Madison Schleicher



Ybor’s fall parade originated in the '70s, evolved into the Artists and Writers Ball in the '80s and eventually morphed into the “Mama Guava Stumble,” where the community got an opportunity to dress up and theatrically spoof its politicians. The party eventually became Guavaween, which fueled Ybor City’s reputation as a party town, but the ticketed, gated event with street vendors left the district’s merchants feeling left out.

In 2011 the Ybor Chamber took the gates down, made the event free to attend and made the parade the centerpiece of the festivities. Although still a draw for thousands of participants, the numbers were significantly diminished.

In 2012, CL took a look at the fence fight between merchants and Guavaween organizers. In 2016, after a few different experiments, Guavaween was reduced to the Guavaween Zone — a ticketed, fenced-in, wet-zoned area at 7th Ave. and 14th St. where the after-party and costume contest would be held. The main event was the March, and it was the first Ybor Halloween parade since 2011.

There was no cost to watch, which will be the case again in 2018 when the Legend of the Pumpkin King parade kicks off a weekend of festivities on Friday, October 26, but if you want to ride or walk in the parade your costume will have to fit certain criteria (basically, don't have something obscene hanging out of your shorts or poking out of your shirt) and pay a $50 fee.

"We want this to be the working man's parade," Tom DeGeorge told CL in the days leading up to the 2018 announcement. DeGeorge, the 44-year-old co-owner and general manager of Crowbar, is now the chairman of the board at Ybor City's Chamber of Commerce, and he's hyped on an Ybor tradition that — much like December's Snow on 7th — gives families a place to gather in the early evening before adult paradegoers fill the district's brick and mortars to shop and sip the night away.

"The district needs this. In a lot of ways, Ybor City has kind of been like its own island," DeGeorge said of the neighborhood's perseverance. "We've been doing this for years, and monies raised through entrance fees at this event can help support not just Snow on 7th, but other events and even some of our merchants who may fall on hard times. The community has to stick together."

The Legend of the Pumpkin King Parade — the piece de la pumpkin, if you will — will run between 22nd and 15th streets as part of Fantasma Fest, which takes place all weekend and includes a free pumpkin patch, bed races and a charity car show.

As an added bonus, DeGeorge sees the Pumpkin King being a local icon whose identity won't be revealed until after the parade is over.

“The Pumpkin King parade serves as a blueprint of how these groups work together," DeGeorge said, "and take responsibility for their own community.”

Get more information on events below.

The Legend of the Pumpkin King Parade. Fri. Oct. 26, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free for spectators with a nominal fee to march in the parade. 7th Avenue between 15th St. and 22nd St. ybornow.com/events.

Little Monsters Pumpkin Patch

In 2017, Ybor City businesses banded together to give 3,000 pumpkins away to small children (appropriately dubbed “Little Monsters” for this seasonal event). Gourds, doled out gratis, will once again rain down on the kids — not literally, mind you, they're not really monsters — in 2018 before the “Big Monsters” get to have their fun in a bed race (see below). Sat. Oct. 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Centro Ybor Courtyard, 1600 E 8th Ave, Ybor City. ybornow.com.

Big Monsters Bed Races

Dangerously fun times ensue as the grown-ups of the historic district get horizontal and race homemade beds, drag race style, down a short stretch of 7th Avenue all in the hopes of winning a trophy that will go home with the winner until next year’s festivities. Sat. Oct. 27, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free to attend (bed registration is $100). 7th Avenue in front of Centro Ybor. ybornow.com .

Hell on Wheels Classic Car Show

More than 200 classic cars are expected to line 7th Avenue near the Dirty Shame as part of this event meant to be the grand finale of Fantasma Fest. All of the proceeds from car registration ($20) will benefit Stay in Step SCI Recovery Center, a nonprofit veteran-founded rehabilitation facility that provides activity-based exercise programs for patients with spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. Free to the public. Sun. Oct. 28. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Free to attend ($20 to register a car). Seventh Avenue near the Dirty Shame, 1929 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City. ybornow.com.