NEWS - Local Breaking News

The 2010 Tybee Island Beach Bum Weekend is right around the corner, May 21st - 22nd. This year's festivities include the much anticipated Beach Bum Parade and new this year is the EVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour.

The Extreme Volleyball Tour (EVP) and the Greater Savannah Sports Council have partnered to host the EVP Savannah Open. 

The Beach Bum Parade will take place Friday May 21st at 6:30pm with the EVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour/EVP Savannah Open here at Tybee on South Beach on Saturday May 22nd 8am-5pm and is free to the public. 

The EVP Savannah Open at Tybee Island will be featured on the Beach Sports Network (BSN) in a 30-minute show format highlighting the competition and location. The show will air throughout the summer on regional sports networks across the country. For more information visit www.EVPTour.com or www.TybeeVisit.com.

What is the Beach Bum Parade?

It is a water fight parade each year on Tybee Island that celebrates the beginning of the tourist season. The parade includes up to one hundred parade entries and their "water warriors" vs. the hundreds of locals and visitors lined up along Butler Avenue. The parade attracts beach bums of all ages and sizes.

The parade started approximately 23 years ago when a softball team called the "Beach Bums" was challenged to a game by "Pier 1", another Tybee softball team. It was the North End playing the South End. Low and behold, it was the first game the Bums ever won (and it wasn't even a league game). After the game, the Bums and Pier 1 drove up and down Butler Avenue with police escorts as the teams bombed each other with water balloons. Before they knew it there was a mini water fight in the making. Since then, it has become the annual Tybee Island Beach Bum Parade.

This year's Grand Marshall is Georgia State Representative Burke Day. The 2010 Queen is Tybee resident Pam Smith and the 2010 Big Kahuna Tommy Solomon's family has deep roots here on Tybee.

If you're going:

If you aren't the type that enjoys getting wet, it is a good idea that on the night of the parade to stay indoors until the parade is over. You might even want to stay in for a little bit longer than that, because after the parade ends the water fight continues for some time. Do not drive around Tybee that day with your windows rolled down or without locking your car doors. Also make sure to head out to the island early as parking is limited on the island. Buddy up to someone with a water hose along the parade route that way you will not run out of ammo. Wrap anything you do not want to get wet in a plastic bag.

Rules of Inundation:

Water balloons, buckets, and pressure washers are not to be used and are considered dangerous. No ice water. Restrict your targets to parade participants and on-lookers only. Do not attempt to aim your hose or water gun at a police officer, unless you want to be heavily fined or possibly go to jail. Residents and visitors are asked to use common sense in choosing and soaking your targets. It is illegal to open car doors or homes to spray inside. Open windows may be fair game, but people close up for a reason. 

Please do not abuse these rules. By following these few guidelines everyone can have a great time.

< Prev		Next >