Gasparilla ‘invasion,’ parade, party in Tampa Saturday

The pirate Jose Gaspar didn’t exist, but that’s never stopped the City of Tampa from honoring his “memory” with a real pirate ship, dressed-up revelers and a noisy, colorful, celebratory parade through town.

The public party known as the Gasparilla Pirate Fest began more than 100 years ago, dreamed up by the local chamber of commerce. Today, the 137-foot replica vessel – well, it’s pushed and pulled along by tugboats – is “manned” by members of a group called Ye Mystic Krewe, dressed in full scurvy-buccaneer regalia, waving swords and pistols, firing cannons and screaming bloody murder.

It’s all in good fun, and it is a treasured annual event for families on both sides of Tampa Bay.

The Gasparilla Children’s Parade took place last week, and this Saturday (Jan. 25) is the big day: Accompanied by a flotilla of like-minded nautical revelers, the Jose Gasparilla II sails from the south end of Hillsborough Bay at 11:30 a.m., north to Seddon Channel (between Davis Island and Harbour Island) and docks at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m.

Mayor Jane Castor will ceremoniously hand over the key to the city, and afterwards the gang offloads for a parade and a party.

Organizers say 300,000 or more will gather to watch the 4.5 mile pirate parade go by.

More than 140 units of floats, marching bands, social organizations and pirate types will parade – tossing beads and plastic coins as they go – from 2 to 6 p.m., beginning at the intersection of Bay to Bay and Bayshore Boulevards.

It continues along Bayshore to Brorein Street, turns east on Brorein, then north on Ashley Drive. The parade ends at Cass Street & Ashley Drive.

That’s the location of Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, where there’ll be live music on two stages until 8 p.m. It’s all free.

Reserved seating along the parade route is available for purchase. That information, as well as parking details and other things you might want to know, can be found at this link.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor “surrenders the city” to Ye Mystic Krewe. Photo: City of Tampa.