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Chill doesn't dampen Knight Parade

Thousands turn out to enjoy the Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade - and to beg for beads.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published February 13, 2005

TAMPA - Seven-year-old Lexis Noceda eagerly leaned over the metal barrier, screaming "Over here!" as the stream of cars, bands and floats paraded by.

She and her friend, 9-year-old Lexus Ross, had their fill of festival pizza earlier in the day, and got their faces painted, too. But the highlight of Saturday's Family Fiesta and Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade for them - and most every one there - was the beads.

A crowd of about 200,000 was expected, and the chilly weather did not appear to diminish that figure. Sweaters, blankets and heavy coats helped.

Some people said they wished it were warmer. But that was a matter of perspective.

Joanne Orbash of Uniontown, Penn., had just called home and learned it was 12 degrees there. "This is warm," she said.

Ken McKinnon, president of the Krewe of Sir Henry Morgan, said he appreciated the coolness.

"It is absolutely perfect," he said. "You want it where you can dress up in all your garb, drink pirate's draft and have a good time."

The Tampa Police Department reported no major incidents during the parade, which went from downtown Tampa to Ybor City.

For the krewes, having a good time meant seeing the delight of children young and old as the krewe members threw beads.

Friends Lexis and Lexus had a plan to get the mother lode. Lexis' parents, Randy and Karen Noceda, had signs professionally made that in bright red letters urged the krewes by name to "Bead us."

Randy would call out the group coming, and Karen would switch out the signs.

The Krewe of Ybor placard worked especially well, with several members of the krewe walking right up to the girls and handing them fistfuls of the multicolored necklaces.

"This is awesome," Lexus shouted as the girls drowned themselves in glittering purple, gold and silver.

Amy Wilde agreed. She came with family and friends from Brooksville, parked an RV in a lot on the parade route and tailgated, with grill and all.

"We came last year. It was a blast, so we had to come again," she said, clutching a stuffed Red Baron moose that flew from the parade route into her hands. "It's just fun."

It was a good time for Command Sgt. Maj. Cindy Pritchett, also.

Pritchett is the senior enlisted officer in Afghanistan, where she serves as principal adviser to the commander of the combined forces. She rode aboard the Krewe of Sir Henry Morgan float as a special guest, before returning to the war in about a week.

"I think this is pretty awesome," she said. "That's why we serve, so they can have events like this with pretty much no worries."

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:06:05]