Tybee Island, Georgia is prepared to welcome back the Orange Crush music festival in April 2025, provided organizers adhere to specific conditions outlined by the city. The festival's Instagram page confirmed the dates as April 18-20, marking the first time in decades the event has received full permitting.
While the festival has historically drawn large crowds to the Georgia beach town, it has operated without official permits in the past, leading to concerns about security and sanitation. The Tybee Island City Council issued a conditional approval letter to organizer Steven Smalls on January 26, 2025, stipulating that a special events permit will be granted only after all conditions are met to the city's satisfaction.
These conditions encompass various aspects of the event, including timing, location, coordination of municipal services, protection of public property, prevention of unlawful activities, ensuring public safety, and traffic management. Any deviation from these requirements could result in the revocation of the permit.
The festival's Facebook page promotes the 2025 event as the biggest yet, promising a "legendary" experience. However, the 2023 event, held without a permit, was marred by incidents of violence and excessive trash, as documented on social media. The festival has a history of controversy, with Savannah State University disassociating itself from the event in 1991 due to violence and arrests.
After relocating to Jacksonville, Florida in 2021 citing logistical and political challenges, Orange Crush returned to Tybee Island in 2023. The city's conditional approval for the 2025 event suggests a cautious approach to managing the festival's impact on the island.
