What is the Chasco Fiesta? Then and Now.
Chasco is an 11 day festival held in and around Sims Park, in New Port Richey, FL. The first Chasco, held in 1922, had a decorated car parade, plays and theatrical like entertainment, and fake Indian pageants. Although the celebration was viewed as a success, another 'real' Chasco celebration didn't take place until 1947. Since then, it's been running like clock work each year, usually around March/April.
Here's a cool article from the 1922 Chasco Fiesta
As the celebrations continued through the years, they changed a bit.
A lot of the original activities were preserved, but some were tweaked and added.
...Like a Boat Parade!
...And people performing Indian pow-wows and dances!
...which you can guess eventually caused some controversy - but we'll get to that...
...And who can forget the carnival? And live music? AND FOOD?!
But even Chasco hasn't been free of debate and controversy...
The Florida chapter of the American Indian Movement got involved with the Chasco Fiesta for, what I think, are pretty obvious reasons. For one, the Chasco isn't modeled after any one Native American tribe, it's was just kind of a stab in the dark as to what Indians do/did. You can see in a lot of the pictures I posted, most of the entertainers are just plain 'ol white folks dressed as Indians. Some of the older plays and things portrayed Indians as these crazy hatched wielding savages, attacking women etc. None of the dances were modeled after any real Indian dances. The AIM eventually helped the Chasco, using real Native Americans to do authentic dances and pow-wows. They've done a lot of work to try to crush a lot of the stereotypes people have of Native Americans, which were only fostered by the Chasco Fiesta. Some Native Americans still don't really agree with Chasco, but it seems like more use Chasco as a tool to bring awareness to their cause.
And of course, there's always a money issue with events like Chasco. I'm not going to get in to that too much, but basically the city isn't too keen on using tax dollars to subsidize the event anymore. From what I've been reading, they've been compromising, and it seems like Chasco will continue to be held in New Port Richey for at least another year. After that, who knows?
And of course, there's always a money issue with events like Chasco. I'm not going to get in to that too much, but basically the city isn't too keen on using tax dollars to subsidize the event anymore. From what I've been reading, they've been compromising, and it seems like Chasco will continue to be held in New Port Richey for at least another year. After that, who knows?
...on somewhat of a side-note...
There are a lot of merchant booths set up at the Chasco, selling all kinds of crazy things. One of my favs is one that's modeled after like an old Indian trading post, and they have pelts, and skulls, weird stuff. I took this picture last year, it gave me a giggle.