By Theresa Blackwell, Times Staff Writer

Saturday, February 21, 2009

George Bowyer works on the frame for the Jeff Rhodes Isuzu float that will be in the parade, which could attract up to 30,000.

DUNEDIN — Pinellas County's biggest Mardi Gras celebration, the only one with a parade, started with a few downtown business owners in 1992.

"We all wanted to get off (from work) and go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras," said Gregory Brady, owner of Gregory's Salon on Main Street. "But we couldn't afford to go."

So they brought New Orleans and Mardi Gras to Dunedin.

The Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association did not exist at that time, so Brady worked with Kathy Carlson, co-owner of Kelly's restaurant, and several other merchants.

They chose Mayor Manny Koutsourais for parade grand marshal, Brady said, and appointed female impersonator Vanessa Valentine their first queen.

By day, her name was Vanessa Haley and she worked in the kitchen at Kelly's. At night, she was Vanessa Valentine and performed in the bar 1470 West, where Blur dance club is now.

The merchants had to work to persuade a beer vendor to show up.

With a few crafters and a box of beads, they were expecting a 100 to 200 revelers for the small parade down Main Street.

To their shock, 1,000 to 2,000 people showed up.

The party has grown steadily. Now in its 18th year, the Mardi Gras celebration — complete with a craft show, parade and music — is expected to draw 25,000 to 30,000 people on Tuesday night.

Other changes that have evolved are that the Downtown Dunedin Merchants Association organizes the event, distributors compete for the beer concession and judges choose the queen in a pageant that includes talent, evening gown and public speaking competition.

Brady said Blur dance club was packed last week when Kennedy Davenport of Fort Lauderdale won the competition for queen. He said Davenport does some amazing acrobatic dancing.