Tybee Island, Georgia, is working with organizers of the Orange Crush festival to make the event safer and more organized this year. Orange Crush is a spring break festival that started in 1989 as a small gathering but has grown into a large event, often causing problems for the town.
In past years, the festival has led to major issues such as heavy traffic, littering, and even violence. Mayor Brian West described the 2023 event as “complete mayhem,” with reports of stampedes and gunfire in parking lots. To prevent similar problems, Tybee Island officials have made several changes for 2025.
For the first time, event organizers Steven Smalls and George Turner applied for a permit, and the city approved it under strict conditions. Instead of lasting three days, this year’s festival will be a one-day event on April 19. Parking lots, which were hotspots for illegal activities in the past, will be closed. Additionally, Tybee Island will have extra police officers on duty to ensure public safety.
To improve cleanliness, organizers are hiring a private cleanup team to restore the beach before Easter Sunday. They also plan to educate visitors about the island’s history and importance, hoping to encourage respectful behavior.
The festival is expected to attract around 50,000 people, which can cause traffic congestion on the island’s single road. To manage this, the city will block off neighborhood streets, assign traffic personnel, and close certain parking areas.
In previous years, some festival-goers engaged in dangerous activities, including climbing on police cars, throwing bottles, and hosting unregulated events in parking lots. Law enforcement struggled to handle these situations, as arresting individuals meant sending officers away to a jail located an hour away in Savannah.
Despite concerns, Smalls and Turner believe this year’s event will be different. They have implemented a structured system to manage security, waste disposal, and crowd control. Smalls emphasized that while the festival has always happened with or without a permit, this is the first time it will be officially organized.
The city has also promised to enforce regulations fairly for all large events, ensuring that rules apply equally, regardless of who organizes them. By working together, both the city and festival organizers hope to create a safe and enjoyable event for everyone involved.
