JOIN THE CROWD AT GECKOFEST ON SEP. 4!
The theme is “Mardi Gras meets the Renaissance,” and it’s the 10th anniversary of Geckofest that started small and now brings up to 15,000 people into “downtown” Gulfport to celebrate the end of our hot summer and the beginning of 9 months of sublime weather that makes our area Paradise. This year’s Geckofest promises to be more festive than ever with the happenstance of the event’s 10th anniversary and the City’s 100TH anniversary being in the same year.
In addition to the normal wackiness and entertainment, this year attendees are especially encouraged to participate in the fun by designing and wearing theme appropriate costumes, (almost anything goes), for themselves and their children. Some may wish to design and wear weird and wacky headgear. Prizes will be awarded for adults and children’s best costumes and for the best headgear. All are invited to join in the Geckofest walking parade led by the o-FISH-al GECKO Goddess and Governor at 6:00 PM.
Geckofest opens at noon and winds down at 10 PM. Most of Gulfport’s now famous bar and restaurant row will party-on until a much later closing time. Throughout the event, strolling street performers, musicians and performance artists will roam the streets. Live bands will entertain from two main stages and about 200 arts, crafts and food vendors with all types of wares and cuisines will tempt the celebrants. Gulfport’s many shops and restaurants will be open throughout the day, many of them offering Geckofest specials.
Zhu-universe is sponsoring an eco-fun children’s area with inflatable habitat trails, a human hamster wheel, an exciting obstacle course, Nintendo Hand Held systems, Wii kiosks, photo opportunities, Zhu Zhu Pets, a Kung Zhu product and accessories showcase, give-a-ways, ID clips, music and more. In addition there will be sidewalk chalk art, face painting and dance lessons making Geckofest a truly, all day, family event.
The day culminates in Gulfport’s famous Street Dance beginning at 8 PM, on the street in front of the main stage by the Casino. With a top band playing, the street dance is one of the day’s most popular events
The entire event is free and is sponsored by the Gulfport Merchant’s Association, The City of Gulfport, The Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, The Saint Petersburg Times, Bright House Networks, GEICO, (naturally), and Zhu-universe.
Parking is available on city streets where legal and in various marked parking areas all around the event. Frequent and free “trolley” shuttle service is provided to the designated parking areas. Being only 2.8 square miles in size, most Gulfport residents are within easy walking distance.
Thank god for the trolleys to relieve the parking problem.
dogfish is absolutely correct. The otherwise empty Trolley could shuttle all 15,000 gecko types directly to St. Pete Beach, cut down on parking conflicts and do no more harm to local business than the benefit it now provides at taxpayer expense. How about that big empty chunk of grass that runs from 22nd Av south to the Hickman theater? A proven event parking lot and wasted resource. If more businesses close, the parking issue will resolve itself. Can flamingos (which Gulfport does not have) interbreed with geckos (which Gulfport also does not have)?
The new bar “The Dive” will also be opening Labor Day weekend. Their facebook page reflects that they have invited 5000+ people to their opening. If 1/4 – 1/2 of that amount accept it will add to the parking challenges for the city. I believe that when the Hickman theatre was built, an agreement was made with the nearby residents that the green space would not be used for parking. I think the city should re-visit this with the neighboring residents and attempt to get buy-in to allow that space to be used for parking during the large festivals. that would only be 3 or 4 times per year. I have to believe that, with proper assurance of police coverage, these residents would be ammenable to the exception.