The 2022 Chasco Fiesta is chock-full of activities. We can’t get out for everything but will be venturing out for some of our favorites, and of course, snapping away with the camera to create a pictorial record of some of what’s happening. More photos will be added as the 100th-anniversary celebration unfolds, so do come on back on what’s been added.
*****Chasco Fiesta Boat Parade, April 2 on the Pithlachascotee River in New Port Richey
Roaring 20’s was the theme of the 2022 Chasco Fiesta Boat Parade and participants and onlookers alike got a break when the rains held off long enough to take in the 30 plus boats and owners that participated.
PHOTOS | MICHELE MILLER
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
****Chasco Fiesta Special Olympics Florida 2022 Race for Inclusion – Pasco, April 2, 2022, at the New Port Richey Aquatics and Recreation Center
The Chasco Fiesta Special Olympics 5k and 1-mile run/walk, typically a major fundraiser and jolly good time for Pasco athletes almost didn’t happen this year. There’s a story to come on that, how the event eventually came together and a few more pics to boot. In the meantime, here’s a glimpse of what a well-spent Saturday morning looks like 🙂
PHOTOS | MICHELE MILLER
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
***Native American Night, March 28, 2022, in Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
The Chasco Native American Festival is a festival within the fiesta and a long-held tradition. Over the years the Chasco Fiesta created some controversy and ire from the American Indian Movement of Florida because of its depiction of the Calusa Indians and the legendary story that the festival was based on.
The Chasco Fiesta and its organizers evolved over the years and now offer an educational slant to the Native American Festival that over 10 days, features living history presentations, authentic Native American dance and music demonstrations, alligator wrestling and a reptile demonstration in Sims Park.
We popped in to tour the village and for Native American Night on Monday, March 28 to take in the magnificent dancers on the stage in the Sims Park amphitheater. Admission was free as well, so that was pretty cool.
PHOTOS BY MICHELE MILLER
PHOTO | MICHELE MILLER
Of Interest | Further Reading
- History of Chasco Fiesta, from fivay.org, The History of Pasco County
- The legend behind Chasco Fiesta, Tampa Bay Times, Archives, March 1991
- Group protests Chasco again, Tampa Bay Times, Archives, March 2005)
- After two-year COVID hiatus, Chasco Fiesta returns for its 100th birthday, Tampa Bay Times (March 2022)
- A hundred years later and some still wonder if legend behind Chasco Fiesta is true, Suncoast News (March 2022)
- New Port Richey’s Chasco Fiesta celebrates 100 years with familiar traditions and some new twists What’s What New Port Richey, March 2022
“I used to have one of those except it was cherry red.”
**Overheard at the 23rd Annual Chasco Fiesta Car, Bike & Truck show.
March 27, 2022
The streets were jammed with rides of all sorts and to be sure there was a lot of reminiscing going on, including for the old man, who saw a few old models that brought him back to the good old days when you didn’t need a computer to fix whatever was wrong.
Some 187 people registered for the 23rd annual event, but at least an additional 150 entrants showed up the day of, said Brenda Stowe, a judge and Vice President of the Gulfside Classic Corvette Club.
The corvette club hosts multiple shows each year including the Chasco Fiesta event that raises money for local charities. Over the year the club has raised some $6,000 according to the literature on the Gulfside Corvette Club website.
“This is our biggest show,” said Stowe, who was looking over Pete Bucher’s 172 Dodge-Dart Swinger, trunk and all.
Bucher, of Wesley Chapel, has owned the car for about 8 or 9 years. He said he enters about 20 shows a year and was hoping to take home another trophy to keep a personal record going.
“This is my 48th car show,” he said. “So far I’ve taken 47 (trophies) out of 47 and I’m hoping to do that again this year.”
PHOTOS BY MICHELE MILLER
*Scenes from the Chasco Fiesta Parade, March 26, 2022
Everyone loves a parade, and while this year’s event felt somewhat smaller and less crowded than previous years a fair share came out to line the streets of downtown New Port Richey for the Chasco Fiesta street parade with some setting up camp complete with barbeque along Orange Lake. For revelers, particularly those wanting to add to their bead collection, the parade is a “not to miss” event, one that features marching school bands and representatives from local businesses and organizations, a handful of political dignitaries riding in classic cars, some colorful floats donning a “roaring 20’s” theme, and of course, appearances from some area krewes.
PHOTOS BY MICHELE MILLER
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