Understanding the Pirate Fest – Festival Zone Wristband Policy
During Pirate Festival weekend, if you want to drink an alcoholic beverage on the streets you need a wristband. Here’s your guide to enjoying the revelry with a tankard in hand:
What do I get with the wristband?
With the wristband, you get to listen to live entertainment (admission to festival grounds includes wristband) and enjoy your adult drinks to-go while you walk around the largest party on Tybee Island of the year.
*You do not need to purchase a wristband to enter the Festival Zone; it is only needed to consume alcohol on public property. Wristbands will not be required to consume alcohol in restaurants or bars.
Where do I get a wristband?
There will 2 fixed kiosks selling wristbands within the Festival Zone. One located at Tybrisa and Butler Ave. and another at the Roundabout at Tybrisa and Strand Ave. Wristbands will also be available at the main gate, as well as a number of roving sellers. Someone will check your ID…so don’t leave it in your other ship!
How much does a wristband cost?
$5 for each day (Wristbands are not required on Sunday). And, you only need a wristband if you plan to drink in the festival zone, otherwise known as pirate party central.
All Festival Goers who purchase passes (daily or weekend) to the Pirate Festival will have their wristband included in the ticket price; you will get them at the main gate when you check in.

Do I have to purchase a wristband each day?
Yes, there will be different color wristbands for each day of the festival.
Festival Zone Hours:
- Friday October 9th 5:00pm – 11pm
- Saturday October 10th 10am -11pm
What and where is the Control zone ?
The City of Tybee Festival Ordinance of 2015 has set aside 4 blocks of downtown Tybee where the majority of partying takes place. This zone has been designated to help defray the cost of the event and support services. within the area. The Control Zone area is bounded by Butler Ave. from14th to 17th Streets and Tybrisa Street to 17th Street from Strand to the Beach. We want you all to be safe and have a good time, so we need a little help!
What happens if I forget to get a wristband?
No worries, we’ll point you in the right direction on where you can get your wristband. Don’t get it and you could face a fine and court costs! Not worth it! There will be plenty of roving sellers on the streets to help out. The festival wristband ordinance will be enforced by the Tybee Island Police Department.
What else do I need to know before I get my RUM on?
To drink on the streets, you need to have your beverage in a TO-GO CUP that’s a plastic cup 16 ounces or less. NO GLASS on the streets or the beach! Festival Zone prohibited items: coolers, and fireworks/firecrackers. This includes items that don’t require a flame to ignite. Black Powder is prohibited.
Where is the money going?
Throwing the biggest party on Tybee Island, and cleaning up after you’re long gone; that takes a lot of doubloons’.
We appreciate everyone’s compliance and participation, as this is a very necessary means of keeping the festival thriving.
Thank you,
Tybee Island Pirate Fest
wanted to order 4 tickets for entire weekend, but prefer to order thru a credit card because cannot get into the pay pal venue. Can you advise how I can do this. Thanks
There is an option to use your card and not login to paypal. Its under the sign-in.
Best way to find hotels on the island with avai rooms??
Have you tried TybeeIsland.com?
I bought two tickets for Saturday.. Or I think did. But i didn’t get an email verification or anything should I have?
Hi Kristina, the tickets come as an email attachment. I will attempt to resend you the email. If you do not receive it again please email me at info@tybeeisland.com with another email address to try.
So we are to buy tickets to the event and wristbands if we want to openly drink?
Hi Belinda, if you purchase tickets to the event your wristband is included in the cost, so you will not have to purchase an extra band. This is for the 1000’s of people who come and never enter the festival but party on the streets, enjoy the bands and fireworks. The city and festival end up having to pay the cost of policing and cleaning up after this influx of people and have decided to charge for open container consumption to offset this cost.
What happened to the GOOD bands??? The past 3 years they have really sucked !! Just being real with it.
Hi Chuck, really great bands take lots of money and things have been pretty tight the last few years. We are pretty excited for Junior Marvin this year, he is a fantastic artist. Have a great day.
I am having problems ordering tickets. Do you have a phone number?
Thanks
Do you have to have a ticket to get into the Festival zone? Or can you just get the $5 wristband? Where do the tickets get you?
To get into the actual festival you would need tickets. Those tickets include the $5.00 outdoor consumption band. If you are just coming to hang out at the bars and not go into the festival and plan on drinking outdoors you would need the wristband. If you are not planning on drinking outdoors you will be fine in the festival zone without the wristband.
Do I need cash to buy a ticket or wristband from the kiosks or will they take a debit card?
If you purchase tickets to the festival your wristband is included, if you will not be entering the festival grounds then you will need to purchase the $5 wristband. I believe the kiosk will be cash only except for the main gate where CC will be accepted.
Hello. Is the festival going on Sunday as well? I do not see an option to buy tickets for Sunday. We were wanting to go then.
Yes, Sunday is a FREE to the Public Day. 🙂
If I don’t purchase pre-sale tickets to the festival grounds and I want to purchase them when I get there,where can I buy them and how much do they cost?
Passes will be available at the gate. Weekend Passes will be 25.00, Friday will be 12 and Saturday 15.
My sisters, my daughter and I will be in Savannah the weekend of the PiratesFest and we would like to know if there are going to be vendors or an arts and craft event as part of the fest and if that requires a wristband?
Yes Donna, we will have over 40+ vendor spaces with arts, crafts and period style products. The festival does require a wristband to get in. Friday is 12.00, Saturday is 15.00.
will there be more t shirts available to buy at the festival?
hello, i was wondering if you had any XL t shirts available? i would like to buy 2 of them, but i live in vidalia and would need them mailed to me. I am willing to pay any shipping cost.
thanks
Hi Phyllis, i think we do. I will try to get them up soon online.
Can wristbands be bought online prior to festival