Gasparilla children's parade takes place Saturday

TAMPA -- 

The Bay area's parade season kicks off Saturday with the Gasparilla Children’s Parade.

In the days leading up to the parade, the Krewe of Tronando has been working its young bead throwers with boot camp-style preparations

The Krewe has real parade veterans riding on their float - and we’re talking about the kids.

Carly Bergman, who is 7 and been riding on floats since she was a toddler, describes her bead throwing style.

"I don't actually pick a person," explained Carly, "I just throw it out into the crowd like I don't care what person gets it."

Anna Collins, 11, is coming back for a second year. She says she tried to make eye contact with the screaming parade goers.

"Well sometimes it doesn't go to the person you are meaning to throw it to," explained Collins, "So they'll usually kind of grab up and take it, and the start screaming again."

Krewe co-founder Joyce Michele Rathle says the young pirates in Tronando are a great bunch. She describes their experience.

"They get to walk with their parents,'' Rathle said. "They walk up to the little children and ‘bead them,’ as we say."

The parade is an alcohol free event.

It kicks off at 3:30pm on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa, but events start at 11am for the little ones.

Event activities

Gasparilla Children’s Parade & Piratechnic Extravaganza

11:00 PM Vendors and Activities for the children

1:30 - 2:30 PM Preschool Stroll

3:00 - 3:30 PM Air Invasion

3:30 - 6:00 PM Children’s Parade

7:00 - 7:30 PM Piratechnic Extravaganza