It is that time of the year when the streets of Tampa Bay run amok with pirates! Welcome to the 2019 Gasparilla Season. Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about this highly anticipated event.
Who is Jose Gaspar?
The myth of Jose Gaspar serves as the focal point of the whole Gasparilla season. A legendary Spanish pirate, it is said he terrorized the seas of West Florida during the 18th to 19th century, plundering ships and taking hostages aboard his ship, the Floriblanca.
According to the tale, Jose Gaspar continued his exploits for nearly four decades.
It all came to a halt in 1821, when he threw himself overboard to avoid capture by the USS Enterprise. His last words? “Gasparilla dies by his own hand, not the enemy’s!”
All these remains a legend, however, as there are no known historical records of a Spanish pirate named Jose Gaspar from that time period. Whether he is fact or fiction, he inspired one of the greatest events in Tampa Bay history.
Gasparilla Season for Beginners
Is it your first time to partake in the Gasparilla festivities? Fret not. This post will serve as your guide for the whole season of merrymaking.
Gasparilla Season runs from January and well into April, featuring a ton of events. The highlight of the season, however, is the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, considered to be the third largest parade in the country.
Festivities continue well into spring. Another parade called the Sant’Yago Knight Parade follows the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. A Gasparilla-themed race also takes place every February. Come early March, Downtown Tampa becomes a large outdoor art museum for the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts.
The next weekend is often reserved for the Gasparilla Music Festival, with this year’s version expected to be the biggest yet. Mid-March, the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) will take place. Finally, on April 13, the most spectacular vehicles will be on display for the Gasparilla Concours D’Elegance.
What You Need to Know About the 2019 Gasparilla Pirate Fest
The main event of the Gasparilla season will always be the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Known as the third largest parade in the country, it celebrates the legend of mythical pirate Jose Gaspar (“Gasparilla”), who sailed the seas of Southwest Florida sometime in the early 19th century.
This year’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest will take place on January 26, 2019. The fest kicks off with the arrival of the pirate ship “Jose Gasparilla.” Loaded with 750 pirates, it will commence the Gasparilla Invasion (11:00 a.m.), which officially signals the start of the Gasparilla season.
At 2:00 p.m., Jose Gaspar and his crew of swashbucklers will take to the streets for the Parade of Pirates, a 4-mile long procession in which the Mystic Krewe will share their treasures to merrymakers. Everyone is encouraged to participate and don their best takes on 19th century pirate fashion. Check out the parade’s route map here.
The Parade of Pirates will eventually give way to the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival, a free event featuring food, music, and live entertainment.
The January 26 Gasparilla Pirate Fest is open to the public. Spectators can buy tickets for reserved bleacher seating, with prices ranging from $45 to $60.
For more information about the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, visit their official website here.