COCOA BEACH, Fla. — Cocoa Beach leaders say it will be all hands on deck this Memorial Day weekend after being warned about a street party that could draw anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 people to the area. 

Volusia County law enforcement warned local police about Thursday night that a party invite for the Saturday event at the pier was spreading like wildfire.

What You Need To Know

  •  Officials in Cocoa Beach said they found out this week that an unauthorized "Beach Day Party" may be taking place Saturday

  •  They said upwards of 10,000 could attend the gathering

  •  Cocoa Beach City Manager Wayne Carragino said the city only found out about the party on Thursday and that leaders were "planning for the worst"

Now, police officials say they are fully staffed and are bringing in re-enforcements due to the havoc this party has caused in Daytona Beach in recent years.

On the cusp of the holiday weekend, the sands and surf near the Cocoa Beach Pier were filled with hundreds of sun worshippers and families.

That peaceful setting is what city officials say will be upended if 10,000 partygoers show up.

“That’s insane,” said Skylar McKenzie-Smith, who was visiting from Texas. “This is a family beach. That’s crazy to do it here.”

A look back at the 2020 Memorial Day weekend in Daytona Beach could give a glimpse of what this type of party could bring.

 

Officials there said it involved a rowdy crowd that blocked traffic and ran on top of cars.

 

There were even reports of people being shot.

“Traditionally, this event has been in Volusia, and they were given notification that they were no longer welcome in that area,” says Cocoa Beach Police Chief Wes Mullins.

Now due to a warning from Volusia County, Cocoa Beach is bracing for the “Beach Day Party” — which is scheduled to happen from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the pier.

Officials say word of the gathering spread online through email links, with those interested in paying $1-$2 to gain access to a timed link to the location.

“We are scrambling around to react to this, and it’s difficult,” Cocoa Beach City Manager Wayne Carragino said. “We don’t really know what to expect, quite frankly, so we are planning for the worst.”

And it’s more than just traffic thousands of cars could bring in.

“The history, some of the things that have happened — shootings, fights, all of that which we are not going to put up with,” Carragino said.

City officials say the party’s promoter is trying to supersede their special events permit, which must be applied for at least 30 days in advance so they have time to staff the appropriate number of police, firefighters and EMTs.

As a result, time off has been canceled and it’s an all hands-on deck situation in anticipation of what could come.

“Now we are planning to have 5 to 10,000 people in the city, in one area, that we had not planned for,” Mullins said.

McKenzie-Smith said she’s glad her Florida vacation is ending with a flight back to Texas early Saturday morning.

“I hope nothing happens, because look at it, it’s so pristine and calm,” she said of the beach.

Police officials say they will enforce the special event zone that spans the city by cracking down with double traffic fines and vehicle towing, if necessary.

Also, Cape Canaveral Hospital is on alert in case of any emergencies.