Gulfport’s annual “Gecko Season” of partying, parades and pub crawling isn’t just an expression of the little city’s commitment to having a good time (and amateur herpetology). It’s also for raising money — some of which the Gulfport Merchants Association can parlay into grants for local nonprofits.
Proceeds from late summer’s Gecko Ball, Gecko Pub Crawl and GeckoFest will be awarded to two of the nonprofits who applied: the Gulfport Historical Society, which will use the funds to create a register of historic places in the area (including accompanying signs and walking tours); and First Florida Frontiers, which will create a series of interpretive “living history” programs to be staged during local events and inform viewers of interesting and meaningful periods in Gulfport’s history.
Both groups were among the qualified applicants through their being either based in Gulfport or inclusive of the city in their operations.
This article appears in Mar 31 – Apr 6, 2016.
