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Guavaween draws smaller crowds; 28 arrested

Staff photo by MARK DOUGLAS

Devils and angels, both were out in force in Ybor City for Guavaween.

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The Associated Press

Published: November 1, 2009

Updated: 11/01/2009 09:59 am

TAMPA - It may have been the unseasonable warm weather or the change to ban motorized floats, but this year's Guavaween drew a smaller crowd than organizers hoped before the event kicked off Saturday night.

The annual parade and costume fest drew 12,500 to 15,000 people, Tampa police estimate. Organizers had hoped to draw 50,000 to Ybor City, especially with the event falling on a Saturday night.

Officers arrested 28 people, mostly on charges of underage drinking, the Tampa Police Department said.

Organizers this year decided to ban motorized floats for the annual parade, mainly to save $10,000 for renting, putting up and taking down street barricades along the six-block route.

Last year's parade had 13 floats.

Instead, horse-drawn floats replaced the motorized versions.

It was a muggy 79 degrees at 8 p.m. Saturday and had cooled only two degrees to 77 by 1 a.m. today.

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