A little over a month ago, the City of Tybee Island received its first permit application for what’s been known as the annual unpermitted event, Orange Crush. The founders and trademark holders, George Ransom Turner III and Steven Smalls, are optimistic that their permit, which features a 44-page long proposed site map, will reach final approval with the city.
The original event started on the island in 1989 as a gathering for and sponsored by Savannah State University students. Two years later, the school severed ties with the event after a dozen arrests, a stabbing and a drowning at the 1991 festival.
Now, 34 years later, it’s a tradition that has been kept alive through word of mouth and social media. It has operated without a permit, despite attempts by promoters and organizers to obtain a permit.
Until, now―maybe.
“We’re just ironing out all the small details to make sure everything’s addressed,” Turner said. “The main thing is safety, and the number of security and police that we’re going to need to support the number of stages that we have on the event. So, we need sponsors, and our Orange Crush app is essential for that, the treasure hunt is essential for that.”
To accommodate the $250,000 price tag of the security force they say the city is requesting they have, and to ensure Tybee businesses get something out of it, Turner and Smalls have cooked up a plan to secure local and major sponsorships.
After the spring 2023 event brought a flood of people, traffic and violence that devastated the barrier islands’ resources, the city put forth resources to ensure that same scenario did not repeat in 2024. Just before last year’s event, the city approved a budget amendment of $250,000 in preparation for operational costs such as overtime for law enforcement officers and staff, gas, housing and food. Additional costs included portable toilets, parking barriers and fencing for a towing yard. The city was pleased with how last years’ event went, although it was largely uneventful for festival-goers.
“We think it’ll be a better overall event with sponsors,” Turner said. “We spoke to Tybee about police and security and making sure the event is safe and comfortable for the residents as well as the local businesses, and the people coming in.”
Partyers gather near the pier on Saturday, April 20, 2024 during Orange Crush on Tybee Island.
A treasure hunt for sponsorship
Smalls and Turner are hoping to secure one title sponsor to have exclusive naming rights to the festival and a stage sponsor for the naming rights to one of the two festival stages, but they also want to entice local business owners with a treasure hunt that works like a scavenger hunt/bar crawl for participants.
Participants would download the Orange Crush App, which they say will launch in February, and be guided to different locations around the island to complete a “quest” for a prize.
“With the treasure hunt, we want people going into business on Tybee, as well as Savannah,” Turner said. “We’re advising all of our attendees to download this app to participate in the festival, which will guide them through the cities, shops, restaurants and bars. That’s how we’re looking to get this event sponsored.”
The businesses will serve as “interactive zones”, where treasure hunt participants earn points for engaging with the business. Small said they’re looking for businesses, depending on which package they purchase, to give up one item from their store for the overall winner of the hunt.
“The treasure hunt would drive revenue to these venues, as well as build trust between the Orange Crushers and these businesses,” Turner said. “So, there’s no reason to ever be shut down when Orange Crushers are coming into town…and they can be involved on a social media level and on a financial level.”
They’re looking for all sponsors of the treasure hunt to be confirmed by Feb. 1. The idea for the treasure hunt was inspired from events they’ve worked in Jacksonville, Florida, where the Orange Crush Festival moved for 2019.
“We tested out a scavenger hunt in Jacksonville two years ago and it was successful,” Turner said. “And when we got a chance to apply this year, it made so much sense. We had to think of a way to entice the sponsors and to bring people and coordinate people throughout the beach so that it’s not chaotic. Our goal is to support the beach. How can we help? Let us know your resources. We’ll let you know ours.”
Tall fencing has been installed to cut off the area around the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion on Saturday, April 20, 2024 during Orange Crush on Tybee Island.
Inside the festival plans
According to the proposal, the festival will set up all day Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21 will be dedicated to cleanup. The two days in between are packed with events planned from 11 a.m. when the gates open, to sunset.
Activities include a fashion show, dance competition, community brunch and networking, male auction fundraiser and performances on the main stage both days. Throughout both days, participants can pursue the treasure hunt, listen to performances on the smaller stage or play beach games. They even plan on offering a morning yoga session on April 19.
“I’m just excited to be able to spearhead this and make sure this thing works the way it needs to,” Turner said. “The whole goal of this is to make money, it’s to be able to support the community, build our community and provide a safe environment for the community.”
In an interview in December, Tybee Island Mayor Brian West said the application they received from Smalls and Turner seemed like it was “a lot.” His opinion hasn’t changed, though, he does think that a plan for structured activities is a good idea.
“I told them that, I think they’re just trying to do too much,” West said. “I think they should maybe try for like one day, and maybe a couple of things on the one day. We’ve never had any group try to do a multiple-days festival, at least that I can remember. I think it’s going to be too much and even more expensive. Hopefully, they can come up with some way to pay for it. We can’t expect the people who live here to pay a quarter of a million dollars for this thing every year.”
One of the problems that compounded the negative impacts of the April 2023 festival involved piggyback promoters pushing events over social media using the Orange Crush name without the permit. Smalls said, as the trademark holder, they would be sending out cease-and-desist notices this year.
Additionally, the introduction of SB 443 last year allows Tybee to go after social media promoters for costs incurred for unpermitted events.
Turner said they will know for sure if the permit is approved by the end of January.
Destini Ambus is the general assignment reporter for the Savannah Morning News, covering the municipalities, and community and cultural programs. You can reach her at DAmbus@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Orange Crush 2025: Where does the permit stand?