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Crowds, Arrests, and Medical Issues Reported at Cal Poly St. Fratty's Day Concert
Over 11,000 attended the Morning on the Green concert, but the large police presence helped curb neighborhood issues
Mar. 15, 2026 at 2:40am
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More than 11,000 people attended a concert at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the early hours of Saturday morning for the annual St. Fratty's Day celebration. While there were few issues in the neighborhoods next to the campus, the event did result in multiple arrests, citations, and medical transports of intoxicated students. A large law enforcement presence, including officers from numerous agencies, helped manage the crowds and prevent the partying from spilling over into the surrounding streets.
Why it matters
In recent years, the St. Fratty's Day celebrations in San Luis Obispo have led to significant vandalism, injuries, and arrests in the neighborhoods near the Cal Poly campus. City and university officials have been working to curb these issues, and the increased security and focus on the centralized concert this year appears to have helped mitigate the problems seen in the past.
The details
The Morning on the Green concert at Cal Poly's Sports Complex was expected to draw around 14,000 people, but ultimately saw over 11,000 attendees. Cal Poly provided a tent on-site where intoxicated students could be evaluated, and at least 9 students were transported to local hospitals due to intoxication. Outside the concert, officers from over a dozen law enforcement agencies patrolled the surrounding neighborhoods, using vehicles, bicycles, and even horses to maintain order. Despite the large crowds, the partying did not significantly spill over into the streets, in contrast to previous years when vandalism, broken windows, and trash were major issues.
- The concert started at 4:45 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
- From Friday at midnight through Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the SLO County Police Department issued 19 citations and made one arrest for an assault in the downtown area.
The players
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
The university that hosted the Morning on the Green concert as part of the annual St. Fratty's Day celebrations.
SLO Police Department
The lead law enforcement agency that coordinated the security efforts for the event, working with numerous other agencies from the region.
What they’re saying
“The SLO Police Department wants to thank city staff, Cal Poly and agency partners who participated in the operation.”
— SLO Police Department
What’s next
City and university officials will likely continue to evaluate the success of this year's event management approach and consider further steps to ensure public safety and curb issues during future St. Fratty's Day celebrations.
The takeaway
While the large crowds and partying associated with St. Fratty's Day in San Luis Obispo have led to significant problems in recent years, the coordinated law enforcement efforts and focus on a centralized concert this year appear to have helped mitigate the neighborhood disruptions and safety concerns that have plagued the event in the past.
