Gulfport celebrates 25 wacky years at GeckoFest this weekend

Lots of places have “Keep (city name) weird” slogans, but that’s definitely not the concern in Gulfport. Tampa Bay’s tiny version of Key West is and will always be weird AF.

This year’s GeckoFest marks 25 years of the city’s weird, bohemian spirit with live music, street performers, art and food. But the highlight is the 6 p.m. “wacky walking parade,” a birthday party for the city’s mascot G. Gordon McFly.

Come in costume, unless you’re some kind of freak.

There is no cover for GeckoFest, happening Saturday, Aug. 30 in Downtown Gulfport.

Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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This article appears in Aug 21-27, 2025.