Gasparilla Pirate Festival

The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual celebration held in the city of Tampa, Florida. Held each year in late January and hosted by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa, Florida it celebrates the apocryphal legend of (Gasparilla), supposedly a Spanish pirate captain who operated in southwest Florida. The theme is an "invasion" by Gasparilla and his men, which begins when the Krewe" (made up of residents of the city) arrives on a 165' long pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, in Tampa Bay and land near downtown Tampa. The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain and a parade ensues down Bayshore Boulevard, one of Tampa's major streets. The krewes throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. The average attendance for the event is over 400,000 people. According the event's official website, 2003's Gasparilla parade affected an economic impact of nearly 23 million dollars to Tampa.

Krewe memberships are highly sought after in many social circles in Tampa, and many celebrate ethnic and cultural themes. The Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the organization which founded and sponsors the parade, is the oldest krewe involved in the parade, and among the most prestigious. Members of the many krewes that now participate spend a great deal of money on beads and floats.

An example of a typical Gasparilla parade float between events

A week before the "invasion" and the main parade, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla sponsors a family-oriented children's parade and "Piratechnic Extravaganza," with fireworks launched over Tampa Bay. 2006's fireworks display included an impressive airborne element, where an imaginary sea battle took place between a pirate ship in the harbor and a plane which shot off fireworks while doing acrobatic maneuvers.

A few weeks after the invasion, there is a more adult-oriented Sant'Yago Knight Parade (also known as the Gasparilla Night Parade) in Ybor City, held in the evening and running into the early morning. Krewes have social events and parties throughout the year for members and hold philanthropic events for favored causes. The parade is broadcast every year on WFLA-TV, and has been since 1955.

Gasparilla was first held in May 1904 in Tampa Bay but the invasion originated on horseback instead of by boat. In years past, a US Navy ship would be attacked by small boats throwing Cuban bread and black bean soup. The Navy would respond with fire hoses but would succumb to the Ybor City Navy, and then surrender to the Alcalde of Ybor City. The sailors would be treated to an evening on the town. This was discontinued after the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, the invasion itself continues as "Capt. Jose Gaspar" and his crew of "Pirates" "attack" Tampa, surrounded by hundreds of other boaters as they sail the Gasparilla Ship through Tampa Bay,land in Downtown Tampa and "take over the city."

Historically Gasparilla was held on the second Monday of February until 1988 when it was moved to a Saturday festival in February, this change allowed more local communities to take part in the celebration. In 2001 the event was moved to the last Saturday of January to coincide with SSuper Bowl XXXV weekend which was taking place that year in Tampa. Since 2005 the event has been held on last Saturday of January.

In 2004 the event celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Press Releases

2008 Gasparilla Event Tickets Now on sale
Gasparilla Extravaganza - January 19, 2008
Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest - January 26, 2008

TAMPA, FL – Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and EventMakers Corporation announce reserved tickets for the 2008 Children’s Gasparilla Parade as well as the 2008 Gasparilla Invasion Brunch and the 2008 Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates go on sale Monday, October 1.  Gasparilla reserved tickets are sold and assigned on a first come, first serve basis.  Due to the high demand for reserved seating, we encourage the public to purchase tickets early. 

The Children’s Gasparilla Parade, presented by Chevrolet, is a signature component of the Gasparilla Extravaganza scheduled for January 19, 2008.  The Gasparilla Invasion Brunch and Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla are signature components of the Southwest Airlines Gasparilla Pirate Fest, presented by Budweiser and Red Baron Frozen Pizza, scheduled for January 26, 2008.

Event websites have been recently re-designed and updated for 2008.  We invite you to browse our newly launched websites at www.GasparillaPirateFest.com and www.GasparillaExtravaganza.com.

