TAMPA, Fla. — Shiver me timbers! Tampa Bay’s beloved tradition, the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, returns to invade Bayshore Boulevard and the downtown area on Jan. 25.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to the sidewalks to pay homage to the mysterious José Gaspar and his merry band of pirates.

If you’re planning on joining in on the festivities, here’s what you need to know before you end up walking the plank.

What Is Gasparilla? 🏴‍☠️

Think Mardi Gras set in Tampa, but give it a pirate theme. A tradition since 1904, Gasparilla is a huge parade featuring an “invasion” of downtown Tampa led by pirate José Gaspar and his band of swashbuckling pirates, played by local organization Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG). Members of YMKG will sail aboard the José Gasparilla II, a specially built “pirate ship” equipped with mini cannons that fire off throughout the journey.

The pirates will then make their way on land at the Tampa Convention Center, where the fate of the city lies in the hands of Mayor Jane Castor and whether she will surrender the key to the city or not. No matter the outcome, the crew will then celebrate parade around the town, throwing beads and other goodies from floats.

Here's a preview of the parade from last year's festivities:

2025 Children’s Gasparilla 🦜

Kids can go on their own swashbuckling adventures at the Children's Gasparilla Parade on Saturday, Jan. 18, from noon to 7:30 p.m. Discover more about the event.
 

Start Times ⏰

The Gasparilla Invasion runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade will roll through Tampa from 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. The day also features live music performances from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s 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 be sure to get out there early because the city is preparing to host hundreds of thousands of attendees at this year’s parade.

Parade Route 🗺️

Parking 🚗

The city of Tampa says that traffic in and around downtown Tampa will be heavy on the day of the parade. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to arrive and secure parking. 

Gasparilla Pirate Fest - $20 Event Parking: 

• Pam Iorio Parking Garage (South Florida Avenue & Channelside Drive): 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Tampa Convention Center Garage (Tampa Street & Brorein Street): Open 24/7
• Fort Brooke Garage (Whiting Street, between Franklin Street & Florida Avenue): 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Whiting St. Garage (North Morgan Street): 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Selmon Expressway Downtown parking lots: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Royal Regional Lot (Tampa Street & Fortune Street): Open 24/7
• Scott Street Lot (Morgan Street & Scott Street): Open 24/7
• Poe Garage (North Ashley Drive & W. Cass Street): Open 24/7 — Due to the parade route, this garage will close from 3p.m. – 6 p.m. No entry or exit will be allowed during this time.
• Twiggs Street Garage (Twiggs Street, west of Nebraska Avenue): 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• **Centro Ybor Garage (5th Avenue & 15th Street): Open 24/7
• **Palm Avenue Garage (13th Street & 9th Avenue): Open 24/7
• On-street parking meters will be enforced from 8 a.m. - midnight

**NOTE: The free, TECO Line Streetcar (running 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m.) and the free, HART bus shuttle service (running 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.) will be available to transport between Ybor City and Downtown Tampa.

• Neighborhood Parking
  No Parking and Parking By Permit Only signs will be posted and enforced Friday and Saturday, beginning Jan. 24 at 12:01 a.m. to Jan. 25
  At this time, illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed and/or towed.

All Gasparilla-related information including street closures, timelines, and parking restrictions for surrounding neighborhoods can be found below:

Accessibility ♿

Accessible parking for the main parade can be found at the Fort Brooke Garage located on Whiting Street. Access to Whiting Street may be accomplished by traveling south on Tampa Street or north on Florida Avenue. The viewing area will be located along Ashley Drive and Whiting Street. 

Reserved parade seating can be purchased for sections along Bayshore at the Tampa Convention Center. To order, visit Gasparilla Treasures or call (813) 251-8844. Please notify your ticket representative of any special needs.

Safety Tips 🚨

Siege responsibly! While you’re out celebrating the pirate takeover, the city of Tampa has a couple of reminders for you and your krewe:

See Something, Say Something: The Tampa Police Department asks all attendees to remain vigilant during the parade and report any suspicious activity. Attendees can text SAFETAMPA and send their tip to 847411 (TIP411) where they will receive a response. You can also all 833-872-4636 (TPA-INFO)  Saturday, Jan. 25 from 9 a.m.-8 pm. For all emergencies, dial 911. 

Have a Meeting Place: Due to large crowds, there may be limited cell service during the event. It’s important to establish a meeting place ahead of time in case some of your crew get lost.

Take a Photo of Your Child in Costume: This will help law enforcement officers quickly identify your child by their pirate garb. If you lose your child, alert the closest officer immediately. They will be stationed along the entire route.

Alcohol Consumption: The Gasparilla Parade will have "Wet Zones" established along the parade route. Consuming alcohol on public property outside these wet zones is prohibited. There is zero tolerance for underage alcohol consumption and disruptive behavior.

• No underage alcohol consumption
• No open alcohol containers or consumption outside of designated wet zones
• No coolers, kegs, or vessels that provide mass distribution of alcohol
• No glass containers of any type
• Use available event port-o-lets
• All bags and backpacks are subject to search - Weapons of any kind, glass containers, coolers, kegs, styrofoam cups, grills, tents, and fencing are just a few items that are prohibited during the event.

Can you bring a pet?: With the exception of service animals, pets are not allowed.

Bicycles: Bicycles are allowed for transportation to the event site. However, within the event street closure, cyclists must walk with their bikes. The event site is very crowded with pedestrians, including small children. Do not leave your bicycle unattended and do not lock it on private or city property.

Shared E-scooters and E-bikes: A No-Ride Zone has been established for the Gasparilla Pirate Fest for shared e-scooters and e-bikes. Personal scooters are not allowed at either event.

Golf Carts: Personal golf carts are not allowed at either event. Only golf carts used by authorized festival staff and vendors will be permitted. 

Boat Docking: Docking space in and around downtown Tampa for Gasparilla is extremely limited. Boaters attempting to “come ashore” along the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade or any other property without a permit are strictly prohibited. Vessels will not be permitted to be anchored, moored, or loiter within the Tampa Convention Center Basin. 

Throwing beads and other litter in the bay is prohibited. Beads and other non-biodegradable items are incredibly harmful to the environment and they pose serious threats to marine wildlife. The city of Tampa is raising environmental awareness with their campaign, #beadfreebay.
 

Other Things You Need to Know: 💡

Wear sunscreen. Even the best of pirates can’t avoid sunburn. Wearing sunglasses and/or a hat can also ward some of the edge off Florida’s harsh sun.

Stay hydrated! And no, alcohol is not a substitute for water. Bring some water and snacks along with you so that heat exhaustion and dehydration doesn’t ruin your day.

Bring cash. Some vendors will only be accepting cash, so while there will be ATMs along the parade route, it's a good idea to take out some cash beforehand.

Crowds not really your thing? Plan on having your own pirate party at home? Don’t worry: Spectrum Bay News 9 will be having coverage of the parade all day long!

And be sure to take a peek at our Spectrum News app so you can track weather before hitting the road.

Yo Ho Ho!