What Is Gasparilla in Tampa?
I spent a weekend in January in Tampa dressed as a pirate, catching handfuls of beads to layer around my neck. For out-of-towners watching my Instagram stories, the spectacle might have seemed rather strange. As for the Tampa locals, however, this pirate-filled weekend is a normalized tradition, a time when crowds of individuals gather to cheer on a pirate ship, day drink, and parade down a pedestrian-only Bayshore Boulevard. Besides other Gasparilla-themed events taking place throughout January to the beginning of March, the last weekend of January holds the bulk of the celebrations for the festival known by no other name than Gasparilla. So, what exactly is Gasparilla in Tampa?
What Does Gasparilla Celebrate?
The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an admired Tampa tradition with a pirate-filled celebration, boat and street parades, bar crawls, and more. While the festival has turned into a weekend of drinking and bead throwing, mirroring Mardi Gras in many ways, the history of the celebration is actually quite complex.
The term “Gasparilla” derives from the name José Gaspar, a famed pirate who went by the formerly mentioned name. Taking his role to the extreme, he built a criminal reputation for himself by continually seizing and robbing ships off the Gulf Coast until around 1821. After years of securing jewels and fortune, José and his crew decided to seize one last ship before living in luxury with all their robbed riches.
As fate would have it, however, the final ship they chose to seize was none other than a disguised U.S. Navy warship. The crew on this incognito vessel went to battle with José and his party of thieves, putting a final stop to their criminal activity.
Fast forward to present times, where Tampa locals still celebrate this victory by reenacting a Pirate Invasion with José Gaspar’s ship, along with parades, bead throwing, and pirate costumes galore. Celebrating with Tampa locals, I followed along with their plan for the day, ready to be shown the correct way to soak in this lively atmosphere. Having staked out and planted tables on a waterfront spot on Davis Islands the night before, our group brought a variety of snacks and pre-made drinks to our chosen site. Houses had front-lawn parties, families drove their golf carts down to the scene, and various groups set up shop along the water with similar set-ups to ours. We spent hours mingling and cheering on the various boats, stretching our arms out for the beads they threw our way. Eventually, the main pirate invasion occurred with José Gaspar’s ship, the only fully-rigged pirate ship to exist in the world. Because the event happened to have occurred on an unusually cold weekend, there were far fewer boats out than is customary, but I still found it to be an enjoyable event.
After the boat parade died down, we made our way to Bayshore Boulevard, which was blocked off and full of families and drunk adults, all united over their decked-out pirate costumes and current collection of beads around their necks. The vaunted Parade of the Pirates follows a 4.5-mile route that extends down Bayshore Boulevard into downtown Tampa and includes elaborate floats, marching bands, and pirates throwing beads out to an ecstatic crowd. Grab a drink and make your way to the front of the crowd to accumulate even more beads to wear around your neck.
At the end of the day, your neck will definitely begin feeling weighed down, but the adrenaline from the day will definitely disguise this weight. The parade lasts from 2 pm to 6 pm, but there is no shame in ducking out early after a full day of parade attending and possible drinking. My party and I began walking back home after collecting more beads than we knew what to do with, but many others decided to continue their bar crawls and stride through the streets.
Gasparilla may sound like a flamboyant celebration to some, and while it definitely has a theatrical feel to it, it is this exact extravagance that kindles excitement for all those choosing to celebrate the local holiday of sorts. Upon flying home, I made sure to divvy out my beads among my nephews and sister, later using some of this “treasure” in a pirate hunt I organized with my nephews. This event definitely inspired me to return again, especially as I dream of moving there someday. In the future, I might not focus as much on weighing myself down with beads, but it is a must for first-time attendees, and I was not about to turn down this challenge.
Do You Have to Buy Tickets for Gasparilla?
The events I attended with my little Tampa family were all free to the public. Given that we stood on the sidelines and provided our own alcohol and snacks, celebrating Gasparilla was pretty inexpensive for us, coming from the girl who didn’t have to pay for any of the goods. No tickets are necessary for attending these parades on the last weekend of January unless your party plans on purchasing bleacher seats for the Parade of the Pirates along Bayshore.
As Gasparilla season continues, Tampa also hosts the Gasparilla Music Festival, which does require tickets to be purchased. However, if you choose to celebrate the regular Gasparilla Pirate Festival in the same way I did, purchasing tickets is not necessary.
How Long Does Gasparilla Last?
Gasparilla season in Tampa lasts from mid-January to the beginning of March, shortly after the annual music festival and the Gasparilla race have concluded. The celebration kicks off with the children’s parade, but the main festivals are usually celebrated on the final weekend of January. The Parade of the Pirates is scheduled for the last Saturday in January, which turns into a day-long celebration for many who choose to be a part of the buzz.
As for the schedule of events for the last Saturday of January, the aforementioned boat parade kicks off at 11:30 am and lasts until 1 pm, although individuals often begin pre-gaming well in advance. The Parade of the Pirates along Bayshore Boulevard kicks off at 2 pm and lasts until 6 pm, giving attendees a large window of opportunity to find their way through the crowd to catch beads. Throughout the day, various bars and restaurants offer deals for day drinkers sampling their way through the city.
From mid-January to the beginning of March, the city of Tampa continues to celebrate and host events centered around Gasparilla, giving locals countless opportunities to engage in these festivities and fill their calendars with entertainment.
Would you be interested in attending the Gasparilla Pirate Festival someday? Let me know in the comments!
