Photo courtesy of Mickey Alberts
Gecko Ball has been going strong for 17 years — and this year’s edition, Gecko Ball 2026, hit all the right notes.
The Gulfport Merchants Chamber cranked up the volume with a Gecko Music Awards theme, calling on guests to channel their inner rockstar and show up as their favorite musician or band.
The party rocked out at Stetson University College of Law on Aug. 29, where around 300 costumed guests turned up the energy. And when the votes were in, The Duchess took home the crown as this year’s Gecko Queen.
The Gabber Newspaper wanted in on the fun, so we asked the community for their best shots of the night. Take a look at what came in.
But the music doesn’t stop here — the celebration continues at GeckoFest on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., keeping the Gecko Music Awards theme going strong.
Gecko Ball 2026
Looking for more things to do in Gulfport, St. Petersburg, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper’s full calendar of events. Have an event coming up? Give us the details (it’s free!) and we’ll help spread the word!
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Did you know: In 1968, our founder, George Brann, started The Gabber Newspaper, then called the Gulfport Gabber, to hold Gulfport City Council accountable. Read more of our city council coverage, and learn about our policies on reporting, fact-checking, and funding.
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