Isla Vista hosts 15th annual Pardall Carnival

Pardall Road turned into a colorful stretch of music, art, food and student booths on Sunday, May 4 when Isla Vista hosted its 15th annual Pardall Carnival.

The event, organized by the Isla Vista Community Relations Committee, brought together students, families and local residents for a day of performances, carnival activities and outreach from campus and community organizations working to build stronger connections.

UCSB student band The Sweeps performs outside the Pardall Center in Isla Vista during the Pardall Carnival, one of several live acts featured at the event.

Crowds moved between rows of tables under the sun, holding trays stacked with churros and popcorn. Local bands played in front of the Pardall Center as attendees sang, danced and browsed the festivities. Attendees took turns at the dunk tank, posed for caricatures and visited booths filled with vibrant art displays.

“It’s nice seeing they are supporting local artists by having them stationed here,” Angela Vargas, a student at UC Santa Barbara said.

UCSB sophomore Angela Vargas (center) attends the Pardall Carnival with friends. Vargas said she came to see local artists and appreciated how the event brought the community together.

The Pardall Carnival is situated during a time when midterms are in full swing, and offer a moment for leisure and fun.

“We all need a break… especially during midterms and finals,” said Vargas.

She added that showcasing art at events like this feels especially important, as “a lot of people have been straying away from the arts lately.”

The Pardall Carnival provided more than just music, art and food — it turned Pardall Road into a shared space where Isla Vista residents, students, and community members could enjoy the afternoon side-by-side. 

People browsed booths, listened to live music and moved through the event at their own pace, creating a casual atmosphere of togetherness.

Spencer Level, a junior at UC Santa Barbara who volunteered at the event, said it stood out from day-to-day life in the small college town, where people often stick to familiar routines.

“I think Isla Vista can be kind of disjointed…” Level said. “Having larger events in the actual commercial district area, like this area, brings the community more together.”

UCSB juniors Sophia Valdez and Emmanuel Padilla take a break from midterms at the Pardall Carnival. The couple said they enjoyed the photobooth, free food, and seeing the street full of people.

Emmanuel Padilla, a junior at UC Santa Barbara also took notice of the turnout. As crowds filled Pardall Road from end to end, he said it was the most people he had seen out in the area in a long time.

“I don’t think I’ve seen this many people on Pardall — other than during Deltopia — in a really long time," said Emmanuel Padilla.

With stamp cards in hand, attendees made their way from booth to booth along Pardall Road. Many tables were hosted by campus services, local organizations and student groups.

After collecting stamps from at least 10 booths, participants were rewarded with free meals from vendors in Isla Vista like I.V. Deli Mart, Sam’s To Go, Zócalo, Maria’s Tacos and Antojitos. The system encouraged meaningful interaction with parts of the community students might normally overlook.

“Honestly, I think going around and getting stamps for free food… I think that was pretty cool, because you got to see a lot of stuff around the whole street,” Padilla said.

Other attendees agreed that the stamp-card system was an effective way to spotlight campus and community resources.

UCSB juniors Nicolas Meunier and Kelly Ilmi pose with a caricature at the Pardall Carnival, where they celebrated their one-year anniversary.

“I really like the free-food system that they have going on… You have to go and visit all the tables, which I think is really great,” Nicolas Meunier, a third-year student at UC Santa Barbara said. “You learn about all these services that you didn’t even know existed.”

The carnival hosted resources including the UCSB Community Service Organization (CSO), offering information on nighttime safety escorts; Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), promoting free therapy and wellness support and UCSB’s sustainability team, which shared tips on recycling and waste reduction. 

Life of the Party, a harm-reduction group, also handed out test strips and advice on safer partying. Together, these booths highlighted the support systems available to students — many of which are often overlooked.

“It’s a good way to familiarize yourself with resources… And I think that those resources can be used by all UCSB students,” said Kelly Ilmi, a junior at UC Santa Barbara. “Some people just don’t know about them, so we’re not using the full extent of resources that are given.”

As the afternoon went on, attendees settled onto curbs and outdoor dining spaces, sharing food, conversation and a break from their usual routines.

A student paints faces at a booth during the Pardall Carnival, one of several interactive stations set up along the street.

Isla Vista resident Guadalupe Guerrero, who brought her four-year-old daughter, said it was her first time attending. Her daughter enjoyed the snacks and kid-friendly activities, and Guerrero called the experience “really nice.”

As the booths came down and the music faded, Pardall Road returned to its usual pace. But for the afternoon, the street became something more—a shared space where students, families and locals could cross paths, connect and simply enjoy the moment. Whether stopping for food, to chat with artists or dance to student bands, attendees moved freely between groups in a way that felt relaxed and welcoming.

“The carnival brings out a sense of community because a lot of people tend to stay inside or hang out with their cliques. But here, everyone is just hanging out with each other and it’s chill vibes," said Sophia Valdez, a junior at UC Santa Barbara.