4:35 p.m.:

More cannons and more beads. But all of it was new to Erik Hansson.

With his friends Loren Smith and Dave Denison in tow, Hansson collected his beads for the first time.

A native of Atlanta, Ga., Hansson relocated to Tampa six months ago and decided to check out the Bayshore happenings after Smith, who lives in Tampa, sold him on the idea.

“I told him it was Mardi Gras with family,” says Smith. “And that he might get to see some skin.”

The friends woke up at 6 and got things started at 7, and then made their way to the parade. Despite the lack of bikinis due to the chilly weather, Hansson says he was pleasantly surprised.

“I thought this was just going to be a small festival, but this is huge. I had no idea,” says Hansson. “I love it.”

Meanwhile, the parade went on as helicopters circled overhead as crowds held their ground. Those doing the throwing made eye contact and egged the onlookers on.

While some necks were drowning in beads others weren’t so lucky. Still, spirits were high. The sounds of pop star Chris Brown and rapper Flo Rida playing over the float speakers got the greatest reactions as crowds dipped low for beads or had mini dance-offs for attention.

The floats were packed with plenty of wenches and pirates, and even Captain Morgan, of the rum fame, made an appearance.

Mock cannon sounds had folks jumping and people chucked empty cups and broken bead strands at floats they didn’t like. While some hoofed their way through the streets others tried to ride bikes and a motorized cooler was spotted weaving through the traffic.

By the time the last float passed Carolina Street and mass exodus ensured down the neighboring streets and the crowds pushed north.