Guavaween
guavaween annual latinflavored halloween celebration took place last saturday october historic neighborhood ybor city tampa florida named tampa nickname big guava since inception year ago guavaween became one largest festival ybor daylight hour familyoriented past included activity costume contest scavenger hunt safe trickortreat centro ybor food amusement ride around dusk mama guava stumble parade guavaweens popular attraction made way seventh avenue main street ybor parade led mama guava featured float costumed individual threw candy bead spectator spanishborn new yorkbased gavino gutierrez came area search wild guava tree might cultivated commercially didnt find usable tree liked small town tampa leaving area gutierrez stopped key west visit friend cigar manufacturer vicente martinezybor ybor looking place relocate prosperous business gutierrez recommended tampa ybor took advice eventually founded ybor city helping tampa grow small village bustling city next decade referencing local history local newspaper columnist steve otto planted idea new york city big apple tampa must big guava nickname stuck according well known area artist college professor art prior mama guava guavaween many young artist sharing loft space old closed cigar factory late decided throw large halloween party charge attended party success artist continued party subsequent year crowd grew word spread somehow artist original halloween party guavaweens well first artist writer ball evolved first artist writer ball given cuban club courtyard tampa tribune sponsor affair featured many band entertainer giant success people walk life joined together sharing table eating drinking dancing night away artist writer ball originally start halloween party started underground alternative gasparilla artist writer group bud lee peggy lee david audet paul wilborn beverly coe bebe williams impetus behind artist writer ball traditionally held early february around time gasparilla guavaween heyday reached estimated attendance people brought problem property damage arrest medical emergency following year area enclosed fencing aid crowd control artist writer ball cosponsored event parted way ybor chamber commerce major sponsor cost event increased fund decreased decided begin charge admission event continued strong artist rihanna performing month american release first album august year activity continued struggle image attendee pushing envelope dress behavior local chamber commerce city council concerned image projected time cost host activity continued rise seeing entry fee increase price increased effort made decrease expense first step remove motorized vehicle parade allowed eliminate barrier attendee parade estimated saving brought change well attendance people using horse draw float simply prove effective parade eliminated death throe guavaween started fencing came entrance fee eliminated resulting elimination ability attendee consume alcohol since city ban drinking street returned activity lost patron move loss income ticket sale last attempt revitalize event hiring outside event firm organize event changed activity street party attracting ten thousand music festival part reasoning root event stemmed idea artist writer ball event changed outdoor activity indoor music selected location throughout ybor ticket price day event vip ticket also morphed strictly adult event since venue served alcohol preventing anyone attending hurt attendance even since past many attendee local college student young adult point attendance dropped contract signed event company year finishing official guavaween website made available purchase last facebook update celebration attracted people world featured stumble parade costume contest live national local concert become full day fun folk age guavaween family funfest filled street pm offering exciting activity young old alike activity included scavenger hunt safe trickortreating live music food ride contest childrens costume contest parade twenty year ornately decorated mama guava led loyal band follower reveler mama guava stumble parade mama guava claimed stake taking bore ybor pm mama guava welcomed adult reveler evening party got way guavaween party acted primary fundraiser ybor city chamber commerce guavaween served preserve tampa oldest city quite common adult child attend guavaween costume thing tended become risqué evening hour parking could extremely difficult ybor guavaween shuttle bus ran florida state fairground raymond james stadium tampa port authority university south florida sun dome official guavaween site