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Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival

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Pirates Invade Tampa, FL

The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual event held in Tampa, FL. The festival is held in late January and runs through early February. Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa host the event. The theme of the festival is a pirate invasion of Tampa by Gasparilla and his men. The pirates arrive in Tampa Bay in a 165 foot ship, Jose Gaspar.

The pirates land and are given the key to the city by the Mayor of Tampa. The Gasparilla parade begins down Bayshore Blvd. This festival brings approximately 400,000 visitors to Tampa each year. During the parade the pirates and krewes throw beads and coins to the crowds lining the streets. These trinkets are coveted by many of the attendees.

Photo from Wikipedia

Celebrate Gasparilla

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Pirates Invade Tampa

Calendar of Events

For a week before "the invasion" Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla sponsors the Gasparilla Childrens Parade and the "Piratechnic Extravaganza," a large fireworks display over Tampa Bay. The invasion itself occurs on the first Saturday in February and is immediately followed by the Gasparilla Parade. The parade is the keynote event of the weekend and is televised each year by WFLA-TV. Floats like the one pictured here are sponsored by the many Krewes from Tampa and the surrounding area.

A few weeks after the invasion is the Gasparilla Knight Parade held in Ybor City. It is an evening parade and runs into the wee hours of the morning. This event is known for numerous drunken brawls and has been marred by many arrests. It is considered the more adult-oriented event of the celebration.

The end of Gasparilla is culminated by the pirates returning the keys of the city back to the mayor and sailing off into Tampa Bay.

Dress Like A Pirate

At Gasparilla

Join Jose Gaspar and his Krewes for the Pirate Festival.
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Photos of Gasparilla

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Have You Been To Gasparilla?

Share The Experience

I have been to Gasparilla once. It was a good time, but the crowds were very large and it was hard to get around. The floats in the parade are ornate and beautiful.

  • GoldBarDeals Jan 24, 2012 @ 5:20 pm | delete
    I went a couple of years ago. I had a very good time and have been wanting to go back ever since!
  • louiswery Feb 12, 2011 @ 4:37 pm | delete
    Fun look at Tampa's Gasparilla Festival!
  • Sylvestermouse Feb 23, 2010 @ 1:56 pm | delete
    This sounds like a lot of fun, well, except for the drunken brawl part and getting arrested. I think I would need to avoid that part:) I would love to watch that parade in person. Really cool!
  • Evelyn_Saenz Feb 21, 2010 @ 4:37 am | delete
    It sounds like fun to dress up as a pirate and join the celebration of the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.
  • Pukeko Feb 19, 2010 @ 5:25 am | delete
    This looks so fun!
  • aidenw Feb 17, 2010 @ 9:02 pm | delete
    Wow, a pirate festival sounds like a whole lot of fun. I'd love to go to Gasparilla. I would probably skip the Knight Parade, though :)
  • mbgphoto Feb 17, 2010 @ 2:13 pm | delete
    I've never been, but looks like a fun time. Thanks for sharing.
  • rms Feb 17, 2010 @ 5:56 am | delete
    Never been but it looks like a lot of FUN!
  • OhMe Feb 17, 2010 @ 4:34 am | delete
    I have never been to Gasparilla but Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival sounds like a lot of fun. Wow, that is a lot of people!
  • CastleRoy Feb 17, 2010 @ 12:55 am | delete
    never heard of it being in the north east but sounds like a lot of fun. I love pirate stories and movies and would be fun to dress up great lens.
  • vallain Feb 16, 2010 @ 11:00 pm | delete
    Since I live south of Orlando, I've heard of it, but haven't yet attended. How fun to dress like a pirate.
  • LeanneChesser Feb 16, 2010 @ 9:46 pm | delete
    I've never heard of the Gasparilla Pirate Festival before - sounds like a very unique event!
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bethd821

Hello. My name is Beth and am known as bethd821 here at Squidoo and many other places in the blogosphere. I have diversity in interests and will... more »

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