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Parade And Contest Are A Piece Of Cake

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By B.C. MANION

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 28, 2008

LUTZ - Over the years, there have been Elvis, Uncle Sam and Statue of Liberty impersonators in the Lutz Independence Day parade.

There also have been clowns and Scouts, Little League players and girls twirling flags.

But you don't have to be any of those things to be part of this parade.

You just have to have ties to Lutz and sign up by July 1.

There is no entry fee, but you will be assigned a number in line and need to get to the parade's staging area at Lutz-Lake Fern Road and Crooked Lane before 9:30 a.m. on July 4.

The mile-long parade, which begins at 10 a.m., has drawn as many as 95 entries, said Auralee Buckingham, chairwoman of the community's Independence Day festivities. It generally lasts about an hour.

If you're going to the parade, Buckingham has a few words of advice: Bring an umbrella for shade, and bring water.

"It's hotter than Hades out there," Buckingham said.

Good places to watch the parade are along Lutz-Lake Fern Road and in front of the Lutz Library, she added.

Awards for the parade are presented in these categories:

Antique Vehicle; Bicycle; Youth Entry; Commercial; Family; Most Comical; Most Patriotic; Neighborhood; Walking Unit; Judges' Favorites; and Grand Marshal's Choice.

Michele Northrup, the reigning Guv'na of Lutz, will be the parade's grand marshal.

For a spot in the parade, call Buckingham at (813) 949-7481, or Shirley Simmons at (813) 949-7060.

It's also time to think about entering the community's annual Cake Bake contest, said Cheryl Benton, a contest organizer.

The competition is broken into adult and children's categories, Benton said.

Adults compete for the Best-Decorated; Most Patriotic; Best Tasting; Men's Only Cake; and Best Pie.

Children compete for Best-Decorated, Most Patriotic and Best Tasting.

The Guv'na will pick her favorite from each group for an additional prize, and the judges will pick their favorite from each group.

After the competition, the baked goods are auctioned, which is fun for the crowd, Benton said.

The competition tends to draw elaborate entries for the Best Decorated and Most Patriotic categories, Benton said.

"The ones with the frosting that needs to be refrigerated all melt," she said. "It's so darn hot."

The contest has drawn dozens of entries, with some contestants entering two or three categories.

"There are a lot of people who really get into it," Benton said.

"The kids, especially, love it, and their grandmothers come and buy their cakes."

The entries come in all shapes and sizes, she said.

Once there was a cake that was so heavy it took two people to carry it to the auction, Benton said.

Marilyn Wannamaker, another organizer, said the pie category also draws impressive entries. One woman is a regular competitor, Wannamaker said. "The apple pie that she makes has 5 pounds of apples in it. It stands almost a foot high. Your mouth waters just looking at it," Wannamaker said.

The auction is always fun and taps the generosity of the community, Benton adds.

Some cakes have gone for as much as $100, she said.

Wannamaker said she has competed in the contest, entering her Milky Way cake in the best-tasting category.

"It has eight Milky Ways melted into it," she said.

It didn't win, but it fetched $35 in the auction, Wannamaker said.

Those wanting to enter must bring their cakes or pies to the fire department board room at 124 W. Lutz-Lake Fern Road, between 3 and 5 p.m. on July 3, or before 7:30 a.m. on July 4.

GRANT APPLICATIONS SOUGHT

The Lutz Civic Association is seeking applications from nonprofit groups and organizations in Lutz for grants from the proceeds of this year's Lutz Guv'na campaign.

The grants are awarded to secular, nonprofit organizations within the community of Lutz.

For information, call Eleanor Cecil at (813) 727-7549.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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