Spring breakers are seen lounging on the beaches, posing for selfies and splashing in the waves on the traditional changeover Sunday as crowds get fired up for another week of partying.
Thousands of students flocked to the beaches at Fort Lauderdale on what is usually a quiet Sunday, but this year’s spring break has been different and is expected to be the largest ever following a two-year delay because of Covid restrictions.
The crowds of people dressed for the weather in tiny bikinis and colorful swim trunks and were undeterred by the visible presence of police officers on horseback looking to keep a lid on the celebrations.
As a result of the two-year absence of spring break celebrations, the mayor of Miami Beach has beefed up beachside police numbers and said the city is ‘under siege’ from raucous revelers.
Last week, hotels were booked solid in both Miami Beach and South Padre Island, Texas, swelling the population of both vacation towns with young men and women looking to cut loose for a few days of partying on the beach.
An estimated 570,000 students will flock to Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Port Aranas, a town on the barrier island just north of South Padre, is also expected to go from a population of 3,000 to 350,000, according to the local chamber of commerce.
Spring break typically peaks during the final two weeks of March when the majority of schools and colleges break up for a week.
Last week saw the celebrations kick off in earnest, featuring wet t-shirt contests, twerking and public smooching sessions, but they didn’t pass without incident.
Crowds of young people – most donning tiny bikinis and brightly colored swim shorts – flocked to the beaches in Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
Young people were seen splashing around in the water at Fort Lauderdale while enjoying some alcoholic drinks with friends
Traditionally, the Sunday between the two busiest weeks of Spring Break is quiet with many people heading home and others arriving, but this year is different following a two-year delay due to Covid restrictions
Many people in the crowds were seen posing for pictures with their friends and drinking as they enjoyed the sunshine
An estimated 570,000 students will flock to Florida over spring break, according to the Tampa Bay Times, following a two-year hiatus
The crowds of young people were seen drinking and relaxing in the Sunday sun ahead of another big week of partying
Last Sunday, four men were found unresponsive at a Fort Lauderdale property, according to Local10. They were hospitalized, and it is unclear if they were spring breakers, or what had caused their illness, which came days after five West Point cadets overdosed on fentanyl in Wilton Manors, just outside Fort Lauderdale.
The incessant partying led to a mass overdose at a house party on Tuesday, with six victims being hospitalized after using fentanyl-laced cocaine.
On Friday, three people were injured, one critically, after shots rang out at a beach in South Padre Island, Texas. Police say the gunman in that shooting remains at large.
And then earlier on Sunday morning, spring breakers were running for their lives after shots rang out in Miami Beach, Florida.
But on Sunday afternoon at beaches in Fort Lauderdale, crowds of young people were seen relaxing in the sun, sipping liquor from cups and splashing around in the water.
Despite it being the traditionally quiet Sunday in the middle of the two busiest weeks in spring break, with many heading home and others only just arriving, the beaches remained packed with many police officers on horseback keeping a close eye on proceedings.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach police departments have increased the number of police officers patrolling tourist hotspots during the break this year and many will be working overtime.
While 2020 saw a dismal 1,500 people a day flying to Florida and 2021 saw a crowd of about 65,000 spring breakers, the Tampa Bay Times estimated that 570,000 students will be on vacation in the Sunshine State to party on the beaches this year.
Police said they were readying themselves ahead of a huge influx of students and on Sunday they were seen keeping a close eye on proceedings
The visible police presence comes after a number of incidents, including shootings and students overdosing, were reported last week
Police are expecting another big week of celebrations as the two busiest weeks of Spring Break continue in earnest
The Sunday between the two busiest weeks is traditionally fairly quiet but this year saw thousands of people flock to the beaches at Fort Lauderdale
Young people in bikinis were seen mixing in with Fort Lauderdale locals all making the most of the bright sunshine on Sunday
A group of students are seen drinking beers while relaxing on the beach at Fort Lauderdale during Spring Break 2022
Police on horseback were seen patrolling the beaches and nearby roads to keep partygoers in check after a number of reported incidents in recent days
A couple of partygoers pose with a man in a costume as revellers enjoyed the sea and sand at Fort Lauderdale on Sunday
This year, Fort Lauderdale officials said they were readying themselves by enforcing safety measures before the expected arrival of Spring Breakers from all across the country.
Police and fire rescue officials in Fort Lauderdale, often dubbed as ‘Spring Break Central,’ told reporters at a news conference on Friday that they expect to reach unprecedented levels since the coronavirus pandemic.
Sunday’s shooting in Miami saw police placed on high alert while young adults continued drinking, dancing, laying out and playing games.
Three people were injured Friday night after a gunman opened fired on Padre Island National Seashore in Texas, a beach known for its wild parties.
According to Corpus Christi police, a man in his 30s suffered serious injuries and was in critical condition. A 16-year-old girl and 19-year-old man also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the suspect remains at large and it remains unclear if the gunman was a vacationer or local resident.
Last week, on St. Patrick’s day, a crowd of spring breakers celebrating in Miami Beach rushed into a stampede after someone pulled out a gun on South Beach near Ocean Drive. Although no one was shot, one person was injured during the mad dash to flee the area, the Miami Herald reported.
Despite the chaos, officials claim spring break turnout remained lower than normal this year with some alleging sky-rocketing transportation costs likely played a factor in students’ plans.
Students vacationing at Panama City Beach in Florida said they spent more on airfare this year than on prior spring breaks.
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