The City of San Diego is intensifying its efforts to halt unpermitted events that pose significant safety risks, with a particular focus on an illegal float festival hosted each summer at Mission Bay.
According to documents obtained by FOX5/KUSI, city officials sent a letter dated February 5, 2025, to two individuals identified as the organizers of the annual float gathering. The letter states that the organizers owe the city more than $54,000 due to costs incurred for public safety responses during last summer’s event, which was conducted without the necessary permits. The associated invoice was also included, though the names of the organizers have been redacted.
City officials emphasize that the organizers are liable for the costs associated with rescue operations, which included two dozen lifeguard rescues. “You got alcohol in the water, you’ve got some vessels that are under power, and you have people who are just on floats,” warned Lt. Rick Romero of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. Romero noted that these unsafe conditions often attract large crowds to Mission Bay each summer, with the event gaining notoriety through social media.
As attendance grows, so do the challenges for emergency services. “When a few hundred people show up to an unpermitted event, it impacts our normal operations. We’ve had to rescue individuals who either float away or cannot make it back to shore, often due to intoxication,” Romero added.
District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, which includes Mission Bay, expressed her dismay over the organizers’ decision to move forward without permits, stating:
Public safety is my top priority, and I’m grateful to the police officers, lifeguards, and park rangers who conducted the rescues. However, it is concerning that the organizers chose to proceed without proper permits, despite clear warnings about the financial repercussions of their actions.
As of now, the city has not received any inquiries regarding the scheduling of a future “Festival of Floats.” The organizers have until March 10 to remit the payment of over $54,000 or face potential collections and additional fees.
