Garifuna Day Street Festival 

photos and story by Ricky Richardson

On April 10th, several thousand Garinagus gathered for the 4th Annual Garifuna Day Street Family Festival. 

This family oriented event was held on Avalon Blvd. between 41st and 43rd Street. I felt as if I was on a Caribbean Island on this day, celebrating with Garinagu people from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.       

The co-hosts were Edith Martinez and actor Marcello Arzu Thedford who introduced groups ranging from P.C. Crew of Belize, Macako of Honduras, Thug Angelz, featuring 2 Cents, SIC-N-DA-Head, and I.N.I. all from Belize; the Garawoun Drum Group, featuring Master drummer Jesse Flores; the  Wanaragua Dancers and Wagiameme, Rhodee, Nuru, and Static Crew, to the talented Libaya Baba Band which closed the show in a traditional manner.  

The aroma of traditional Garifuna foods such as Hunduta (pounded plantains with fish stew), and Panades (fried cornmeal stuffed with fish or beans) filled the air.  

Garinagu or Garifunas are the largest Black ethnic group in Central America. During the exploration of the New World, West-African explorers and runaway slaves cohabits with the Native Islanders of Yurumein (St.Vincent) in the Eastern Caribbean. The Garinagu fought for more than 30 years for their autonomy against European aggression and the efforts to colonize Yurumeim. Eventually, they succumbed to the British Army. 

The Garifuna Day Street Festival was created to celebrate the last time the Garinagu were together as a group after they were exiled from Yurumeim (St.Vincent). That day was April 12, 1797. April is an official holiday for Garinagu’s employed by the City of Los Angeles. 

In co-operation with the Cultural Affairs Department of Los Angeles, and the 9th Counsel District Representative, Jan Perry, the Garifuna Day Street Festival is fast becoming one of the premier cultural and artistic presentations in culturally diverse Los Angeles County.

Road Trip – Tampa and New Orleans

photos and story by Ricky Richardson

      Recently, I had the pleasure of taking a vacation from my regular 9-5 job for a trip to Tampa Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana.

      Tampa is my hometown. It was a real treat to return home after being away for 25 years. Many wonderful changes have transpired since my family and I left Tampa, for Southern California.

      During my visit, I was happy to attend a couple of events, my family and friends enjoyed while growing up in Tampa. The Florida State Fair has grown tremendously. I remember when it was located on the campus of the University of Tampa. The present location at U.S. 301 and Interstate 4 is triple the size of the original location, and has ample free parking, with easy highway access. My niece, her son and I had fun walking around and taking in the sites of the 100th Anniversary of the Florida State Fair. This visit brought back many fond memories of my youth while attending the fair. This fair consisted of various carnival rides, exhibits and many retailers plying their latest gadgets and gizmos. The

Kiddie Kingdom was a popular area for my nephew as well as all of the other kids in attendance with their unlimited energy. Popular smooth jazz artist Richard Elliott was a crowd favorite as one of the many top named artists performing at the fair. My favorite of all of the great tasty treats was the huge turkey drumsticks. This was a meal in and of itself.

The Florida State Fair is the official fair of Tampa, and is among the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in the Southeast and draws approximately 500,00 people over its 12 days.

      The next spectacular event that I witnessed was the 1000th Anniversary of The Gasparilla Pirate Fest invasion, parade and festival. This event was held in conjunction with The Florida State Fair when I was growing up in Tampa.

      As a kid, we enjoyed seeing this parade leave Ybor City on its way to downtown Tampa, and to The Florida State Fair. We use to delight in receiving the blank shells thrown to the crowd and in seeing the local politicians and celebrities participate in this event.

      The 100th Anniversary of The Gasparilla Pirate Invasion, Pirate Parade and Festival has grown in popularity as well. This event draws half a million people from all over the United States and some foreign

visitors.

      The day began with 700 buccaneers from the Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla invading the city of Tampa on a fully rigged pirate ship with boisterous cannons booming colorful flags flying. The Jose Gasparilla ship docked at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. Mayor of Tampa, Pam Iorio handed over the keys to the city to the rowdy swashbucklers, before they were able to join up with 120 other krewes. The krewes took to the streets from Bayshore to Downtown Tampa, to share their “magnificent treasures” of beads and doubloons in a vibrantly colorful parade on the waterfront.

The Gasparilla Pirate Fest has become one of the country’s largest and most unique outdoor celebrations. It has been recognized by Event Business News, and repeatedly named among the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 100 Events. Gasparilla festivities is held from January to March, which include the Gasparilla Distance Classic, Gasparilla “Pyrotechnic” Extravaganza, and Children’s Gasparilla Parade, Sant’ Yago Illuminated Night Parade, and Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in March. Join me and bookmark the following websites to schedule your visit to my home town of Tampa (www.visittampabay.com), (www.gasparillapiratefest.com), and (www.floridastatefair.com) to find out why this city is such an appealing destination for both business and pleasure trips.

      Finally, my vacation concluded with a stop over in New Orleans for Carnival Season. Carnival Season is the events that lead up to Mardi Gras, on February 24th, 2004. The two previous years ( 2002 and 2003) I was able to to celebrate Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This year, 2004, I had the opportunity to the attend the first weekend of Carnival Season.

      I took in the local sight seeing events before the Carnival Parades began. Went to the New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park for a lecture entitled “ Jazz and Dance of New Orleans”. Afterward walked through the French Market. They sell fresh fruits and vegetables and famous New Orleans spices. Concluded my day with a visit to the Louisiana State

Museum for an exhibit entitled “The Spirit of Mardi Gras”. This exhibit allowed you to experience the fantasy and fascination of Louisiana’s most famous tradition-Mardi Gras. This exhibit captured the essence of Mardi Gras through rare artifacts, elaborate displays, and imaginative technology.

      The first parades rolled on Friday, February 13th. Despite a little drizzle, it failed to dampened the enthusiasm of kids and adults who braved the elements to catch a few beads, and see the colorful floats. Several additional parades rolled on Saturday with rain very heavy at times. Sunday, the highlight of my trip was the Krewe of Barkus Parade. This parade was literally for the dogs. Several hundred dogs strolled from Louis Armstrong Park in some cute and hilarious costumes. Most of the dogs wore cowboy theme outfits. You can view photographs from this event at (www.yourphotoz.com) click on Washington region, then scroll down to Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Parade and enjoy.

                  ###Ricky Richardson

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