Orange Crush 2025: Georgia beach town in permit showdown over crime-fueled college fest

The Orange Crush festival, which began as a cherished spring break tradition for students at Savannah State University in the 1980s, has evolved into a chaotic and often dangerous event that now attracts tens of thousands of attendees to Tybee Island, Georgia. Once a small, local gathering, the festival has grown exponentially, drawing massive crowds and creating significant challenges for the small island community. In 2023, the event spiraled out of control, with reports of gunfire, stampedes, and widespread destruction, leading Tybee Island Mayor Brian West to describe it as “complete mayhem.” The festival, which is no longer affiliated with Savannah State University, has become a source of concern for local leaders, who are struggling to manage the influx of visitors and the associated crime, traffic, and environmental damage.

Despite efforts to regulate the event, Orange Crush has become a magnet for disorderly behavior. In recent years, attendees have been known to engage in violent acts, such as throwing glass bottles and climbing on top of police cars. The festival has also been marred by littering, with trash left behind on the beach and in the water, requiring extensive cleanup efforts by volunteers and local organizations. Additionally, the event has overwhelmed Tybee Island’s infrastructure, with traffic congestion forcing some visitors to abandon their vehicles on neighboring islands. Mayor West has described the situation as “very uncomfortable” for residents, who often find their neighborhoods disrupted by the chaos.

In an attempt to regain control, the city of Tybee Island has implemented various measures, including closing parking lots, restricting access to certain areas, and increasing police presence during the festival. The city has also rented a pier to serve as a staging area for law enforcement. However, the sheer number of attendees—estimated to be around 50,000 for the 2025 event—has made it difficult to maintain order. Mayor West has expressed concerns about the safety of both participants and residents, urging visitors to avoid the island during the festival. He has also called for the event to be relocated to a larger venue, stating, “The party needs to be at a bigger place with more access.”

Orange Crush organizers, led by CEO Steven Smalls, have sought to address the chaos by implementing a more structured approach to the festival. Smalls has emphasized that the event has been transformed into a well-organized experience, with security, waste management, and traffic coordination in place. He has also worked closely with local officials to develop a comprehensive plan for the 2025 festival, which includes increased safety measures and accountability for participants. However, Mayor West has raised concerns about the involvement of “disreputable” promoters, suggesting that the city may not approve the event’s permit request due to these associations. Smalls has countered by encouraging consistent enforcement of regulations across all local businesses and promoters involved in the festival.

The tension between organizers and local leaders reflects the broader challenges of balancing economic opportunities with public safety and environmental concerns. While Orange Crush has the potential to generate significant revenue for local businesses, the risks associated with the event have led to ongoing debates about its future. Mayor West has cautiously acknowledged improvements in the 2024 festival compared to the 2023 chaos, but he remains skeptical about the event’s ability to be safely and successfully managed. For now, the city is preparing for another Orange Crush weekend, with a heavy police presence and a range of containment measures in place to mitigate the anticipated disruptions.

As the 2025 Orange Crush festival approaches, the community of Tybee Island remains divided on its impact. While some see the event as an opportunity for celebration and economic growth, others view it as a threat to the island’s tranquility and safety. The festival’s legacy, once rooted in a small-town college tradition, has evolved into a complex and contentious issue that continues to test the limits of local governance and community resilience. Whether the event can be reimagined as a safe and structured celebration remains to be seen, but for now, the focus is on managing the chaos and ensuring the well-being of all involved.