Accent On Tampa Bay #213 Sept/Oct 2015 Sept/Oct 2015 | Página 4

LOCAL FOCUS
Celebrating 5 Years of HAUTE Accessories
Week - Sept 1 - 6
www.hauteaccessoriesweek.com/

Haute Accessories Week is celebrating 5 years
starting Tues, Sept 1, and leading up to the main
event Haute Accessories Runway Show on Fri, Sept
4, at the Carrollwood Country Club. This event will
include designers Ella Bing, Shola Designs, Chelsea
Nicole’s Exclusive, Malchijah Hats, Tenique Tenique,
UNICAS Fashion, Eric Green Collection, Wendy
Foreman Designs and Erika Williner Designs. The
week will feature an Opening Night Mixer, a Style Exhibit and a Fashion Party. Art and photography will
also be an integral part of this year’s presentation.
Proceeds from the events will be shared with local
charity, Joshua’s House.
15th Annual Gulfport GECKOFEST Sat, Sept 5
www.Geckofest.com
Each year, Gulfport celebrates the
end of summer with
its largest festival of
the year, dedicated
to the town’s unofficial mascot and favorite reptile. Geckofest has grown
to become one of
Tampa Bay’s most
anticipated events
of the season. Live
music and vendors throughout the village are all part
of the fun. Strolling and stationary street performers
are now also a hallmark of the Geckofest tradition.
Geckofest offers a fun-filled opportunity to explore
Gulfport, a wonderful slice of “Old Florida” on one of
its most colorful days of the year. The theme for this
year’s Gecko events is “Gecko Gras.”
Show off your costume or just your Gecko spirit
by joining the traditional afternoon Geckofest Walking Parade, the “Zyde-Geck-O Second Line!” Bring
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your parasols and wave your white hankies in the
air led by the Gecko Queen and her Court. The parade leaves promptly at 6PM from Gulfport’s Historic
Casino. Attendees are encouraged to develop costumes relating to Mardi Gras, or geckos, or a creative
combination of the two. A costume contest immediately following the parade will offer an opportunity to
win prizes for some of the day’s best ensembles for
adults and for kids.
Amid the thousands of festival-goers, hundreds
of vendors and dozens of live musicians, expect to
come face to face with acrobats, aerialists, break
dancers, escape artists, magicians, jugglers, fire
performers and more, creating an interactive circus
atmosphere throughout the waterfront village. All
festivities take place on Beach Boulevard in Gulfport
from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Geckofest admission
is gratis and the event is pet and family-friendly.
Live music will entertain the Geckofest throngs all
day long and the famous Geckofest street dance will
close out the day with a party in the streets.
Parking and Trolley rides for GeckoFest are complimentary.
The Trolley offers visitors an opportunity to park in
off-site locations for transportation to and from their
vehicle and the festival site.
The event takes place in the surrounding area of
3129 Beach, Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. 727-3225217.
SPLASH SUNDAYS AT THE EPICUREAN HOTEL thru Sept 6
www.epicureanhotel.com/
The Epicurean Hotel
hosts Splash Sunday
pool parties. Each week
Splash sponsors will
present a variety of rotating entertainment and
activities ranging from
poolside fashion shows
and DJs to live music
and craft cocktail specials. Special overnight
Florida resident rates at the Epicurean Hotel that
include admission to Splash Sunday are available.
There are SPLASH VIP reserved areas available for
up to 10 guests. Includes a select location bordering
the swimming pool, along with comfortable seating,
sun umbrellas, a personal outdoor cooling system by
Portacool, dedicated service and a pitcher of the hotel’s Crafted Skyy “Cocktail of the Week.”

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