La Verbena Del Tobaco (Cigar Festival) Ybor City
Women’s lib comes the Ybor City. Cigar Festival. 1931- Burgert Bros. Courtesy of the Tony Pizzo Collection in the University of South Florida Digital Collection
La Verbena Del Tobaco was a festival celebrated in Ybor City starting in 1929. It was usually held before the beginning of the Lenten season. Most Mutual Aid Societies, including Centro Español, Circulo Cubano, and Centro Austuriano, took part in the three-day festival, advertised as, “Colorful, romantic, and thrilling, featuring multicultural folk dances, songs, and the celebration of cigars”. A street parade through the heart of Ybor City was also part of the festivities. They even had a La Verbena Queen. The festival helped celebrate the Tampa Cigar Industry Golden Jubilee in 1935. The festival lasted through 1940.
This fun photo above, from the Tony Pizzo collection at the University of South Florida Library, is a tongue-in-cheek act of defiance. On the back, it is inscribed, “Women’s lib comes to Ybor city. 1931. Smoking cigars was never a way of life with the ladies. This promotional photo was part of the Cigar Festival (La Verbena Del Tobaco).”
© Chip Weiner. oldtampaphotos.com
Velia Martínez Febles- Cuban movie star- La Verbena de Tobacco [cigar festival] 1938- Courtesy of the Tony Pizzo Collection in the University of South Florida Digital Collection
Tampa Cigar Industry Golden Jubilee 1935- G.W. Romer Photo Miami- Courtesy of the Tony Pizzo Collection in the University of South Florida Digital Collection
![[Five women in a La Verbena del Tabaco box]. 1936. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63a5c40b8b28990ffaa93988/63364068-f288-4ee3-a55f-083d2ef949dd/%5BFive+women+in+a+La+Verbena+del+Tabaco+box%5D.jpg)
[Five women in a La Verbena del Tabaco box]. 1936. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
![[Woman holding a cigar in La Verbena del Tabaco box].1936. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63a5c40b8b28990ffaa93988/d6b7ba3b-fa79-4bf3-b5e7-d7748bd9f6b6/%5BWoman+holding+a+cigar+in+La+Verbena+del+Tabaco+box%5D.jpg)
[Woman holding a cigar in La Verbena del Tabaco box].1936. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Five Latin bathing girls standing in a cigar box, Rositta with cigar. 1936. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
La Verbena del Tabaco, costumed adults and children posed before stage set. 1935. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
La Verbena del Tabaco, costumed adults and children posed in front of stage set. 1935. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
La Verbena del Tobaco float in Gasparilla Parade. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Poster for La Verbena Del Tabaco promotion advertising the Cigar Festival. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Verbena del Tabaco dance group on stage decorated with fringe and crepe streamers. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Verbena del Tabaco festival, group of women in matching gowns posed in groups 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Verbena del Tabaco, group of men and boy in costume posed in front of decorative iron gate. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Verbena del Tabaco, group of women in costume posed, seated and standing in front of decorative iron gates. 1937. Burgert Brothers. Courtesy, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System