Every Chasco Fiesta King And Queen Since 1922 Plus Other Cool Pictures From New Port Richey Festival

One of the oldest yearly celebrations in Florida is the Chasco Fiesta, established in 1922 and held annually since 1947 (with a two year break in 2020 for you know what.) It was created by Gerben De Vries, New Port Richey's first postmaster, designed as a fundraiser for the library. So, according to the legend, the Pithlachascotee River, which flows through New Port Richey, gave King Pithla and Queen Chasco their names. This fictional story isn't complete without their kidnapping by the Calusa Native American Tribe.

A picture from my grandmother's keepsake box.. note the car is decorated in spanish moss, saw palmetto leaves and cypress/cedar branches.Photo byabandonedreclamation

The crowning of the king and queen, followed by a coronation ball, used to be the highlight of the festival. If you ask the locals now, it's the food (which runs out fast!) and the boat parade. The festival pays honor to the legend with it's Native American theme and features Native American dancers and demonstrations, campsite displays, and merchants selling arts and crafts.

Scene from the Pageant, early 1950sPhoto byFivay

Chasco typically begins with the coronation on Friday night and ends with a massive street procession on Saturday. A boat procession on the Pithlachascotee River takes place on the final Saturday of the celebration. This boat parade is reported to be Florida's oldest boat parade, and looking back at pictures of the boat parade throughout the decades is actually pretty spectacular.

Chasco boat parade, 1952Photo byNaturecoaster

Speaking of through the decades, below is a list I found of every king and queen since the start of the festival until 2020, the year of you know what. Is there anyone you know on this list? Some of the names should sound familiar!

Chasco Fiesta king's and queens 1922-2019Photo byFivay

Chasco Fiesta king's and queens 1922-2019Photo byFivay

Chasco Fiesta king's and queens 1922-2019Photo byFivay

Photo byFivay

1960 Gulf High School juniors and seniors, including my Aunt Nanci, middle right.Photo byWest Pasco Historical Society

Attributions:

Bedard, D. (2023, October 2). Chasco Fiesta Celebrates 101 Years of Giving with Native American Festival. NatureCoaster.com. https://naturecoaster.com/chasco-fiesta-celebrates-101-years-of-giving-with-native-american-festival-and-much-more/

History of the Chasco Fiesta. (n.d.). https://www.fivay.org/chasco.html

West Pasco Historical Society. (n.d.). https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=927190043966646&set=chasco-fiesta-about-1960-photo-by-angelo-deciucies-does-anyone-recognize-the-wom