Zombeez

November 1, 2009







Zombeez

Michael & Kathy



The Zombeez float was scheduled to start 49th out of 55 entries in the big parade this year. Being at the end of the line gives you an extra hour or so after the official start of the parade to hang around and relax before getting going. There was time to tap a keg or two, to make final preparations on costumes and time to practice the dance routine that some of the Zombeez planned to perform to the strains of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at various stops along the parade route.

Howard





This year we had over 100 people dressed as Zombeez as part of our group, a good mixture of old familiar faces and newcomers who joined in this year. For the first time in ages there was no representation from perennial favorites and our cohorts at Lazy Dogs so we had a large contingent of crossovers from that group who joined in with us this year.

Randy, Kathy & Alison

Shannon, Tom & Terri

Elliot & Todd

It was a festive group and as much fun as we have had doing the float. We finally got going sometime after 8 and it was slow, slow going. The parade crept along in fits and starts at one point pausing in a single spot on Whitehead Street for almost 30 minutes as there was some sort of power outage along Duval Street. Even without that delay, the parade seemed to move along at a snail’s pace. It was hot too, with temperatures near 80, which makes for some sweaty costumes, but despite all of that, it was a great time.



Briget Marquardt

Rick & Eric



The crowd seemed much larger than the last few years, as there were no gaps at all along Whitehead as there had been the past few years. The crowd was great and mostly well behaved, during the parade itself at least. We did manage to see a lot of friends along the parade route, which is always fun. In all the chaos, it can be hard to spot people you know, but this year we encountered many people watching the parade that we know.









Howard & his wife Najada drove in the cab of the float and did an excellent job in what are often trying circumstances. As the parade goes on, many of the Zombeez got progressively tipsy as they went through the six kegs of beer. Kathy & I always refrain from imbibing during the parade, something about not wanting to use the porta-potty and also liking to keep clear headed to take everything in.





Ashley & Arlo

There are two official stops along the route, the media area in front of the La Concha Hotel and the judges stand which is inexplicably at the end of the parade route, translating (for our group at least) into a lot of drunk bees trying to organize themselves and perform the dance. It worked a lot better during the first stop, but was pretty good both times all things considered.

Jerian & Billy

Breanne & David





The parade didn’t end for us until around 11:30 and unlike past years there was very little post parade partying around the float at the end. Instead a large contingent of Zombeez headed to nearby La Te Da to celebrate and dance the night away. La Te Da is out of the zone of chaos that is lower Duval Street and offers a great location to unwind post parade.

Bill & Monica

At La Te Da

Suzyjo & Autumn

Debbie & Matt

Eliza

We ended up the late night at the Green Parrot where the crowd was actually as sparse as it had been all week. There was some activity in the street, but overall the mood was sort of somber and we didn’t stay too long. Heading home to try and recover after a long week.



Elio

Kathy & Gae