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Diversions

Rated G, as in Gasparilla

By Sharon Kennedy Wynne
Published January 18, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Beach Park School student Maya Gonzalez gears up for the Children's Parade. See enlarged photo. To join our community gallery, e-mail your photo to submit@tampabay.com. Your e-mail subject line will post online as the photo's title and the body of your message becomes the caption.

Before the drunken, bead-throwing adult fun begins later this month, the G-rated version, the Gasparilla Children's Parade, heads down Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday, followed by a huge fireworks display.

The pint-sized pirates begin invading at 11 a.m. with a bicycle rodeo (free helmets!), followed by the Preschooler Stroll of decorated wagons and strollers.

Then look up in the sky for the first of two air invasions. The 2 p.m. show features Red Baron Squadron's aerobatic performances and the U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Team.

Parade time is 3:30-6 p.m., with 109 units and 3,500 kids participating this year, followed by a nighttime air show of planes and pyrotechnics.

At 7, the skies light up in one of the biggest fireworks displays in the country.

A free shuttle runs from downtown Tampa at Franklin and Whiting, with two drop-off locations.

Reserved seats can be purchased for $12 at gasparillaextravaganza.com or call (813) 274-8750.

[Last modified January 17, 2007, 07:11:41]