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First Rule of Gasparilla: Keep Waifs Safe

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

There were a lot of sad little faces at Saturday's Children's Gasparilla Parade when fierce storms forced officials to halt the event a half-hour after it started. It was the right call to make.

The children's parade is a great tradition and a year's worth of planning and hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment go into the parade and fireworks show. One of the bright spots of Tampa's unique Gasparilla festivities is the city carves out one day just for the children - remember it's the adults whose debauchery has made the main parade less than child friendly.

But Mother Nature is not one to be trifled with, and when the storms bearing tornado-like conditions and lightning moved in, the smart move was to send people home.
Having children out in such elements, some sitting on metal bleachers, is dangerous. And no event, no fistful of beads, is worth risking lives.

For as sure as friendly pirates invade this city in the winter months, there will be another chance to get those beads next year.

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