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Women's krewe gives up children's parade
By CHRISTOPHER GOFFARD, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- Plucky as the storied Irish pirate that is their namesake, the women of Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O'Malley took a limping, lackluster event -- the Gasparilla Children's Parade -- and helped make it a hit. The krewe ladies lined up corporate sponsors for the event, a kid friendly answer to the huge alcohol-soaked Gasparilla parade. They made goodie bags with candies and yo-yos. They brought respectable floats. Before they took over three years ago, attendance at the 50-year-old parade sagged to a couple thousand people. Last year, as many as 15,000 people may have attended. On Saturday, the children's parade returns larger than ever, shifting from downtown to Bayshore Boulevard, with a huge fireworks display to follow. As many as 100,000 spectators are expected. And the Grace O'Malley Krewe's role in putting it together? Zero. Instead, they will occupy slots 44 and 45 in the long row of floats and marchers. Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, which sponsors the larger Gasparilla parade being held Feb. 2 this year, is organizing the children's parade this year along with EventMakers, its marketing company. Carol Rodriguez, the Grace O'Malley Krewe's chair for this year's parade, said the event has grown far beyond the ability of her krewe to sponsor it, particularly considering the costs and security concerns. "It's just gotten so large that to take it to the next level is truly an undertaking for a larger group," said Rodriguez, a lawyer. "It's like having your child grow up and move away from home. You hate to see it happen, but it's inevitable." Some members of the O'Malley krewe don't understand why it was necessary to eliminate their role in planning the event. "It sort of came as a surprise to us," said Janice Long, a teacher who handles publicity for the O'Malley krewe. "It was very disappointing, because it was really a great enjoyment for us. "I guess EventMakers and Ye Mystic Krewe really wanted to make it into their creation," she said. "At a later date, if they want to relinquish it, we'll be glad to take it over again." Ye Mystic Krewe executive director Jim Tarbet could not be reached for comment. "The city asked us if we would consider taking it over, and we thought it was a perfect fit for the day," said Darrell Stefany, the EventMakers president. Stefany said the children's parade and fireworks display, produced for a total cost of $200,000, will now serve as a spectacular kickoff to the Gasparilla season. The parade will move down Bayshore Boulevard from Bay to Bay Boulevard to Rome Avenue, with bleachers between Howard Avenue and Rome. -- Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Christopher Goffard can be reached at 226-3337 or goffard@sptimes.com. Origins of the kreweThe Grace O'Malley group, an all-women's krewe founded in 1992, consists of about 175 community volunteers. They take their name from a 16th century Irish "pirate queen" who, legend has it, rose to do battle with rival pirates the day after giving birth to a son at sea.
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