Gasparilla Pirate Festival 28 January
If you thought last weekend’s Gasparilla event was big, then get ready for an even bigger weekend. This weekend’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest is huge! Last weekend’s event was focused on children so this weekend’s event will be for adults. Just take this in mind when trying to decide if you should bring children. People are little more rowdy during this event. The Pirate Fest Street Festival, which will take place along Ashley Drive, from Kennedy to Cass Street, runs from 10am to 10pm. However throughout the downtown and Channelside district of Tampa, there will be huge number of Gasparilla events. The Gasparilla Invasion takes place from 11:30am to 1pm. The Jose Gasparilla pirate ship will be sailing into Tampa with cannons firing and flags unfurled accompanied by hundreds of smaller boats. The Jose Gasparilla sets sail at the south end of Hillsborough Bay at 11:30 am, sails north to Seddon Channel (between Davis Island and Harbour Island), continues north and docks at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 pm. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival features stages with live entertainment, food, and the Gasparilla Midway. The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates begins at 2pm and is scheduled to end at 5:30pm. The parade begins at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard. It continues along Bayshore Boulevard to Brorein Street, turns east on Brorein Street, then north on Ashley Drive. The parade ends at Cass Street & Ashley Drive. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage will be at Curtis Hixon Park this year. Parking is always a big issue because there will literally be a hundred thousand of people attending this event. Make sure you get out early. Parking is available at lots throughout downtown Tampa and Ybor City. If you park in Ybor City, you can use the TECO streetcars to get to the parade. Parking at the Centro Ybor Parking Garage or the Palm Avenue Garage costs $1 for the first hour and $4 for over 3 hours. The TECO streetcar conductor sells a 1-day Unlimited Ride for $5.
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