Officials said social media posts helped draw thousands of young people to the Newport Pier area before police declared an unlawful assembly.
NEWPORT BEACH, CA — More than 400 people were arrested during Fourth of July celebrations in Newport Beach after a large crowd swarmed the Balboa Peninsula, launched fireworks, blocked roads and prompted a major police response, city officials said Sunday.
The arrests marked a sharp jump from last year’s holiday enforcement period and put new pressure on city leaders who had expanded safety rules before one of Newport Beach’s busiest weekends. Officials said many of those arrested were juveniles or young adults, and about half were taken into custody after they refused to leave the area once police declared an unlawful assembly.
Police first responded Saturday evening as thousands of people gathered around the Newport Pier area and nearby streets. City officials said social media posts helped drive a sudden influx of young people to the Balboa Peninsula late in the day. As the crowd grew, officers reported fights, blocked roadways, restricted emergency access and fireworks being launched into packed groups and toward police. “As the crowd rapidly grew, individuals engaged in increasingly dangerous and unlawful behavior,” the city said in a Sunday statement. Roads were closed for several hours while police worked to clear streets and move people out of the area.
The city said 403 people were arrested between midnight Friday and 6 a.m. Sunday, compared with 60 arrests during the same period last year. Other police statements listed 402 arrests from July 3 through the morning of July 5. Officials did not immediately release a full breakdown of charges, ages or hometowns. Newport Beach police said the crowd included many juveniles and young adults. The department said the response involved more than 350 officers from Newport Beach and 17 regional law enforcement agencies. One Newport Beach police officer was hit by a mortar, evaluated and released. Officials said it was not immediately clear how many civilians were hurt in the crowd.
The disturbance centered near the Balboa Peninsula, Newport Pier and a Pavilions grocery store on West Balboa Boulevard. Videos and witness accounts showed trash scattered across parking lots and streets, illegal fireworks exploding close to the ground, fights breaking out and people moving through the grocery store during reported looting. Emily Alcala, 18, who told the Los Angeles Times she had traveled from Las Vegas and was staying with family nearby, described the fireworks as frightening. “It’s very unsafe to have fireworks popped in the middle of crowds,” Alcala said. “There was no way that you could go that was safe at all.”
Newport Beach had warned before the holiday that Fourth of July weekend brings some of the year’s largest crowds to the city’s beaches, harbor and waterfront areas. The city had set Safety Enhancement Zones in West Newport Beach and Corona del Mar from July 3 through July 6, with enhanced enforcement and higher penalties for some violations. City rules ban all fireworks, including “safe and sane” fireworks sold in nearby cities. Officials also reminded visitors that open alcohol in public areas, loud and unruly gatherings, water balloons and spraying pedestrians or vehicles could lead to citations or arrests.
The city also had promoted its “Not in Newport” campaign before the holiday, warning that it would not tolerate public intoxication, illegal fireworks and rowdy conduct. Fines for some violations in safety zones were tripled during the holiday period. Newport Beach also set a one-strike rule for short-term lodging permits tied to serious public safety violations during safety periods. Mayor Lauren Kleiman told the Los Angeles Times that the city has long seen holiday youth crowds but that social media has changed how quickly they form. “We’re still processing everything,” Kleiman said. “Come Monday morning, we will all sit down and debrief about what we can do better for next year.”
Fire officials also had a busy holiday. The Newport Beach Fire Department responded to more than 100 emergency incidents on the Fourth of July, and 44 people were taken to hospitals, including six trauma patients, officials said. Police said the large crowd made it harder for emergency vehicles to move through parts of the peninsula. By Sunday morning, volunteers and residents were cleaning debris from streets, sidewalks and the beach. Mia Meyers, 19, who works near the Pavilions, said the area looked much better by the time she returned to work Sunday after residents helped clean up.
Police had not released a final list of charges by Monday morning. City officials said the holiday safety zones remained in effect through July 6, and Newport Beach leaders were expected to review the response, arrest totals, emergency access problems and short-term rental concerns after the weekend.
Author note: Last updated July 6, 2026.