Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn admits, he is a little sad marching in this year’s Sant’ Yago Night Parade in Ybor City. It was his last Knight parade as mayor.
“Mixed emotions, you know I think they are going to pry my cold dead fingers off that desk, Chip,” Mayor Buckhorn told me. “I mean I love what I do, I love what I do every day but it’s time for me to step off the stage and let the next mayor take their turn.”
The parade is always colorful with marching bands, floats and other entertainment. Flashing for beads is certainly discouraged, but we spotted a number of women wearing shirts that made them appear that they had no shirts on.
Ester Herron wasn’t one of them. She’s a Tampa native who’s been coming to the Knight parade for years. She didn’t give her age but admitted she’d been coming to the parade for more than 60 years. She and her family love it, and she has special skills to obtain the much-coveted beads. “I holler and wave,” said Herron. “And all of that.”
Felix Gordillo, also a Tampa native, says his long arms help him with the pursuit of beads, but he also relies on the tried and true methods.
“All my yelling and all my screaming,” said Gordillo. “I love it. ”
