TAMPA, Fla. — Hoist the colours!
Another successful Gasparilla parade is in the books as droves of pirates made their descent on Tampa Bay Saturday afternoon, bringing cannon blasts and beads to Bayshore Boulevard.
The third-largest parade in the U.S. boasted thousands of swashbuckling parade-goers lining downtown Tampa's streets as pirates shared their riches in the form of plastic medallions with the community.
Festivities kicked off with the Gasparilla invasion, where Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the mythical José Gaspar's band of pirates, came ashore at the Tampa Convention Center, where they demanded the key to the city from Mayor Jane Castor.
Other city officials, organizations and local school marching bands also joined in on the celebration.
In the crowd, spectators spanned generations.
Lisa Ginaitt, who brought her daughters, has been teaching her girls the ways of the pirate ever since they were young.
“I have three girls—so we’ve been coming here since they were little,” said Lisa Ginaitt. “The more beads, the better. They’d walk home and they couldn’t even hold their neck up with so many beads.”
Their tradition hasn’t changed much over the years except for one thing.
“Now they can drink and have fun—but that’s about it,” said Ginaitt.
Her daughters, carrying on a celebration now over 120 years old.
“It’s the history of our city,” said Lisa’s daughter Kennedy. “It’s just a great way to celebrate our city and get together and have some fun.”
