to Floatopia 2009, and crowds were expected to be even bigger this year which is what worried the Santa Barbara County officials. When this many people descend upon the beach at once, it causes massive devastation to the natural habitat. There are not enough bathroom facilities to accommodate the UCSB students for Floatopia, nor are there the proper security to make sure people stay safe. Santa Barbara County officials also had to know that the banning of the beach would lead to other partying, as that is exactly what went down in Isla Vista next to UCSB this last Saturday. This new event was dubbed Del-topia, as it took place on Del Playa and surrounding streets in Isla Vista instead of the beach this year. There were rough 8,000 people partying at the Del-topia event, which is fewer than Floatopia last year.
Students still partied at Del-topia as if it were Floatopia, wearing beach attire while they participated in the party across Isla Vista. This party is still no where near the size and popularity of the Halloween party, but if Floatopia is over then Del-topia might have a chance to prevail. It is much easier to party at the houses throughout Isla Vista like they do on Halloween, as opposed to bringing that many people to the beach. Over the next year we will see if UCSB students get organized enough to have Floatopia, or if Del-topia will be the new spring event for California college students in the area. It is therefore unclear if Floatopia is over for good, or if the party will continue next year in a way that makes Santa Barbara County officials happy.
Tags: Floatopia, UCSB, University of California Santa Barbara
