They're young, nonviolent and eager to share their loot, but they're still pirates.
By TERRI D. REEVES
Published October 25, 2003
CLEARWATER - For the past couple of years, Ellen Nadeau has caught her fair share of shiny beaded necklaces thrown by the costumed paraders at Ybor City's zany Guavaween party. Last year, she hauled home about 150 strands.
Pretty good work for a 12-year-old.
But deep inside, Ellen was guava green with envy.
"Everyone looked like they were having so much fun up there on the floats throwing the beads," she said.
So she planted an idea in the minds of those around her: This year she and her friends would build their own float and be a part of the show.
The idea took seed. Tonight she and eight friends from Kennedy Middle School will launch their pirate ship as part of an armada of about 50 floats during the 20th annual Mama Guava Stumble parade at 6:30 p.m. The theme of the parade this year: "Mama will let her babies grow up to be pirates."
Organizers say it is the first time that a group of youngsters has gotten together to create a project like this.
"We have no age restrictions and are delighted to see youth get involved. I hope they win," said Teri Cox Hickey, president of CC Event Productions, the company that has managed the Ybor City event for the past nine years.
The nine seventh- and eighth-graders have gathered every few days since the beginning of October to work on costumes (tie-dyed T-shirts, bandanas and booty bags) and design and paint the pirate ship for their group, the Peace Pirates Posse.
The ship was built on a 16-foot flatbed trailer and has wooden sides painted black and brown. The sail and flag are tie-dyed. A generator is mounted on the front to supply power for a fog machine and lights.
The children did the lion's share of the work with the parents standing in the wings ready to help with financial and technical assistance. Each chipped in $30 to cover materials, costumes and beads.
Hickey said efforts have been made over the past four or five years to offset the event's racy image and make the event more family-oriented during the day and early evening hours.
"It is a great event for all ages until about 10 p.m. and then it becomes an adult street party," she said. "That's when parents need to get the children home."
