Thousands gather on Tybee Island for Crush Reloaded festival

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - Thousands of visitors gathered on Tybee Island Saturday for Crush Reloaded, an annual spring break festival that has grown in recent years.

Crush Reloaded, formerly known as Orange Crush, began as a spring break celebration for Savannah State University. The festival now draws visitors from across the region.

Festival goers said they enjoyed coming together as a community.

“Just being together all in one setting, and expressing ourselves, being ourselves, it just feels good,” one attendee said.

Beachgoers said people were open to meeting each other throughout the day. Cherokee, a festival attendee, said her favorite part of the day was socializing with new friends.

“When your parents be like, ‘don’t talk to strangers’, it’s like how are you going to meet people, like I love everybody that I met today,” Cherokee said.

The festival featured performances from local artists. Christian Price, a local DJ, is performing his second year at the event said the crowd’s energy was strong.

“When you do get that type of recognition it is welcoming, its like your city loves you, so it’s great,” Price said.

Tybee Island Mayor Brian West said the city has been preparing for the event since late last year.

“It’s good to see everyone kinda calm and peaceful and having a good time and listening to music, its a bunch of college kids down there enjoying a Saturday and spring break,” West said.