Georgia beach town approves permit for rowdy Orange Crush spring break festival under certain conditions
A small Georgia vacation spot and organizers of a historically rowdy festival called Orange Crush are coming together to try to make the event safer and more organized this spring.Orange Crush, a spring break event in Tybee Island, Georgia, that used to be organized by students at nearby Savannah State University, brought “complete mayhem” to Tybee Island in 2023, according to Mayor Brian West, but he is optimistic for a better event this year.West hosted a town hall on Friday, March 21, to discuss community concerns about the event, which will take place in Tybee on Saturday, April 19, and opened the discussion with a brief history of Orange Crush. West explained how it began as a relatively small spring break gathering in 1989 but has since grown into a large festival that local officials have struggled to control in recent years.West previously explained to Fox News Digital that Orange Crush in years past was “riotous” with “stampeding” and gunfire in the city’s parking lots.On Friday, West shared the town’s extensive plans to coordinate traffic, parking and safety for both event-goers and locals on the weekend of April 19.Orange Crush organizers Steven Smalls and George Turner approached West in December to apply for the event’s first-ever permit from Tybee Island.On Jan.29, Tybee Island issued a conditional letter of approval, and local officials have been meeting with organizers to discuss plans since then.On Thursday, Tybee Island granted a special permit for Orange Crush after negotiating a one-day event rather than a three-day event, as well as an agreed-upon site plan, which blocks access to Tybee Island parking lots, where West said some nefarious activity occurred at past Orange Crush events.Attendees can also rent beach equipment and there will be special VIP areas this year, West said.
Additionally, Tybee Island will be bringing in extra police officers to help enforce public safety.Kia Waters, COO of New Heights Management, said...