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Pint-Sized Privateers Gather Bounty Of Beads At Parade

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: January 24, 2009

TAMPA - The blasts of cannons and the screams for beads would have made Jose Gaspar proud.

The small swashbucklers at today's Gasparilla Children's Parade came out in force, drawn by the sunshine and, of course, the beads.

"It's so much fun," said Mariah Farmer, 9, who traveled with family from Ocala.

Long strands of the multicolored accessories flew past outreached hands, some hitting their mark and others tinseling trees.

Cub Scout Pack 9 of Tampa, with patches both on their eyes and uniforms, rode in a float resembling a pirate ship. Other floats featured an octopus, a dragon and Ybor City streetscape.

Nicholas Romero, 17 months old, rode in his own tot-sized version – a stroller fitted with side panels resembling a ship and wooden kitchen spoons for oars.

"I have to give my husband props for the oars," said Marisol Romero of New Tampa.

Romero is a member of the Moms Club of Tampa Palms, which walked as a group in the preschoolers parade earlier this morning.

"It's our first time here and we're really enjoying ourselves," she said, as Nicholas stared from his stroller, eyes wide beneath a black bandana, studded with skulls.

Temperatures dropped from the warm 70s about halfway through the parade, but people didn't seem to notice; it'd probably take a tempest to drag their attention away from the beads - like last year, when a squall of storms shut down the parade about a half hour into it.

Not this year, though. There was plenty of time for the beads.

"It's the best part," said Kelly Peretz, who from her belt loops wore her "throws," so numerous it looked like she had a skirt of them. "You can see how far you can throw them."

Peretz, 13, was in the parade with her aunt, Cheryl English, a member of the Krewe of Agustina, a tradition she has continued for a decade.

Tim Watts, who has been working the Gasparilla parades for 20 years, said business was mediocre from his souvenir stand. Inflatable swords, light-up pirate hats, Gasparilla T-shirts and other pirate paraphernalia weren't flying off his shelves.

"It's quiet," said Watts of Riverview. "Anything would do though. I'm just trying to make my mortgage."

As the parade neared its end and people settled in for the fireworks, the flags of the Jose Gasparilla ship flapped in the cool evening breeze, the setting sun enhancing their colors.

"It's really a fun day for families," said Vivian McCormick, of Atlanta, who grew up in Temple Terrace. She said she remembers walking in the children's parade as a Lionette when she was a King High School student years ago.

Today, though, she just observed from the west side of Bayshore Boulevard, far from the crowds.

"Today, all the kids should be getting the beads," McCormick said. "But I'll be coming back for the invasion."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

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