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Writers
GASPARILLA
Volume 66
6311 S Lois Ave, Tampa, Fla. 33616
January 31, 2025
Issue 2
By: CARSON COULON, STAFF WRITER & WINTER CARJABAL, NEWS EDITOR
floats through downtown; now, the their experiences. and “exciting.” One participant children’s parade is as elaborate as said that it was “nostalgic,” looking the main event, sporting dozens of “[The best part was] chucking back on their previous parade rafts and hours of entertainment beads,” Mitchner said. “This was experiences. among plenty of activities for my first time going to Gasparilla. I Smiles and laughter filled the younger kids. Participants could definitely had a great time.” evening as the parade sailed have taken part in a bicycle and Dillard celebrated his first through nearly three hours. pedestrian safety demonstration, Gasparilla as well. “It was fun Families new and familiar with a swarm of young pirates sailing seeing everyone dressed up and the event attended. One family their ships across Bayshore Blvd, throwing beads,” he said. holds a very unique connection to a fantastic airshow, the main Gasparilla. Partaking in the parade from the event--the parade and finishing sideline was also entertaining. More When a student in elementary off the exciting afternoon with a than just collecting pirate treasure, school, the father, pirate Captain mesmerizing firework display. Logan DelleChiaie (‘28) cherished Bellamy, in the family participated Some Robinson students were the connections made with other in the parade in the Cub Scouts thrilled to be invited onto floats parade-goers. float as well as a part of the The Gasparilla Children’s Parade from various organizations. Robinson Marching Band. has been a Tampa tradition Students from our very own “It was really cool to meet and “Since he and I got together since 1947, almost as long as Robinson were on a float as well for interact with people,” DelleChiaie we’ve been trying to come every the Gasparilla parade itself. It VooDoo Chef, a culinary program said. year. And then COVID hit,” the has come a long way from being in Tampa. Janeice Mitchner (‘25) More of those who attended the mother, Captainess Bellamy said. comprised of schools and children’s and Joseph Dillard (‘25) shared parade claimed that it was “fun” But despite the obstacles of the organizations pulling homemade Tampa citizens dressed as invading pirates toss beads to on lookers from their pirate ships on Bayshore Boulevard. Photos by C. Coulon
HEADLINES FROM THE INSIDE
Cheers echoed across the bay as fleets of pirates launched treasures from their vessels to thousands of fellow buccaneers wearing enough beads to sink a ship. This year’s Gasparilla Children’s Parade ran for nearly three hours riding floats, collecting beads and socializing in the predecessor to the main Gasparilla Parade, held the following weekend.
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pandemic, the mother had still attended the parade eight times, and the father 15. “It’s been a part of our lives for so long.” “This is his first parade,” she said, holding her son, whom they named after a real pirate, Samuel Bellamy. “We’re excited to share it [the parade experience] with him.” It is safe to say that this year’s parade was one for the books, or rather, for the treasure maps.
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