Set a course for Tampa and play your part in a full-tilt invasion! Be prepared for fun, frolic and high adventure as the 2024 Tampa Gasparilla Pirate Fest kicks off in Tampa Bay.
Land, ho! Set sail for Tampa as the 2024 Gasparilla Pirate Fest docks in Tampa on Saturday, January 27, bringing the spirit of pirates past and glittering treasures for hundreds of thousands of visitors and locals to plunder!
Grab your eye patch, pirate hat and your skull and crossbones flag for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a must do event that you just gotta experience. This year is the 107th Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, and organisers are expecting crowds of over 300,000 people to invade Tampa, and with the weather pirates promising clear skies and temperatures hitting the 80s, Saturday is on course to be a very memorable day!
Batten down the hatches and get ready for Tampa’s signature Gasparilla event, join hundreds of thousands of revelers as the day kicks off with the Pirate Invasion at 11:30 am.
The Invasion
Named for pirate Jose Gaspar, who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Tampa's annual Gasparilla celebration begins with the Gasparilla Invasion.
The notorious members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla sail into the Tampa Convention Center, riding on a fleet of hundreds of vessels. kicking off a full schedule of pirate-themed events.
“Land, ho! Set sail for Tampa!” Shouts the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar as his band of buccaneers sail across the Hillsborough Bay and return to the City of Tampa.
The Invasion Route
At 11:30 am, the only fully-rigged pirate ship in the world, the Jose Gasparilla, emerges at the south end of Hillsborough Bay followed by hundreds if not thousands of boats.
The vibrant Gasparilla Flotilla then makes its way across Hillsborough Bay and into Seddon Channel (between Davis Island & Harbour Island) and the Gasparilla Invasion has begun!
In this annual re-enactment of Tampa’s historic pirate invasion, the Gasparilla Flotilla – led by the Jose Gasparilla filled to the crow’s nest with swashbuckling pirates – creates a spectacular sight.
When the Jose Gasparilla docks at the Tampa Convention Center at 1pm, the Mayor of Tampa surrenders the Key to the City to the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
With the Key to the City in hand, the Krewe celebrates their victory in a Parade of Pirates down Bayshore Boulevard.
The Parade Of Pirates
To celebrate their capture of the City of Tampa, the Captain and his Krewe share their wealth of glittering beads, treasures and doubloons with a lively, enthusiastic crowd all along the 4.5 mile parade route.
The parade begins at 2 pm. “Make way, mateys!” shout Tampa’s original buccaneers as they wind their way down historic Bayshore Blvd. and into downtown Tampa – amidst colorful costumes and festive music.
The Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates has been presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla annually since 1904, the parade features approximately 140 units of krewes, floats, marching bands, and social organizations.
Parade Route
The parade begins at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard. It continues along Bayshore Boulevard to Brorein Street, turns east on Brorein Street, then north on Ashley Drive. The parade ends at Cass Street & Ashley Drive.
Viewing
Gasparilla is free to attend, and there are many areas along Bayshore Boulevard and downtown to view the parade’s festivities.
Parking
Parking is available in various garages and lots throughout downtown Tampa. These city-run garages have a special event parking rate paid upon entry. Many local organizations and companies also offer parking on their properties. Please check with local businesses to purchase a parking pass for their private lots in advance.
Please Note: Parking in the neighborhoods bordering the parade route is not permitted, and the Tampa Police Department will strictly enforce the event parking policies. When parking in these areas, you do so at your own risk. Communities strictly enforce towing along the parade route, and the event is not responsible for vehicles towed.
Parking is limited. Take a page from the pirates’ book and carpool or use a ride-share
Gasparilla Pirate Fest
Rock pirate style! Gasparilla Pirate Fest features live music stages along the Tampa Riverwalk. Stages in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and MacDill Park will feature live entertainment before and after the parade, inviting guests to enjoy a lively atmosphere along Tampa’s renowned waterfront.
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