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BABITA PERSAUDTo celebrate the often-raucous Halloween event's 20th anniversary, a masquerade ball has been added to the night before. It's supposed to be "good old-fashioned fun."
YBOR CITY - You've heard the complaints, maybe uttered a few yourself. Guavaween is too crazy, too raunchy, too crowded. Last year's crowd: 100,000.
Well, gripe no more: Guavaween now has a mellow half, a shy baby sister: Guava Eve.
"At first, we were going to hold a picnic," said Teri Cox Hickey of CC Event Productions, Guavaween's promoter.
Then, after realizing this year is the 20th anniversary of Guavaween, the company hatched the 20th Anniversary Reunion Masquerade Ball.
To be held Friday in a venue worthy of Edgar Allan Poe, the former Cherokee Club, the upscale bash begins at 7 p.m. with cocktails. At 8, the grand ballroom opens to flowing drapes, candelabra, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, chocolate buffet and a Dungeon of Delights, with tarot card and palm readings and apple bobbing.
"Good old-fashioned fun," Hickey said. "It's more masquerade than costume."
Expected to participate in the festivities are many members of Guavaween's original cast.
Organizers, including the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, which benefits from money raised by Guavaween, hope the ball becomes an annual part of the festivities.
"We'd like to see a Guavaween weekend," Hickey said.
Saturday begins with Family FunFest: trick-or-treating at participating shops, spooky story time, amusement rides, arts and crafts, pumpkin giveaways and Grimm's Fairytales as told by Jobsite Theater.
The popular scavenger hunt is at noon at Centennial Park, followed by the children's costume parade and contest at 3:30 p.m. The grand prize is two free Southwest Airlines tickets.
Family FunFest stages will be set up at Centennial Park, Centro Ybor and on Seventh Avenue between 17th and 18th streets.
At 4 p.m. adult fun begins with the Night of Costumed Revelry party.
The Guava Love It! Cooking Contest is at 4 p.m. at Centennial Park. First prize is $500.
At 6:30 p.m., the beloved Mama Guava leads floats and marching bands in the Stumble Parade.
The route starts at Seventh Avenue and 20th Street, goes west on Seventh Avenue to 14th Street (Republica de Cuba), turns north on 14th Street to Ninth Avenue and east on Ninth Avenue to 19th Street.
An adult costume contest starts at 9 p.m. at Seventh Avenue between 17th and 18th streets. Creativity and crowd cheers net the lucky winner $1,000.
Guavaween admission has gone up from $10 to $12, but Hickey said the event has new features:
An extra entertainment stage.
Adult trick-or-treating at shops from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Crazy Jake's Wake haunted house, presented by Ye Eternal Krewe of Antiquitas and held in the Cuban Club, 2010 Avenida Republica de Cuba. Day admission $1; after 4 p.m., $5.
Freak Alley, a 108-foot sideshow that features a headless woman, a fire swallower, a nail walker and a brave soul who hammers nails up his nostrils. Sponsored by WXTB-FM 97.9 and held in the Pleasuredome parking lot (Seventh Avenue, between 14th and 15th streets), Freak Alley replaces adult carnival rides.
PREVIEW
GUAVAWEEN is Saturday in Ybor City. The day starts with Family FunFest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $3. Shuttle buses run from the Florida State Fairgrounds beginning at 10 a.m. Round-trip is $5 for adults, free for children under 12.
Adult revelry is at 4 p.m. with entertainment on five stages and a new "Freak Alley" carnival show. Mama Guava Stumble Parade is at 6:30. Gate admission is $12. Bus shuttles run from the fairgrounds, Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Port Authority and the University of South Florida Sun Dome beginning at 4 p.m. Round-trip is $7; round-trip and admission is $17. The last shuttle leaves Ybor at 3 a.m.
New this year:
On Friday, Guava Eve, the 20th Anniversary Reunion Masquerade Ball is at the Cherokee Club, 1320 Ninth Ave. from 7 p.m. to midnight. $30 per person, $50 per couple. The bash includes music, tarot card readings and a midnight chocolate buffet.
For Guavaween or Guava Eve tickets, call 813 248-0721 or visit www.cc-events.org