Eyeeee Me Matie! It’s Pirate invasion time! Tampa beware, more than 300,000 people are expected to descend upon Bayshore Boulevard and downtown to witness the invasion!
The Pirate event has been happening since 1904. They already had an annual May Day celebration during the turn of the last century, but about 50 people decided they wanted to “liven things up”.
So, they sent a few letters to the local newspaper warning that the pirates were about to invade and the legend of the aristocrat turned pirate Jose Gaspar was born.
The very first invasion, wasn’t the invasion we know today, but rather an invasion of 50 ‘pirates’ on horseback!
The people of Tampa loved it and the tradition continued.
It’s estimated more than 100,000 people attended this year’s Children’s Parade.
Schedule of Events: Gasparilla 2012
Click: GasparillaPirateFest.com
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Gasparilla Invasion: Jose Gasparilla sailes from south end of Hillsborough Bay toward the docks at the Tampa Convention Center
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Gasparilla Invasion Brunch at the Tampa Convention Center
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Gasparilla Parade of Pirates (Starts at Bayshore and Bay to Bay and ends at Cass Street and Ashley Drive)
10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Gasparilla Invasion celebration at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, at Ashley Drive between Madison and Polk)
Information courtesy of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and 10 News
