Festivities
(the
schedule for next year has not been published yet) Feb. 6, Parade
of the Pirates
Feb. 13, Distance Classic
Feb. 13, Fiesta Day
Feb. 20, The Illuminated Sant' Yago Knight Parade
Feb. 27, Children's Parade and Junior
Distance Classic
Mar. 5-7, Classic Gymnastics
Invitational
Mar. 6-7, Annual Festival of the Arts |
Gasparilla features a
month of activities. For three days pirates "invade" the city - sailing
into Hillsborough Bay by ship with a escort of hundreds of pleasure craft and vessels of
all sizes. The entire city comes out to celebrate a street festival that include one
of the largest art shows in the southeast, street music and entertainment, fireworks and
plenty of food. The "landing" parade is free to the public with some
reserved seats available for a fee. A host
of activities including the invasion, the Gasparilla Parade, an arts and crafts show, a
street festival featuring local and national entertainment acts, and a brilliant fireworks
display draw thousands of people downtown
Parade of
Pirates: (Bayshore Blvd. to Downtown Tampa)
Pirates invade the city today at 1:45 p.m.
kicking off the annual Tampa Bay version of the New Orleans Mardi Gras. They take their
´hostages´ when they make their landing via their pirate ship at the Tampa Bay Harbor.
They´re escorted into downtown Tampa by parade amid marching bands and decorative floats
along scenic Bayshore Boulevard into downtown Tampa. Street festivals, parties,
entertainment, food, and art shows entertain visitors from all over in a Tampa Bay 3-day
festival.
Distance
Classic: (Downtown Tampa)
The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association has donated more than $1.3 million to local
youth organizations and college scholarships for more than 2 decades. This year the 22nd
annual run features both 5 and 15K Men and Women´s Open Course and Open Male Wheelchair
race competions. 15K races begin at 8 am; 5K at 10:30 am at downtown Brorein and Franklin
Streets (men and male wheelchair) and Morgan and Cumberland Streets (women, Master and
Quad competitors). 5K Course for all runners (no wheelchair) starts Brorein and Tampa. For
information, call (813) 229-7866.
Fiesta Day:
(Ybor City)
Fiesta Day has grown and changed since it originated in the 40's. This year it is planned
for Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with plenty of action taking place from Seventh Avenue
to Centennial Park. Entertainment and food, a parade, art shows, and cooking contest make
Fiesta Day one of areas most widely attended events attended by both residents and
tourists.
The Illuminated
Sant'Yago Knight Parade: (Ybor City)
The Illuminated Night Parade is the city's biggest night parade and makes historic Ybor
City come alive. It passes through Tampa's historical Ybor City along 7th Avenue
with featuring bands from all over Tampa and festive floats covered with lights. The
2.8 mile route stretches from The Florida Aquarium through the Channel District to the
Columbia Restaurant at Seventh Avenue and 23rd Street. The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. at
Cumberland Street and Channelside Drive, near The Florida Aquarium and features marching
bands, brightly dressed pirates and pirate "royalty" aloft lavish floats.
Children's
Parade and Junior Distance Classic: (Downtown Tampa)
Children ages 3 to 12 participate in a race area at Curtis Hixon Park beginning at noon.
Kids up to 12 can partipate in the subsequent parade where the kids get to be
"marauders" down Franklin Street handing out "treasure" coins and
candy to cheering parade watchers. Registration starts at 10 a.m. at the Royal Regional
Parking Lot at the corner of Royal and Tampa streets. Entries must check in and begin
lining up at that time.
Classic
Gymnastics Invitational: (Downtown Tampa)
According to competition officials, the Gasparilla Classic Gymnastics Invitational to
become the largest meet of its kind in the United States. Set for March 5-7 at the Tampa
Convention Center in downtown Tampa, it is expected to draw more than 3,000 athletes from
25 states - as well as a team from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad. More information and
ticket prices are available by calling Lightning City Gymnastics at (813) 348-1347.
Annual
Festival of the Arts: (Downtown Tampa)
One of the finest outdoor art exhibitions in the Southeast over 300 artists express
themselves in a variety of media including painting, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, and
sculpture to name a few. The festival features
hundreds of artists from all disciplines and their works, it attracts more than a quarter
million art enthusiasts every year and is one of Tampa Bay's most popular events.
The show is located in downtown Tampa stretching between Kennedy Boulevard and Polk Street
along Ashley Drive. Festivities include food and entertainment. Times are Saturday 9-6; Sunday 10-5. http://www.gasparilla-arts.com/downtown.htm
Contact: Lisa Carver at (813) 876-1747
Other participants with related events and activities are
the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the Hillsborough County
Library. |
