Gasparilla Season Has Arrived In Downtown Tampa

Gasparilla is a unique Tampa tradition that takes over the city from mid-January to mid-March. It is two months of celebrating Tampa culture mixed with pirate-level partying. There are a wide variety of Gasparilla traditions guaranteed to suit everyone. Read on to learn all about Gasparilla events in downtown Tampa.

Parades

Parades are a staple of the Gasparilla season, and they are free events for the whole family.

Children’s Parade

The children’s parade is a huge family friendly parade that begins at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore and ends along Edison Avenue. This year, it takes place on the 18^th of January and starts around 3:30 pm. The parade ends with a firework show that doubles as a pirate battle.

Pirate Fest

Pirate Fest is the main event of the Gasparilla season! It begins with Jose Gaspar and his crew of pirates taking over Tampa at 11:00 am on January 25^th. To celebrate their successful conquering of the city, the pirates parade through town, sharing their plunder with the city. The Parade of Pirates is the third largest parade in the United States, so prepare for crowds.

Sant’Yago Knight Parade

The Sant’Yago is a nighttime family-friendly parade in Ybor City. Most of the floats light up and there’s plenty of music, dancing, and beads to go around. The parade takes place on the 8^th of February.

Distance Classic

The Gasparilla Distance Classic consists of all sorts of races for various skill levels. The event is held over the course of a weekend, February 22^nd-23^rd. Runners’ options include 5k run, 5k walk, 5k stroller race, 8k run, 15k run, half marathon, and more. The money raised from the races goes to charity.

Gasparilla Festival Of The Arts

This arts festival, which runs from February 29^th to March 1^st, contains nearly every medium imaginable. Simply make your way to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to explore the work of hundreds of artists.

Gasparilla Music Festival

Gasparilla Music Festival lasts the course of the entire weekend, from March 7^th through March 8^th. The festival is family friendly with plenty of children activities and plenty of food options alongside the musical acts. The music festival is a non-profit festival that supports musical and arts education in Tampa and the surrounding areas.

Gasparilla International Film Festival

Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF) hosts a wide range of films over the course of its week long run from March 17^th to March 22^nd.  GIFF is also a nonprofit event, visit their website for information about films and viewings.