Orange Crush, a controversial Georgia college spring break event known for bringing violence and creating a significant amount of litter in the usually tranquil Tybee Island, is making a comeback this Saturday. The organizers have assured that this time around, they are committed to ensuring the event’s safety and cleanliness.
This year, Orange Crush has obtained an official permit and, moreover, struck an agreement with Tybee Island authorities to maintain the beach’s cleanliness for the anticipated attendance of several thousand individuals coming to witness the sunrise on Easter Sunday from the iconic Tybee Beach pier.
“In recent years, our region in southeast Georgia has not so fondly remembered the impact of this event. The situation spiraled out of control when non-college students joined in, mainly driven by motives unrelated to the event’s essence,” revealed Tybee Island Mayor Brian West in an interview with Fox News Digital. “Last year was notably positive, and I consider it a success, despite some imperfections.”
West added that if the event goes smoothly this year, city officials will keep working with event organizers to establish trust among locals and keep the event returning to Tybee for future spring break festivals.
Workers use steel barricades to block street parking and side streets along Butler Avenue April 16, 2024, as the City of Tybee Island prepares for Orange Crush. (Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News/USA Today Network.)
“I have worked closely with Tybee Island officials, including Mayor Brian West, law enforcement in Tybee Island and Savannah and other key stakeholders to develop a rigorous plan for this year’s festival,” Smalls said. “Our team has followed a strict schedule to ensure that every detail is carefully organized and executed with safety and structure in mind.”
Smalls noted that Orange Crush has “been a longstanding tradition, occurring with or without a permit,” but this year will be different because “for the first time, the event is officially structured, with security, waste management and traffic coordination in place.”
A group hangs out on the boardwalk after being on Tybee Island beach for Orange Crush. (RJ Smith/Savannah Morning News/USA Today Network)
In 2018, Tybee Island enacted new regulations cracking down on Orange Crush weekend, including restrictions on open alcohol because Tybee is an open container city, increased traffic stops and property searches and limits on home rentals. An activist group, the Concerned Citizens of Tybee, complained about the regulations and involved the Justice Department. Eventually, the group and city leaders came to an agreement in July 2018.
The agreement states that Tybee will apply the same rules and restrictions to all large events on the island, “permitted or unpermitted,” that will be applied equally.
