Tybee’s Beach Bum Parade kicks off summer

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) -Tybee Island’s Beach Bum Parade rolled down Butler Avenue Friday night time, kicking off what many take into account the unofficial begin of summer and vacationer season with a practice the place getting soaked is a part of the expertise.

The Beach Bum Parade is a component parade, half water combat, with parade floats and spectators spraying one another with squirt weapons because the route strikes by the island.

“If you’re dry you’re wrong. You’re going to be wet real quick,” attendee Glenn Price stated.

“Like I said you’re not safe anywhere, you’re going to get wet. You’re participating whether you want to or not,” attendee Keaton Culberson stated.

Organizers say this 12 months marked Tybee’s thirty ninth annual Beach Bum Parade. The occasion started in 1987 as a homecoming parade and has grown into one of many island’s signature traditions.

Families stated the parade is a enjoyable method to welcome the season, turning strangers into teammates because the water combat spreads by the group.

“It’s a nice little watergun fight… this is just a good way to spend some time together and to enjoy some fun in the sun out in Tybee,” Culberson stated.

For guests who didn’t know what to anticipate, the scene will be stunning. Holden Koak stated he arrived for a seaside day and stumbled into the occasion.

“I came in for a beach day and saw the police cars and seeing so many people spraying each other and we were like what is going on, what is this?” Koak stated.

And on Tybee, that is the purpose — come for the parade, keep for the splash.