GASPARILLA Yo Ho Ho time in Tampa

Posted on 01/29/2016 | About Tampa, Florida

Saturday will be a busy day for the people (and pirates) in Tampa Bay. There’s a flotilla invasion, the mayor will surrender the key to the city and then there’s the parade - it is a full day for a buccaneer. Tampa has been celebrating the Gasparilla Pirate Festival since 1904, an event that brings a hefty $23 million to the city's treasure chest.

Gasparilla is the nickname of José Gaspar, a Spanish pirate who supposedly lived in the late 18th century roaming the Gulf of Mexico and the Spanish Main from his base in southwest Florida. His reputation is legendary - although his actual existence is unproven. On Saturday the world’s only fully rigged pirate ship, the José Gasparilla will sail from Hillsborough Bay, and will meet up with a platoon of pleasure crafts intent on defending the city. The boaters will be convinced to abort their defence mission and will join forces with the captain and his Krewe’s flotilla and begin the Gasparilla Invasion into the Seddon Channel. The re-enactment of the historical invasion that may or may not have happened is partially credited to the YMKG (Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparillo) pirates. Proving that a group that swashbuckles-together-stays-together, the YMKG has been enriching the imagination of Tampa and the surrounding community since 1904. When the Jose Gasparilla docks at the Tampa Convention Center the Mayor will surrender the Key to the City of Tampa into the hands of the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Once docked the YMKG pirates are joined by more than 90 elaborate floats, 14 marching bands, over 50 distinct Krewes to take part in the YMKG Invasion & Parade of Pirates. Pirates toss beads and doubloons to the crowds, and the crowds are vast. Ranking as the third largest parade in the US, this event attracts half a million attendees annually.