By Kim Wilmath, Times Staff Writer
Saturday, January 22, 2011
TAMPA — The Stevensons woke up early Saturday morning, ignoring the dire forecasts of gusty cold and putting the final touches on their makeshift ship.
Painted cardboard around the sides of the family's little wagon became the wooden hull. Elmer's Glue held shiny plastic coins in a paper treasure chest.
And in a comfortable nook at the stern, 5-year-old Jada took her seat.
Finally. Parade day.
"Anytime the news came on, showing scenes from last year, she started hopping all around the house," said Jada's mother, Sonya Stevenson, 46, of Brandon. "She was really looking forward to it."
She wasn't the only one.
Hundreds of little pirates invaded Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday for the annual Children's Gasparilla Parade.
They battled each other with plastic swords, stuffed their cheeks with cotton candy and corndogs, caught colorful beads ...