TAMPA (Fla.) – Ahoy my mateys, and shivere me timbers! We all need to be prepared to take the stairs when the pirates invade Tampa. Yes, even in the cold, the pirates can invade.
There are some things you should know about Tampa’s beloved Tampa tradition before the Gasparilla 2022 parade and invasion begin.
Gasparilla has been hosted since 1904 by Ye Mystic Krewe in Gasparilla and is now celebrating its 106th anniversary.
At noon, the Jose Gasparilla ship leaves the Port of Tampa Bay. It is usually followed by hundreds of other boats as it travels up the Seddon Channel between Harbour Island and Davis Islands. This year, however, Tampa officials want more boaters to be landlubbers.
The Jose Gasparilla will dock at the Convention Center around 1 p.m. Mayor Jane Castor will hand over the key to the city the captain of Ye Mystic Krewe. The pirates celebrate their victory with a parade down Bayshore Boulevard and sharing their wealth of beads.
The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates will feature 103 floats, marching bands, and more than 50 Krewes. Even better, you can see News Channel 8’s “Faces of 8” Gasparilla Parade float.
The invasion will begin at 12:00 p.m., with the parade of 4.5 miles following from 2 to 5 p.m. Official Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest party will be held from 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
The Gasparilla parade ranks third in the country. WFLA.com has all the photos and videos you need to feel like a pirate.