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Guavalicious festivities

By Times Staff
Published October 27, 2005

[Times photo: Chris Zuppa 2003]

Mike Shively of Tampa, “a headless man carrying my own head,” shows off his costume in Ybor City before the Guavaween parade.

Guavaween, Tampa's giant Halloween bash, should draw about 100,000 revelers to Ybor City on Saturday, either for the tame Family FunFest during the day or the raucous Night Of Costumed Revelry.

Here's a look at what to expect at the events.

Guavaween Family unFest will have entertainment on three stages, one in Centennial sponsored by MORE-TV 32 and, near Central Ybor, one sponsored by Mix 100.7 and one by Radio Disney.

Highlights include the Little Mama & Papa Guava Contest (10:30 a.m. on the Mix 100.7 stage); trick-or-treating at Centro Ybor (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.); a Silly Scavenger Hunt (noon to 2 p.m. at the MORE-TV 32 booth); Mr. Bones, a pirate magician (1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Centennial Park); Spooky Story Time (2 p.m. in the Ybor State Museum courtyard, across from Centennial Park); and a children's costume parade and contest (3 p.m. in Centennial Park).

Featured throughout the event: rides, games, sports exhibits and exhibits from Busch Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo and other bay area attractions.

FunFest hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $3. A shuttle will run from the Florida State Fairgrounds. Round trip fare is $5 during the family fest, with kids free from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Guavaween Night of Costumed Revelry, including the Mama Guava Stumble kicks off about 4 p.m. Saturday, after the kids have gone home.

Music by national and local artists will be on stages throughout Ybor City. Acts include Saliva, Breaking Benjamin, 10 Years, Marques Houston, Young Rome, YoungBloodZ, Basic Rock Outfit, Natasha Bedingfield, Sharissa, Smile Empty Soul and Rihanna.

Other highlights include the "Guava Love It!" cooking contest (4 p.m., Centro Ybor); costume contest (9 p.m., stage at Eighth Avenue and 16th Street); and the Mama Guava Stumble (6:30 p.m.). The parade begins at Seventh Avenue and 20th Street and moves along Seventh Avenue to 14th Street, then along 14th to Ninth Avenue, then east on Ninth to 19th Street.

Admission is $12. Shuttles are available from the fairgrounds (enter by Orient Road); from Raymond James Stadium lots 1 and 3, from the USF Sun Dome and from the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park. Shuttles are $20 round trip, including admission, or $10 for shuttle only.

The last shuttle departs Ybor City at 3 a.m. The TECO Line streetcar also will provide Guavaween transportation.

For information, call 813 242-4828 or check www.cc-events.org

[Last modified October 26, 2005, 10:11:06]