Ybor City prepares for the 2024 Knight Parade
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Krewe of the Knights of Sant’Yago is preparing to light up Ybor City with the annual Knight Parade on Saturday.
The illuminated festivities have been a tradition for the group since 1974.
Danielle Thibodeau, owner of the Wicked Sweet Sugar Boutique, is ready for her first experience with the Knight Parade. “We’ll have specialty coffees made up, macaroons, you name it,” she said.
Chairman Joe Parrino said this year’s parade will include 85 floats from 65 different krewes and organizations.
“The difference between this and the day parade is we’re a much smaller route. It’s a one-mile route and it’s very compact so getting beads is a lot easier with this one because when the floats come down, you’re right on top of them,” he said.
The parade starts at Nuccio Parkway and continues down 7th Avenue to the Columbia Restaurant Parrino expects 100,000 people to pack the parade route.
Security is preparing for a larger presence following the deadly mass shooting in Ybor City in October. Over Halloween weekend, two people were killed and more than a dozen people were injured when shots were fired along the street.
“Tampa Police Department is planning to have a huge presence out here Saturday night. It’s going to be a safe environment. Go out and support the local businesses out here. This is a huge night for them, traditionally. We’re hoping to make sure that happens again this year,” says Parrino
Thibodeau looks forward to new customers who become regulars. “I’m really hoping that there’s so many people out there walking around and parking and whatnot that they see a brand-new American bakery and want to check us out,” she said.
The 2024 Knight Parade begins at 7 p.m. Saturday.
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