A fortnight ago at the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza, we were reminded again that a milling, six-figure crowd–overlapping residential neighborhoods–could have a good time at a parade without violating societal norms. It’s what happens when a certain attendee demographic–mostly parents and their kids–gather for the right reason: family fun. No Bud Light brigades. Long live lemonade.
Then last Saturday–for the second year in a row–we were privy to another, more recent, reminder. That is, even when you introduce alcohol to the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates–which is attended by more than 200,000 revelers–it need not result in anarchy in the alleys and side streets of South Tampa. Sure, sanctioned wet zones can be problematic–if not downright arbitrary–but proper preparation and policing can make it manageable.
Recall that last year the city and TPD took pains to send a message to would-be underage imbibers, those used to using neighborhood landscaping as personal toilets and the usual suspects who think drunken disorderly is the theme for the day. It involved getting the message out directly to schools and through the media that the theme would henceforth be no tolerance for underage drinkers–and all the collateral behavior that typically accompanies it. Moreover, drunks and punks of any age were not welcome. In addition, there were more portable toilets and a longer parade route that culminated in the Pirate Fest street party and concert at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The police then reinforced that well-publicized message last year–when inclement weather actually held down attendance–with more than 400 arrests. Nearly four times the number from the previous year.
That meant that Saturday’s Gasparilla Parade was the true test–with gorgeous, chamber-of-commerce weather. And the results were even better than last year’s rain-skewed event. More attendees, fewer arrests, better behavior, well-deployed police and a signature parade even the sober could sign on to.
Well done.