Collaboration across and around campus aims to ensure safe Halloween celebrations

Continuing the partnership that’s been successful for several years running, UC Santa Barbara is again partnering with students, local agencies and the community to develop rules, regulations, safety enhancements and alternative events for the Halloween period between Friday, Oct. 24 and Friday,  Oct. 31.

It all kicks off with Hallowheels at the Recreation Center on campus. Starting at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, the annual alternative event will feature roller skating, pumpkin painting, silent disco, photo booth, costume contests, food, candy, a spooky movie, s'mores, corn hole and more. Hallowheels is a collaboration of the Department of Recreation, Health & Wellness, Life of the Party, The Santa Barbara Independent, The Point Market and Woodstock’s Pizza. 

Then, on Saturday, Oct. 25, Associated Students Program Board presents its popular students-only concert event, Delirium, at the Thunderdome. This year’s featured artist is rapper YG; tickets are $5 for current students and access cards are required for entry.

Off campus, the Isla Vista Recreation and Parks District (IVRPD), will sponsor a haunted pumpkin patch event in Anisq’Oyo’ Park from 7–11 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 and Friday, Oct. 31. The festivities will include a silent disco, carnival games, photo booth, film screenings and a costume contest.

Also on Friday, Oct. 31, at 11:59 p.m., Isla Vista Arts and Magic Lantern Films will screen The Rocky Horror Picture Show in Campbell Hall with a live shadow cast. Tickets are $11 for UCSB students and $15 for community members. 

The festival ordinance prohibiting amplified live or recorded music will be in effect in Isla Vista from Sunday, Oct. 26 through Tuesday, Nov. 4, between 6 p.m. each evening until 7 a.m. the following morning. Festival ordinance violations can run as high as $500 in administrative fines. The public right-of-way ordinance, which prohibits attracting a crowd that blocks the street or participating in an event that blocks the street, also will be in effect and carries fines up to $500. 

IV Safety Stations will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm-2am at Little Acorn Park and at Window to the Sea on Del Playa.

As in past years, no overnight guests are allowed in any of UC Santa Barbara residence halls from 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 to 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26 or from 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 to 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.

Campus officials have worked diligently to develop a parking plan to help ensure the safety of the campus community of students, faculty, staff and others who are authorized to use campus facilities during the Halloween period. Additional measures will be put in place to discourage unauthorized use of campus parking facilities to gain access to Isla Vista during Halloween.

The campus will be closed to overnight visitor parking on Friday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 25, Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1. Campus checkpoints will be in place beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24 and will continue as needed throughout both weekends to provide safety and security to the campus. Unauthorized vehicles will be denied access without prior approval. 

In order to park on campus overnight on the dates identified above, all vehicles must be registered with valid “Reserved”, ”A”, “B”, “C”, “H”, or an Annual “Night & Weekend” ePermit.

Short-term ePermits, including Daily, 15-Day Night & Weekend, and Visitor permits issued from the TPS Permit Portal, Permit Dispensers, and ParkMobile will expire at midnight, Friday, Oct. 24, Saturday, Oct. 25, Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1.  

These permits are not valid for overnight parking. Unauthorized vehicles parked overnight on campus are subject to a $300 citation and having the vehicle impounded at the owner’s expense. The enhanced parking restrictions will cease between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to allow for normal business on campus.

As in previous years, a number of other campus parking locations are subject to closure and access will be limited to support enhanced safety and security measures.

All measures and events are designed to keep Halloween a locally focused occasion. The campus continues to team on these efforts with myriad community partners, including IVCSD, IVRPD, Isla Vista Foot Patrol, the City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County.