Parents and Grandparents too brought along the kids to experience the snow falling down 7th Avenue in GaYBOR/ Ybor City for the Holiday Spirit Parade. The forecasted snow flurry had area middle and high school marching bands showing off there best musical talents for the holiday gigantic crowds. The precision dance groups were all in step! The beautiful white horses and white carriage had Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and his wife, Cathy and 2 beautiful smiling daughters lead the 1st annual promenade procession with over 30,000 parade watchers. Behind the mayor was a large entourage from GaYBOR District Coalition including Mama, holding banners for each of the marching, dance and drill team groups. The highlight of course was welcoming Santa & Mrs Claus to the historic district riding in beauteous pair of leather harnessed horses & sparkling holiday carriage. Under the leadership of Mathieu Stanoch, Florida Entertainment Group Visual director, local groups helped make this event happen including YCDC, Ybor Merchants Assoc., Tampa Parks Dept and GaYBOR District Coalition all came together to make a very memorable gleeful night.

The parade ended at the Winter Carnival in the Czar parking lot. The weather was perfect. The clear skied night was very festive. All band and dance group troop members received special gift bags from Ybor merchants and Santa Claus.

The carnival had local merchants riding the rides and maneuvering through mechanical thrill rides. Freddy from NY NY Pizza had his family taking on the colorful lighted mechanical beasts. Don Vicente Inn’s Jack Shiver, Tessa and Veronica  hitting the sideshows. Alan Kahana and friends munched on the sugar candies as Santa & Mrs Claus greeted 1000’s of kids (old & young) giving away cookies in the holiday tent. YCDC’s economic director Brenda Thrower had her family riding the slides for the Tampa TV program, “Ybor Flavors”. Kudos to all the groups working together making for a great weekend in Historic Ybor City.

It was that time of the year to break out your favorite RED SHOES!!! The Krewe of Alegria http://www.kreweofalegria.com/ annual fundraiser “Kickin’ For Kids”. The event was held in conjunction with a very special BINGO Night at Hamburger Mary’s. Miss Amy Demilo and Tea Cup were the co hosts. With 50/50, Give a ways & BINGO the group raised $1,000’s for children. A special Thank You to organizer Paula Luce. Viva La Krewe of Alegria!!!

What a great show Sunday night of pageantry at the Honey Pot for the 3rd Annual Miss Heart of Florida Pageant. An awesome professional feel for this new competition. The contestants were from all around Florida. The pageant owners, Marshall Welch, Jr and Amy DeMilo did a job to almost perfection. The great out of the usual box talent surpassed a lot of pageants that we have attended. A great set of MC’s were Amy De Milo and Esme Russell. It is in the classy choice of creative clothes that was most inviting. Nothing off the rack for this compete! Pics below give you a touch of class this show offered.

A large group of judges including Tampa icon Miss Tiffany Middlesex and Hamburger Mary’s owner Kurt King and 6 others had a hard time weighing out the final scores. Thanks to all the reigning drag star acts that segwayed into the next round of girls competition.

And the winner is Miss Britty Moore from Jacksonville Beach.