One of Tampa’s most anticipated festivals of the year, and I’ve somehow never been.
Gasparilla feels like one of those events you only really hear about through word of mouth, until you somehow end up having plans for a whole weekend and heading to Plato’s Closet to piece together anything that closely resembles a pirate outfit.
As a first timer myself, I honestly don’t know what to expect. How “all out” does it really get in Tampa, Florida? All I ever see are the cutesy Instagram posts of girls dressed to the nines in pirate costumes, but is that the only fun part? Don’t get me wrong, I’ll use any excuse to thrift a new outfit, but what really makes Gasparilla so fun?
In preparation for the festival this year, with the help of a little bit of research, I’ve decided to find what makes Gasparilla such a beloved Tampa tradition, and hype myself up for a weekend of fun and plenty of pirate puns.
Costumes
Who doesn’t love a themed party? Everyone knows that dressing up is half the fun of any good festival, and Gasparilla has no shortage of people putting their absolute everything into a good-looking pirate outfit. Tampa takes Gasparilla very seriously, mastering character commitment that makes it feel like a blast from the past of the 18th century, plus some colored beads.
There’s definitely no shortage of flair when it comes to the pirates of downtown Tampa, rocking corsets and boots as far as the eye can see. One of Gasparilla’s most fun traditions has been the tossing of colored bead necklaces that get dispersed throughout the day. Some people end up completely covered in plastic treasure.
If you go with friends, try to see which one of you can snag the most necklaces; the winner doesn’t have to pay for the Uber home.
Music
This brings me to another Gasparilla staple: the music festivals! Since Gasparilla takes up most of Tampa’s larger downtown spaces, many of those areas become designated mini music venues that play throughout the day.
Some seem to require tickets, while others are free-range for those passing by, enjoying the festivities. Make sure to find which venues need tickets beforehand so you don’t get caught without one. Gasparilla, like any festival, can get overwhelming, so it helps to be prepared in advance.
Any niche music lovers out there interested in expanding their taste buds for some fresh artists should keep an eye out for this year’s lineup. Who knows? You might even see some familiar faces up on stage.
Parades
Probably one of the most memorable parts of Gasparilla has to be the parades. In honor of the festival’s history, the City of Tampa hosts a “pirate invasion,” which takes place on the water of the Tampa Convention Center. If you didn’t think the city could go all out, you’d be wrong.
Mimicking the takeover of the famous pirate José Gasparilla, the great ship lines the shore with cannons and fireworks, before eventually leading into the parade of pirates that makes its way through the streets of Downtown Tampa.
Make sure to get a front row spot at the parade if you’re trying to get your hands on some of those beaded necklaces. Remember, the goal is to be covered by the end of the night in that shiny pirate booty.
With all that Gasparilla has to offer, I’m sure that this year will be no disappointment. Mixing history with spectacle is always fun, and taking on a new experience always leaves room for some fun stories, especially in costume.
Just make sure to wear some comfortable boots because pirates like to party from sunup to sundown in Tampa, and remember that if some of you’re going to Gasparilla for the first time this year, we’ll be in the same boat!
…Or should I say ship?
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