‘Geckostock’ Chosen As Theme For 2017 Gecko Ball

GULFPORT, FL – Grab your love beads and bell bottoms – or at least have them ready by next October.

The Gulfport Merchants Association announced “Geckostock!” was chosen by the public as the winning theme for the 2017 Gecko Ball. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom.

“Geckostock” won by a narrow margin of votes over second-place “Gecko Con.” “Cirque du Gecko” came in third.

The Gecko Ball is one of four annual Gecko-themed events in late summer, beginning with the Art Gecko Show and Gecko Crawl and ending with Gecko Fest. The festival is Gulfport’s largest free street festival held on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend.

The “Geckostock!” theme will celebrate the 1969 Woodstock Festival, as well as hippies and the “peace and love” generation. Organizers said the theme will lend itself to a host of ’60s and hippie-themed festivities, including decorations, music, dancing, food and drink, silent auction items the live auction of art geckos, the coronation of a new Gecko Queen and more.

Patrons of the Gecko Ball are encouraged to arrive in costume every year, complete with a costume contest. The themed costumes continue at GeckoFest 2017, where there will be a another contest in conjunction with the walking parade.

Tickets to the 2017 Gecko Ball will go on sale Tuesday, July 4, 2017. To receive updates, including ticket sales announcements, visit www.facebook.com/geckoball.

All Gecko-themed events are sponsored by the non-profit Gulfport Merchants Association. A portion of the proceeds from the events are dedicated to community charities.

For more information, contact John Haugen at jhaugen@gulfportma.com or (727) 623-0524.

Image via Andrew Petersen, Flickr, used under Creative Commons