TAMPA, Fla. — It’s finally here.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of people, along with a few pirates, will invade downtown Tampa for Gasparilla.
What You Need To Know
- Gasparilla invasion and parade set for Saturday
- Gasparilla invasion runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the parade will roll through Tampa from 2 to 6 p.m.
- Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list
Law enforcement and event officials have been preparing for weeks. Barriers and safety equipment are lining Bayshore Boulevard ahead of Saturday’s flotilla invasion and parade.
The Gasparilla invasion runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the parade will roll through Tampa from 2 to 6 p.m. This is a free event where all can attend, so all you will need to do is find a nice spot to view the action and have fun.
But arrive early as the downtown area fills up fast.
About 150 pirate-themed floats, firing cannons, will be in the parade, which begins after the 165-foot-mast ship carrying dozens of pirates sails into downtown. Beads and coins will be tossed throughout the day to the crowds as the revelry ensues.
“Gasparilla is just a celebration of Tampa,” Truett Gardner, the Ye Mystic Krewe captain, said. “It’s unique. It’s fun.”
Tampa police have a huge safety operation in place in the sky and on the ground. They’re using a closed-circuit TV system to monitor crowds and cameras in all areas.
For everything Gasparilla, including event schedule, transportation, parking, road closures and safety tips, click here: Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list