2008 Children’s Gasparilla Parade, presented by Chevrolet
 The Children’s Gasparilla Parade, presented by Chevrolet, is presently scheduled for 4pm on January 19, 2008 at the Gasparilla Extravaganza.  It takes place along beautiful Bayshore Boulevard in South Tampa.  This parade gives Tampa’s pint-sized pirates the opportunity to stroll, march and ride up part of the same route as the historic Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates, scheduled for the following Saturday.

What:              2008 Children’s Gasparilla Parade, presented by Chevrolet

When:             Saturday, January 19, 2008

Time:              Gasparilla Extravaganza
                       Event Hours – 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
                       Children’s Gasparilla Parade begins at 4:00p.m.

Place:             START - Intersection of Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard, proceeds north ending at Watrous/Orleans Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard (approx. 1.4 miles).

Admission:     Free

Seating:          $13.00 per person, tax included.
                        General Admission Ticket – Seats within each bleacher section are available to ticket holders on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the event.

For additional information or to purchase Gasparilla Extravaganza tickets at any time of the day, please log on to www.GasparillaExtravaganza.com and click on the “Tickets ‘n’ Treasures” link to be directed to the shopping cart.  Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling our Gasparilla Ticket line at (813) 353-8108.  A ticket representative will be available to take orders between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

2008 Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, presented by flair, The Tampa Tribune’s Magazine for Living
Brunch ticket holders can join the excitement of awaiting the Pirate's invasion of the City of Tampa.  Enjoy a bountiful feast and live entertainment at the Tampa Convention Center as the Krewe’s fully rigged pirate ship -- the Jose Gasparilla -- sails up Seddon Channel, accompanied by a flotilla of thousands of boats.  The ship will dock "tableside" at the Tampa Convention Center at approximately 1:00 p.m.

What:              2008 Gasparilla Invasion Brunch,
                        presented by flair, The Tampa Tribune’s Magazine for Living

When:             Saturday, January 26, 2008

Time:              10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
                       Doors open at 9:30 a.m.

Place:             The Tampa Convention Center, 333 S. Franklin Street

Advance       $55.00 per Adult, $45.00 per Child,
Tickets:         tax included. 

For additional information or to purchase Gasparilla Invasion Brunch tickets at any time of the day, please log on to www.GasparillaPirateFest.com and click on the “Tickets ‘n’ Treasures” link to be directed to the shopping cart.  Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling our Gasparilla Ticket line at (813) 353-8108.  A ticket representative will be available to take orders between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

2008 Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates, presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla
The Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates, presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Bay to Bay and Bayshore and will follow a four and one-tenth mile route up Bayshore to Downtown Tampa.  The parade features colorful floats, bands and, of course, Jose Gaspar's appropriately costumed, swashbuckling pirates. 

What:              2008 Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates,
                        presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla

When:             Saturday, January 26, 2008

Time:              Parade begins at 2:00 p.m.

Place:             START - Intersection of Bayshore Blvd. and Bay to Bay Boulevard,
moves north on Bayshore to Downtown Tampa, turns east on the
Platt Street Bridge, continues east on Channelside Drive, turns north on Florida Avenue to Jackson Street, then east on Jackson Street to Marion Street.

Admission:     Free

Reserved       $26.00 per person, tax included.
Bleacher        Reserved Seating Ticket – Ticket holders will be assigned a specific row Seating:            and seat within a reserved bleacher section.

For additional information or to purchase Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates tickets at any time of the day, please log on to www.GasparillaPirateFest.com and click on the “Tickets ‘n’ Treasures” link to be directed to the shopping cart.  Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling our Gasparilla Ticket line at (813) 353-8108.  A ticket representative will be available to take orders between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

We are offering a COMBO ticket again for 2008.  This is for event guests that wish to purchase both Gasparilla Invasion Brunch and Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates tickets.

COMBO         $78.00 per Adult, $68.00 per Child, tax included. 
Tickets:          Ticket holders will be given a seat at an assigned table for the Invasion Brunch as well as a specific row and seat within a reserved bleacher section for the Parade of the Pirates located within walking distance from the Waterwalk at the Tampa Convention Center.