If you didn’t go to Gasparilla, you know someone who did. This pirate-themed event has gone viral among college students, especially here at Florida State. At a short four-and-a-half hours away, Tampa hosts a citywide party and parade that many college students travel to attend. With bandanas, fishnets and eye patches on deck, participators gear up and let the partying begin. Although this event draws a lot of attention, most people do not know how it got started.
Pirates annually hold this historic event in Tampa, Florida along the Hillsborough bay and the Seddon Channel to reenact the seizure of the coast by pirates in the late 18th century. When the Mayor hands over the keys to the city to Captain Jose Gaspar, who sails the only fully rigged pirate ship in the world, The Gasparilla, the parties begin!
The majority of the event is free to the public, including the parade, and many college kids show up in pirate attire and are ready to enjoy the bountiful booty that Gasparilla has to offer. Hotels love this weekend as it is a big tourist attraction and rooms sell out almost as fast as a FSU home football game. However, many students know someone who is from Tampa or knows someone who knows someone from Tampa and can find a place to bunk for the night minimizing the cost spent on expenses and maximizing their budgets for hydration purposes.
Music festivities precede the pirate parade and seizure of the city . An outdoor concert is held showcasing a variety of musical talents. The concert admission is $30 or $75 for VIP. Since the concert is in such a large area, you can hear the music all over town. Hotels with balconies overlooking the concerts make a great place to view what’s going on below. Many bars close to the arena offer deals or have special concoctions (some that even Jose Gaspar himself couldn’t handle) where you can still enjoy the music even if you don’t make it to the arena.
Since it is a charity concert, the profits will be given to the Tampa Humane Society as well as become the funds for next years Gasparilla Carnival. Many students don’t even realize that when they purchase their tickets, it isn’t just a regular concert; they are also giving back and ensuring the continuance of Gasparilla for years to come. The history behind this event makes it more than just an excuse to party; it lets you experience some history as well.