© EventFest, Inc Dates January 25–26, 2020 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan People interested + 11 Gasparilla Pirate
Fest Featured in United States Florida The Gasparilla Pirate Festival
has been held in Tampa since 1904. Every year it takes place in late
January or early February and is organized by Ye Mystic Krewe of
Gasparilla and the City of Tampa. The festival is dedicated to the
legend of captain José Gaspar (Gasparilla), a Spanish pirate who
operated in Southwest Florida. The 100th anniversary of the festival
in 2015 featured the 3rd largest parade in the United States and
brought about $20 million to the city of Tampa. © Earl Besides the
main Parade of Pirates, there is a children's parade (held the
Saturday prior to the main parade in downtown Tampa or along Bayshore
Boulevard). The Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade—is more of an
adult-oriented event held in Ybor City about two weeks after the main
event. There is also a film festival, a music festival, an arts
festival, and a road race. © EventFest, Inc The main theme of
Gasparilla is an imaginary pirate invasion by captain José Gaspar and
his crew of pirates. Members of the organization called Ye Mystic
Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) sail across Tampa Bay in a flotilla of
hundreds of boats. The main ship is Jose Gasparilla's, a 165' long
pirate vessel which was built in 1954. A small US Navy ship usually
volunteers to be "attacked" by small boats armed with water hoses. The
US Navy returns "fire" with their own water hoses and eventually
surrenders. © EventFest, Inc After the battle, the navy sailors join
the festivities in town. When the pirate ship lands, Jose Gaspar
demands that the mayor hand over the key to the city. Whether or not
the mayor surrenders—is never known in advance. However, in any
case, pirates hold their victory parade through the downtown of Tampa.
© EventFest, Inc Pirates throw beads, coins, and other souvenirs
along the parade route. In the past, they also fired 38 six-shooters
loaded with blanks into the air and would toss the empty shells into
the crowd. This tradition was banned in 1992. However, some pirates
still fire loud mini-cannons from the parade floats. © David Basanta
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