Deltopia

Deltopia, originally known as Floatopia, is a social event that began in 2004 and takes place annually in Isla Vista, California.

Local authorities were not expecting a crowd of this magnitude, which left environmental destruction and numerous legal and medical cases in its wake.

[3][4][5] The event was originally titled "Floatopia", a portmanteau which referenced the flotation devices used by the attendees in the Pacific Ocean and the definition of "utopia".

[2][4][5][7][9] The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office recognized the utilization of social networking and described the event as "... a public safety emergency and an environmental crisis ..." in their 2009 annual report.

[2][11] The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors drafted emergency ordinances aimed at preventing Floatopia 2, resulting in a temporary 6 month alcohol ban at Isla Vista beaches.

[10] With the success of the restrictions put in place to prevent 2009's Floatopia 2, government officials made the temporary beach alcohol ban permanent in November 2009.

[7][14][15] In response to the changes, attendees took to Del Playa Drive in block party fashion and renamed the event "Deltopia" after the street's name.

At the event 78 alcohol citations were issued and 13 arrests were made under the charges of drunk in public or disorderly conduct (throwing bottles from the bluffs towards the crowd below).

Two party goers were taken to the Cottage Hospital trauma center after falling from the cliffs and 33 people received treatment for head injuries, alcohol poisoning, and lacerations.

[12] The police also received a 9-1-1 call reporting a drowning person, but after they dispatched two engines and a truck to Del Playa and interviewed surrounding witnesses, no injury was actually apparent.

[2][29] Following Santa Barbara's April 2009 Floatopia, Cal Poly student attendees created a spin-off event dubbed "Slotopia" planned for May 2009.

[30][31] Pressure from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and local police led to the event's cancellation in late April 2009.

[44][45] In July 2021 Deadline Hollywood reported that a movie starring Luna Blaise and Madison Pettis, with executive producer Olivia Newton-John, was in production and would be based on the Deltopia 2014 events.