Krewe Life: Meet Andrew Smith of YMKG and his wife Cali Smith
The Gasparilla Tradition is more than a party; it’s community.
There’s nothing quite like Gasparilla. We can’t think of anywhere else in the world where community leaders and professionals swap their business suits for pirate costumes before parading down a waterfront road tossing beads and goodies to the crowd. And let’s not forget that they started the day “invading” their city on a pirate ship and a flotilla of boats.
It’s a tradition that spans more than a century and one that has become a treasured part of many Tampa families’ legacies – the Smith family included. A member of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, Andrew Smith serves on YMKG’s Gaspar’s Grenadiers, the outreach committee that visits schools, hospitals, and other community organizations.
We met up with Andrew and his wife, Cali Smith, to talk about what Gasparilla means to them, the importance of giving back to the community and why they love raising their family in Tampa Bay.
TBPM: Tell us how your family ended up here in Tampa Bay.
AS: All because of a palm tree. During World War II, my grandfather, Richard Whitacre, served in Panama, protecting the Panama Canal from attack. Being a farm boy from Ohio, he had never seen the tropics in his life. Needless to say, he fell in love.
After the war was over and he got back home, he loaded up his three girls and said, “We are going to drive south until we see palm trees!” And while he did end up living in Miami for a while, he ultimately settled in Tampa.
TBPM: What are some of your earliest memories of Gasparilla and the Children’s Gasparilla Parade?
AS: I call my dad the original Buccaneer. In 1976, he was traded from the Packers to the Buccaneers in the expansion draft. Even though he grew up in Miami, once he retired, he knew Tampa was where he wanted to raise a family.
From that point on, he embraced everything that Tampa has to offer, and once my sister and I were old enough, he started taking us on the official Tampa Bay Buccaneers float for the parades.
As I got older, my stepmother, Mary Ann Stiles, was well-known for throwing some of the best Gasparilla parties at her law office on 315 Plant Ave., now known as The Orlo. All great memories!
CS: In 2013, when Andrew and I were long-distance dating, I came down for Gasparilla. One reason I couldn’t move was that I had just signed a new 12-month lease in Atlanta. Well, thanks to the Sunset Salsa tent, we ran into some of Andrew’s friends who wanted to move to Atlanta. By the end of the day, we had a handshake agreement (sight unseen!) to sublease my apartment – I think the sunshine got to them! I moved down the next weekend!
TBPM: How does it feel to be a part of this Tampa legacy?
AS: We are so fortunate to live in this community. Tampa is unlike any other city in the world, and one of the reasons is that we have this month’s long celebration of Gasparilla. There is something for everyone – music, art, film, races, parades – and the foundation for all of it is carving out time where we can join together as a community for no other reason than to have fun and celebrate one another.
TBPM: The Buccaneers are celebrating a longstanding legacy as well, with 50 years in Tampa Bay. Is game day another tradition you love to celebrate with your own kids?
AS: Every day is game day in the Smith family! And for those that don’t know us, Cali is the athlete (and yes, she regularly reminds me that she is the only one in the house that has multiple state titles and is in her high school hall of fame). One thing our kids enjoy most about sports in Tampa is our mascots. If it involves Thunder Bug, Captain Fear, or DJ Kitty, we will be there.
TBPM: When you meet people who are new to the area, how do you explain Gasparilla?
AS: I usually go for the wow factor. We know how to throw a party here in Tampa, and we shouldn’t be shy to brag about it. We host the third-largest parade in the country, behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving and Rose Bowl parades. We throw the largest flotilla invasion in the country.
Our Children’s Parade is the largest in the country… Pirate ship? Cannons? Fireworks? Sunshine? We have all of those, too.
TBPM: The krewes do a lot to give back to our community. Why do you feel this is so important?
AS: Such a great question, and often overlooked by the excitement of the Invasion. Most Krewes (over 50 in total now!) engage in charitable activities throughout the course of the year. One of the many rewarding activities we get to do in YMKG is raising money for our Community Foundation.
With some of these funds from this year, we surprised ten local high school seniors with scholarships.
TBPM: Have you been able to take any of your kids on the float for the Children’s Parade? If not, what are you most looking forward to about sharing this experience with them?
AS: Our oldest, Andi, is a seasoned veteran at this point, and Walker has one SantaFest Parade under his belt.
TBPM: Cali—you are also a member of the Junior League of Tampa, which also has deep roots in Tampa. Why is it important to you to volunteer with this organization, and what would you tell other women who are thinking about joining?
CS: When I moved to Tampa for Andrew, I really did not know anyone else here in the community. Andrew encouraged me to join the Junior League to meet other women and make friends. His mom, Diane Smith, was a very active member of the Junior League and is still a sustainer today.
As a family, we believe in paying it forward and that it is very important to give back to your community. The Junior League makes it easy, fun, and seamless to volunteer your time. I encourage virtually everyone I meet to join or support the Junior League.
TBPM: The Junior League of Tampa recognized you as its Inspiring Leader of the Year in 2023. Tell us about this recognition.
CS: 2023 was an incredible moment in time for the Diaper Bank. It was in this year that we implemented a few operational changes to magnify our impact. I had the honor to be chair that year, but really, I had amazing women on that committee with me who provided unwavering support.
Specifically, Meaza Morrison and Charlesy Roman deserve a lot of this credit! Together, we were able to distribute over one million diapers to families in need across Hillsborough County, which was double what we had done the year prior.
TBPM: What do you love about living in Tampa Bay?
AS: Hands down, the people. We are the perfect blend of Southern Hospitality and Midwest Nice.
TBPM: And because we ask everyone this question…what are your favorite things to do as a family in Tampa Bay?
CS: How long do you have? We have so many favorites! When we aren’t at a Rays, Bucs, or Lightning game… You can usually find us at Kate Jackson Park or Julian B Lane Park, riding bikes on Bayshore, enjoying Chill Bros ice cream at Armature Works, catching a movie on the lawn at Sparkman Wharf, or strolling down Riverwalk.
We love trips to the Straz, Florida Aquarium, Zoo Tampa, and Busch Gardens, too. In the summer, you can usually find us looking for shells and making sandcastles at Pass-A-Grille Beach.