GULFPORT, Fla. — Tucked away within the southwestern nook of Pinellas County, Gulfport is thought for its funky beachside tradition, its staycation enchantment and, above all, its laid-back perspective.
Except you’re speaking about partying. That’s one thing the little metropolis takes fairly severely — and its annual string of GeckoFest occasions is Gulfport’s largest, longest celebration of the 12 months.
What You Want To Know
- GeckoFest is an annual collection of events and occasions in Gulfport, FL
- This 12 months’s major avenue celebration takes place Saturday, Stept. 4
- That is GeckoFest’s twentieth anniversary, after being canceled final 12 months as a result of pandemic
Final 12 months, the late-summer collection (named after the lizard that decorates so many Gulfport partitions in each creative renderings and real-life type) was canceled as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a complete wash,” says Barbara Banno, president of the Gulfport Retailers Chamber and proprietor of fashionable breakfast and lunch spot Stella’s. “Often we’ve totally different occasions all through the month of August, and we didn’t have any.”
The town’s many impartial companies took a monetary hit resulting from GeckoFest’s absence in 2020, and residents and guests alike have been denied a cherished and actually distinctive group custom. Regardless of the current surge in coronavirus circumstances throughout Florida as a result of Delta variant, GeckoFest — a largely out of doors affair — has returned for its twentieth anniversary this 12 months, with just a few scheduling change-ups and new protocols to assist hold everybody protected.
“It’s Gulfport’s celebration of the 12 months,” Banno says. “With it lacking final 12 months, I believe all people’s going to be out and celebrating.”
GeckoFest’s major occasion takes place this Saturday, September 4, on Seashore Boulevard, Gulfport’s downtown major drag. Further hand-washing stations will probably be on-hand alongside the thoroughfare, and free masks will probably be obtainable on the Gulfport Welcome Heart at 3101 Seashore. The road will probably be closed to motorized automobiles from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate a full slate of sights, together with reside music on two phases, avenue performers, a parade and even a fancy dress contest.
Reigning Gecko Queen Jody Robinson will probably be succeeded this Saturday. (Gulfport Retailers Chamber)
“This 12 months’s theme is ‘Gecko Bandstand,’” says Banno. “[Costumes] could be something music from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.”
One of many festivities’ traditions is the crowning of the Gecko Queen. Previously the coronation befell throughout Gecko Ball, which is often the primary occasion kicking off GeckoFest and takes place contained in the historic Gulfport On line casino. This time round, the ball has been postponed till Saturday, Oct. 23 in deference to the summer season’s rise in COVID circumstances, so the Gecko Queen will probably be topped throughout this Saturday’s avenue celebration. The coronation takes place at 5:30 on the south stage, and can culminate within the annual parade at 6; the costume contest judging follows, together with a not-so-little one thing particular for 2021:
The historic Gulfport On line casino hosts the postponed Gecko Ball on Oct. 23. (Scott Harrell)
“Since that is our twentieth anniversary, we partnered with town and we’ll be having fireworks this 12 months,” Banno says.
It’s been a protracted, tough two years because the final GeckoFest, and Gulfport residents and routine guests are greater than prepared for a frolic that helps native companies — and in addition raises cash for charity. This 12 months, girls’s healthcare help group the Sonia Plotnick Well being Fund and Suncoast Voices for Youngsters, which aids children in foster care, will obtain a portion of GeckoFest proceeds.
“[GeckoFest] helps small enterprise, helps the group, helps town,” says Banno. “We’re actually enthusiastic about it.”