Damielys Duarte/Staff Writer
The new year hasn’t even rung in and college students are already placing down payments for promising music festivals taking place here in South Florida. However, with rising anticipation comes increased safety warnings from police officials before and during the festivities.
At the 2019 Ultra Music Festival on Virginia Key, there were 35 arrests according to NBC 6 News. Ten of these arrests were felonies, 13 were for battery, trespassing or resisting arrest while another eight were charged with drug offenses.
And while the numbers are small compared to the large mass of people attending the event, 2019 proved to be the first time in six years that the number of arrests had gone up – with 27 arrests during the 2018 event in Downtown Miami.
It’s those daunting figures that should warn students of the subliminal dangers surrounding Miami festivals. Some ways to keep safe in the ruckus of people is to have a buddy system in case the group gets split up, preferably with one sober partner to ensure peak awareness.
With that said, be wary of pickpockets who use festivals and other crowded places to rummage through people’s bags. And while these events are known for their consumption of drugs and alcohol, it’s best to keep it on the down low as you want to be aware of your surroundings during an emergency.
The nature of these festivals might very well be linked to Miami blowing up as a party city over the past few years. Exclusive concerts like Rolling Loud, which originated in Los Angeles, California, has made the Magic City a permanent location for its annual rap and hip hop lineup. The latest addition to Miami music life, Vibra Urbana Music Festival, is the first ever Latin trap and reggaeton festival in the city, and will take place Feb. 22, 2020 in the Watsco Center.
It’s due to that impressive lineup that Miami has become a prime target for increased drug abuse and violence. In 2018, 28 people were transported to hospitals for drug induced illness during the Ultra Music Festival, according to the Miami Herald.
As a result, many students here at FIU have admitted they’re attending Rolling Loud, but a large group commented that they wouldn’t feel safe going alone or in pairs. Perhaps it’s in response to last year’s fiasco where Young Thug and his entourage were shot at on I-95 on their way to the festival, or Kodak Black was arrested Saturday morning before taking the stage due to weapon charges.
This is certainly something to keep in mind with the new Vibra Urbana Festival, which opened an Instagram account late November and has already begun selling tickets. Seeing as it is a relatively new festival, no one knows what to expect in crowd size, artist lineup and ambiance.
However, no matter the music or location, festivals can be a great experience as long as you go in with a safe group and sharp eyes. Hopefully this year’s lineup will prove to be everything Miami has hoped for and have students on the edge of their seats for many spring semesters to come.
Featured image by FIU Flickr.
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