Gasparilla in Tampa, Florida: February.
Festivities
FRIDAY, JAN. 26
Pre-Invasion Celebration:
5:30-9:30pm
Curtis Hixon Park (downtown)
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
Gasparilla Invasion
11:30am-1pm
The Jose Gasparilla docks at the Tampa Convention Center at
approximately 1pm.
Parade of the Pirates
1:45-5:30pm
Starting from the intersection of Howard Ave. and Bayshore Blvd continuing
north along Bayshore to the Platt St. Bridge, east on Channelside Dr.,
north on Florida Ave. east on Jackson St., ending at Marion
Ave.
Fireworks
10pm
Curtis Hixon Park (downtown)
Gasparilla Pirate Shuttle
Ride to Gasparilla. 9am to midnight, Saturday only. $5 per round trip
ticket.
Pirate Fest Street Festival
Free local and national entertainment on stages throughout downtown.
Curtis Hixon Park Stage
Ashley/Madison Stage
Cold Storage Cafe
Tickets - $8.00 in advance, $10.00 day of show.
SUNDAY, JAN. 28
More pirate fun and Super Bowl festivities, featuring a live broadcast
of Super Bowl XXXV on giant LCD screens.
Each year,
pirates "invade" the city - sailing
into Hillsborough Bay by ship with an escort of hundreds of pleasure craft and vessels of
all sizes. The entire city comes out to celebrate a street festival that includes 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.
Following is a sampling of regular
events to be expected at this annual extravaganza.
Parade of
Pirates: (Bayshore Blvd. to Downtown Tampa)
Pirates 'invade' the city
kicking off the annual Tampa Bay version of the New Orleans Mardi Gras.
'Hostages´ are taken when they make their landing via their pirate ship at the Tampa Bay Harbor.
The hostages are escorted along scenic Bayshore Boulevard into downtown Tampa by parade amid marching bands and decorative floats. 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. The annual run features both 5 and 15K Men and Women´s Open Course and Open Male Wheelchair
race competitions. For
information, call (813) 229-7866.
Fiesta Day:
(Ybor City)
Fiesta Day has grown and changed since it originated in the 1940's. Plenty of action
takes place from Seventh Avenue
to Centennia
Avg Rating: 3.0 (37)
Comments by visitors: (most recent first)
WE HAVE GONE TO GASPARILLA FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS IN OUR BOAT, AND EVERY YEAR IT JUST GETS BETTER!-- FRANCEE
Hi, I'm Rachel Prussing I'm six years old and competing in the Gasparilla gymnastics meet. I'm so excited.-- Rachel Prussing
Moved away 3 years ago, but always find time for the festival, will be partying at Ybor in front of Harpos.....Gonna be FUN!!!!! JT-- Anonymous
GASPARILLA IS ALWAYS ONE OF THIS CITYS BEST EVENTS. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A BLAST AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS.-- Anonymous
The day parade this year was not what I expected. It's not for the adults. It's for the children which is great.By the way when is the night parade?-- Anonymous
The Best!
I miss Tampa but always find away home for the Parade.
A little too crazy is just right!-- Anonymous
The wildest parties I've EVER been to!!! Forget Mardi Gras!-- The Party Ball
Wonderful childhood memories of the pirate invasion and parade. Lots of FUN!-- Anonymous
I had a great time at the Day parade and invasion. Everyone was really friendly for the most part. Too many bleachers and too many empty, people trying to sit on them for free and the paying customer-- Anonymous
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