According to Florida Backroads Travel(.com) “GASPARILLA PIRATE FEST is an annual event that features an “invasion” of the city by the pirate ship “Jose Gasparilla” and its motley “krewe” of pirates. The waters of Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River turn into a floating armada of pirates and citizens having a great old time.”

Every January Pirates Plunder Tampa Bay

Tampa, Florida

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The festival is named after a historical famous pirate called, Jose Gaspar, who terrorized up and down the coast of West Florida in the Gulf of Mexico during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The classic annual Gasparilla event or celebration starts with the Gasparilla Invasion or basically a flood of partiers that head into Tampa for the event. Approximately 750 fully costumed “Swashbucklers” invade Tampa Bay aboard the classic mock-up pirate ship called “Jose Gasparilla” which kicks off a full schedule of pirate-themed parties and events. Once all the pirates are on shore, the captain and his Mystic Krewe celebrate their plunder of the city with a 4 mile long Parade of Pirates, unloading untold Gasparilla treasures for visitors and locals to relish in celebration. The 3rd largest parade in the United States, the Parade of Pirates is attended by approximately 300,000 attendees, many dressed up in period-themed pirate costumes. The festivities continue into the night at the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival with live music, food and entertainment.