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Annual Parade Is Decades-Old Holiday Affair

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

Updated: 10/29/2007 09:55 pm

CARROLLWOOD - Tonight ghosts, goblins and probably a Britney Spears or two, will walk the streets during the Original Carrollwood annual Halloween Parade.

The parade, a tradition in the neighborhood since the '60s, attracted 800 to 1,000 walkers last year making it the 'largest single neighborhood event that we host in terms of attendance,' said Carrollwood Civic Association President Mark Snellgrove.

Grandparents, parents, teenagers and children participate in the quarter-mile parade that begins at Sabal Road and goes along McFarland Road. Participants are asked to meet at 5 p.m. at Sabal. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

While waiting for the parade to begin, judges will look for standout costumes for the costume contest. Five awards will be given: a first, second and third overall best costume, a best family costume and a scariest costume.

Aside from the roughly 1,000 participants, residents also stand along the parade route to watch their neighbors walk by.

The parade is usually for Original Carrollwood residents, but Snellgrove said relatives of residents also tend to walk in the parade.

'One thing we try to do in our community, more than anything, is to promote community events,' he said. 'Community events such as this are just the foundation of living in a great community.'

Original Carrollwood is made up of 931 homes and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009, Snellgrove said.

At 5:45 p.m. the parade will conclude at newly built Carrollwood Recreation Center, 3515 McFarland Road. Once there, awards will be given to costume contest winners. Snacks and juice will be provided.

'That way the kids are full of energy to go trick-or-treating,' Snellgrove said.

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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