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Pirates, pixies practice for Children's Parade

Temple Terrace About 600 kids are expected for Saturday's Gasparilla event.

By ELISABETH DYER, Times Staff Writer
Published January 18, 2008

"Holy mackerel," said 4-year-old Riley Sapp as he admired his garb last week at the Montessori Academy of Temple Terrace. "I'm a pirate."

Gasparilla's first pirates of the year are the youngest.

Riley and classmates were practicing for Saturday's Children's Parade, a fixture of Gasparilla since 1947. They marched to Never Smile at a Crocodile and swung their arms to Sailing, Sailing.

They will be among nearly 600 children, the largest turnout yet, leading the parade in a preschool stroll - walking, on trikes and in wagons.

Riley's dance teacher, Cheryl Morris, will bring 80 students from 15 Tampa area schools where she teaches tap, ballet and hip-hop. She has been leading her troupe in the parade since 1996, always with a Peter Pan theme. "These are reformed pirates," she said. "No hook for the captain. No swords. They're nonviolent."

Other groups include 50 children organized by Denise Upcavage, who owns a baby boutique and consignment shop called Reruns 4 Little Ones in Town 'N Country, and 18 tots from Brandon, the Pint-sized Pirates.

So what's the tykes' take on the upcoming pirate invasion? Here's what they had to say about the habits of pirates and pixies.

"Pirates have got swords, and they fight," Riley said.

"They fight the good guys," said Isabel Bailey, 3. "They're bad."

What do they like to eat?

"Nasty stuff," Riley said. "Like rocks."

And sometimes they like dogs, chimed in a classmate.

What do they say?

"Arr," said Riley.

So what do pirates do?

"Pirates come to town and they throw beads at everyone and candy at everyone," said 5-year-old Garrett Netting.

Why?

"To make everyone happy."

Are you a pirate?

"Yeah."

Garrett plans to march with his cousin Brett Schar, 3.

"I'm throwing beads to mommies and daddies and girls and boys and babies," said Brett. "Babies like beads. But babies can't hold some. But big boys can do it."

Ben Upcavage, 3, will ride in a wagon.

"It looks like a ship," he said.

In Temple Terrace, 3-year-old Julia Affronti admired her Tinkerbell wings. "I like to fly," she said. "I've got fireflies at home."

"You know what? Peter Pan also flies," says Caleb Amaden, 4, dressed as a pirate.

What does Tinkerbell like?

"Tinkerbell likes pirates and pillows," says Julia. "She likes to eat hot dogs and Crangrape. I got that at home."

"She has pixie dust," adds Caleb.

Does it taste good?

He squinches his face. "I don't know. I never did try it."

"Pixie dust is magical," said Julia.

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at edyer@sptimes.com or 226-3321.

Gasparilla Children's Parade schedule

12 to 3 p.m.: Busch Gardens presents animal shows and a bicycle safety rodeo; free helmets given to kids.

2 to 3:30 p.m.: Pirates 5 and under strut in the Preschooler's Stroll.

3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: The air invasion begins with Bill Leff's aerobatics in his North American T-6; the United States Special Operations Command Parachute Team lands on Bayshore near Howard.

4 to 6 p.m.: More than 118 krewes, bands and other groups will start at Bay to Bay Boulevard and proceed north about 1.4 miles along Bayshore to Watrous and Orleans avenues.

6:30 to 6:45 p.m.: The second air invasion features Bill Leff's Starfire Night Sky Show.

7 to 7:30 p.m.: A 25-minute fireworks show re-creates the imaginary sea battle waged annually since 1904.

* Park downtown and ride a shuttle from Fort Brooke Garage to the parade for free.

For more information, call 353-8070 or visit the Web site at gasparillaextravaganza.com.

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 23:08:02]