Organizers, vendors hope inaugural Tybee Seafood Fest brings business during the offseason

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (WTOC) - The first-ever Tybee Seafood Fest is underway on Tybee Island, with organizers and vendors hoping the week-long festivities keep Tybee top of mind year-round.

“Tybee is known for great, fresh seafood, why not own it and really celebrate it,” said Melissa Yao Hille, Tybee Seafood Fest organizer and local business owner.

Businesses are offering deals throughout the week leading to Friday’s ticketed event, which features an oyster roast and Lowcountry boil.

Saturday’s Tybee Seafood Fest is free to attend. Vendors are scheduled to fill the pier’s parking lot from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Vendors weigh in

Clay Culver, a personal chef with Coastal Pan, will teach people how to cook paella on stage. He said he has a pan that serves about 85 people in full servings, and they’ll have those prepared for taste-testing, but he’ll show people how to cook smaller portions live on stage.

“That is really based around tourism for the island, for Savannah, I really think this has got legs. I think it can grow,” Culver said. “I see all these seafood festivals in other places, very close by, and it’s surprising we haven’t had one. I think it’s time.”

If you haven’t had it, he said it’s a mind-blowing dish, so stop by and learn how to do it yourself.

DeLeta Gurley, who handles social media for Mermaid Carriages, is promoting the company’s rental properties while staying in a home built in the 1930s this week.

“You’ll see that it’s really evolved, and I think, generations of families that have lived here,” she said. “Many of them are historic cottages that were here originally on the island and have been decorated and renovated, and it’s just a way to experience a little slice of what it used to be.”

There were several rooms inside the home on 2nd Avenue, showing how growth can lead to positive change for some.

She hopes the positive change comes from the seafood fest, and is excited to eat some of Tybee’s best soon, too.

“If you’ve never tasted the Tybee salt-bomb oysters, ahh, so good. So when I heard the seafood festival was here, I was like, ‘I got to be here this week,’” Gurley said. “People, I think, need a break from the stress of life and it’s great. It’s family oriented too, there’s things for kids, for the seniors.”

She also shared why she believed now is one of the better times to visit the island.

“There aren’t as many crowds on the beach, the weather is perfect, you can walk out and not feel like you’re in a rotisserie oven, and the businesses, as we know, need all the support,” she said.

Long-term goals

People who live and work on Tybee Island hope the festival ‘reely’ creates buzz and continues in the future.

Yao Hille said the long-term goal is for the festival to grow and bring more “heads in beds” at hotels and rentals.

“Which then in turn brings more business to our restaurants, to our paddleboarding companies, the Tybee Marine Science Center. Once you bring visitors, then everyone will come. We also want to have something for our locals to do,” Yao Hille said.

Rules to follow

They have several rules that they want people to follow if attending.

Some are:

• Family-friendly attire only.
• No glass, fireworks, weapons, or illegal substances.
• No profane language or lewd, vulgar, or disorderly conduct.
• No coolers allowed.
• No outside food or beverages.
• Guests with food allergies or dietary restrictions should exercise caution and consult seafood vendors regarding ingredients and potential allergens.
• Seafood may contain common allergens, including shellfish and fish.
  • Festival attendees are responsible for making vendors aware of any food allergies or dietary restrictions before purchasing or consuming food.
• No skateboards, roller blades, bicycles, or unauthorized vehicles allowed.
• No radios, speakers, or boom boxes.
• No pets allowed

The full list of rules can be found, HERE.