How many people attend gasparilla

Glass containers and coolers are not permitted for safety reasons. Glass containers are prohibited by the City of Tampa ordinance, and coolers are a safety hazard in large crowds. Grills, other than those owned by official food vendors, are prohibited within the event site.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest is the last Saturday in January. Impaired boaters will have their vessel towed unless there is someone onboard who can operate it. Personal watercraft and vessels without motors are barred from the invasion and along the invasion route, which is an idle-speed, no-wake zone. Anchoring and loitering is prohibited along the route or within the Seddon Channel turning basin. Northbound vessels longer than 80 feet without mooring arrangements are prohibited from entering Seddon Channel between A.

A staging area has been established for participating vessels just east of Ballast Point and the Tampa Yacht Club. Only registered participants can enter the area from 9 a. Vessels are barred from the zone from 1 to 2 p. Anyone seeking latitudes and longitudes for safety and security zones can call the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Office at Insurance requirements will not allow golf carts within the event site unless licensed and permitted by the festival office.

Only golf carts used by authorized festival staff and vendors will be granted permits. Authorized event golf carts cannot and will not be used to transport unauthorized individuals. Onsite, lost items may be turned over to the nearest police officer or to any Event Staff at the event. After the event, lost items may be retrieved by calling the Gasparilla Ticket office in Tampa Due to safety concerns, it is strongly advised that event guests get to their seats early, and cross Bayshore prior to the start of the Parade.

Event guests with Reserved Parade Seating may be allowed to cross Bayshore at Reserved Parade Seating gates and ONLY when there is a break in the parade lineup as permitted by the gate security officer. This line-up will be available on the Event site. The Gasparilla Parade Committee reviews all applications and selects all the participants for the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates each year.

The application deadline is in October prior to the event. For an application, please contact the Gasparilla Parade Committee at Subscribe Manage my subscription Activate my subscription Log in Log out. Regions Tampa St.

Letters to the Editor Submit a Letter. Investigations Narratives Pulitzer Winners. Connect with us. About us. Obituaries Homes Jobs Classifieds. Careers Advertise Legal Contact. Log in. If you can snag an invite to a party on Harbour Island or Davis Island, that's a great bet too as the ships all pass with yards along the Seddon Channel heading to the Convention Center.

Many parties begin in the downtown Tampa high rises — which have stellar views of the water and provide a true birds-eye view of the invasion. There's the Official Gasparilla Brunch, and then there are other brunch options. You can also join in the Official Gasparilla Brunch inside the Tampa Convention Center, which provides a prime viewing area of the invasion. This fabulous brunch buffet, held at the Tampa Convention Center, begins at 10 a.

Children two years of age and under do not need a ticket, as long as they remain in the lap of an Adult Ticket holder at all times. Children must have a ticket if they will be occupying a seat. To celebrate their stunning victory, these friendly pirates share the wealth of their pillaging as they parade down the streets of Tampa by showering treasures with the crowds along the parade route. Beginning at 2pm, the parade begins at the intersection of Bay to Bay and Bayshore Blvd, and proceeds down Bayshore Blvd.

With over groups participating in the Parade of Pirates — consisting of over high tech, elaborate floats, 5 marching bands, and over 50 Krewes, the parade is a cool and unique Tampa spectacle. Entertainment lineup will be announced soon. First time at Gasparilla? You'll need some survival tips!

Federal, state and local law enforcement enforce a tight security zone around the staging area, and access is often limited to parade participants on floats or in groups with special passes. Lots of people line up along Bayshore south of Bay to Bay because the crowds are more thin there — but there's a reason the crowds are thin.

The floats and Krewes cannot interact or throw beads before the official starting point at Bay to Bay. Alcohol and Safety. The City of Tampa has established temporary wet zones along the parade route. These wet zones are the only safe places to consume alcohol. Unofficially, the law enforcement officers working the parade there seem to be thousands of law enforcement officers from all over the state working the parade tend to be pretty cool as long as you're cool and respectful.

There are some certain don'ts — which can basically be summed up by saying don't be an idiot or an a-hole.

If you're underage, don't drink; the police can and do make underage drinking arrests every year. Don't pee in public — there are portapotties throughout the route, use those, don't pee on the shrubs and houses around the parade route.

Don't have glass, don't bring coolers, don't bring weapons, etc. And if you are unfortunate enough to get arrested, in the days following Gasparilla you'll see a ton of local criminal lawyer ads with cheesy slogans like, Arrrrrrested?!! The pirates and krewes in the parade celebrate by throwing beads and trinkets to the crowds think Mardi Gras.

Viewing Areas. The non-water side of Bayshore Blvd is mostly open to the public, whereas large chunks of the water side of Bayshore are restricted and reserved for private paid seating or viewing areas, corporate tents, and these areas are limited access to the public.

Reserved seats can be purchased, some of which include things like bar and food access, private portapotties, etc. Check out our post on Where to Watch Gasparilla. Gasparilla is in January, and while it is Tampa, the parades along the water on Bayshore can get chilly sometimes. The pirates then hold a victory parade irrespective of whether the mayor has handed over the key or not. During the victory parade, the members of YMKG throw coins, beads, and several other souvenirs to the crowd.

Instead, YMKG members would fire handguns and six-shooters loaded with blanks into the sky and then throw the empty shells to the crowd. This tradition was restricted in the year and eventually ended entirely, replaced by throwing beads. Many local businesses build their own elaborate floats and throw trinkets, especially beads, to the crowd.

Universities and high schools provide majorettes, marching bands, and drill teams. There are thousands of people — thousands! Long lines for food and drinks, no parking, porta-potties, and lots of drinking. The night before the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, the crowds are in full swing, and many overdo it long before the main event. On the morning of, some people outdo themselves long before the actual events start.

We had a chuckle at some folks brought back to the hotel at around noon, almost unconscious and carried in. Then there are the costumes — pirates, here we come. And, who knew that there are so many different genres of pirate outfits. People go all out, and I mean all out. No detail is missed. I saw people in victorian pirate outfits, steampunk pirate outfits, goths, traditional ones, and some clearly Halloween -style ones.

Even the pooches show up in pirate attire! What you should expect is to be entertained pirate style and have a blast. Enjoy this festival with like-minded people, dress up, and have a drink or twenty. Over the years, Gasparilla has become more than just a one-day parade. The same concept applies. And, long before you consider a day out, make sure you plan out parking. There are three main hotels at the Tampa Convention Center that you can watch the Parade of Pirates from your room or the hotel public areas:.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites for Gasparilla because we are saving and collecting points for The Maldives. However, I wish we chose the Marriot.