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Pssst: Silliness is catchy

Gecko Fest has grown into a spectacle. Think booming hot dog buns.

By NICK JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer
Published August 29, 2007

Nothing quite says Gulfport like a whimsical street festival with arts and crafts, a variety of bands and even some real live pirates.

All will be at the seventh annual Gecko Fest this Saturday.

The event's success in recent years will alloworganizers to pitch in some humanitarian help this time. Festival backers will help sponsor the upcoming AIDS Service Association of Pinellas' AIDS Walk.

Mike McCue, president of the Gulfport Merchants Association, which sponsors Gecko Fest, said the group was happy to help the fundraising walk.

"We just realized that it's still a serious issue," McCue said.

The waterfront festival started seven years ago as a city-sponsored end-of-summer event in need of a little extra kick.

"When they assigned it to me, basically it was fireworks and a band, and it seemed like it needed something more," said Marlene Shaw, events coordinator for the city back then.

Shaw tapped her connections at the Gulfport Merchants Association and helped transform the event into something as unique as the town itself.

The merchants group supplied the event with vendors and the support of the local business community and ended up taking over the whole production when budget cuts forced the city to drop the celebration from the budget.

"The Gulfport Merchants Association decided to carry on the tradition, and this year it's going to a whole new level, so we're thrilled," said Suzanne King, who's organizing the vendors.

Now Gecko Fest has three stages throughout the waterfront district, where a variety of local bands will perform. About 120 food, art and craft vendors will participate.

It's also growing in attendance.

Previous years topped out at about 10,000 people, but King expects more this year, and the merchants association has decided to share its success.

It is donating $1,000 and 20 percent of profits to the AIDS walk, which is scheduled for Sept. 8.

"In the past, everything we brought in from the event we spent on the event. When we anticipated having some extra funding this year, we decided to share the wealth," McCue said.

The event is accessible by land or sea, but boaters, beware: Around noon, Capt. Nikko Lorenczi and his crew of pirates plan to strafe the beach with cannon fire.

"We make a ruckus when we come into town," Lorenczi said. "That's for sure."

He will pilot his restored 1937 staysail yawl, the Vesper, into Boca Ciega Bay and fire six cannons at any landlubbers there, but there's no need to run for cover. The cannons will be packed with a festival-friendly load of hot dog buns.

The event also will include costume contests, including a competition for pets, and a quirky walking parade.

Nick Johnson can be reached at nickjohnson@sptimes.com 893-8361.

If you go

For a complete schedule of events or parking info, visit www.geckofest.com.

[Last modified August 28, 2007, 23:04:11]