Gasparilla 2013 Do’s & Don’ts

Is there anything more fun than an annual pirate party hosted by Tampa? Tampa’s unique annual Gasparilla festival draws attendees near and far. Scheduled for Saturday,  January 26, 2013, Gasparilla includes: an Invasion brunch, a parade down Bayshore Boulevard and a lively street fair. A free community event with more than 300,000 people expected to attend, you can purchase tickets if you wish to feast at the Invasion Brunch or enjoy reserved parade seating.

A parade and street fair and lots of opportunities to drink throughout the day means that it is also easy to get in trouble while enjoying the Gasparilla festival. And to the surprise of no one, the Tampa police are especially vigilant during the festivities to catch things like open containers, public intoxication and underage drinking. To help you plan ahead and stay out of trouble, here’s an easy to remember list of Gasparilla do’s and don’ts

DO:

– Dress up!
– Get there early—as a result of recent construction projects and landscaping changes from last year, there is actually a little less space to view the parade than in years past so make sure to get there early.
– Bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages if you want
– Get an all day pass—both the HART and TECO offer all day transportation passes for less than $5
– Leave your pets and bikes at home—the event will be way too crowded for your furry friends and cumbersome bike
– Plan ahead if you are hoping to boat along the floatilla—in addition to limited dock space for any size boat, Gasparilla has special rules for boats over 65’ in length
– Have a great time!

DON’T

– Drink if you are under the age of 21—the police will be on the lookout for underage drinking and this is not a ticket you want to get
– Drive your car or boat after a day of drinking—plan ahead to take public transportation or a taxi to avoid a DUI or BUI
– Have open containers outside of the parade route. That’s right, having an  open container outside of Bayshore’s sidewalks can result in a ticket or arrest
– Urinate in public—there are plenty of port-o-toilets present on the route and police are on the lookout for individuals using a local lawn for a toilet

Following complaints by local residents, Gasparilla officials changed a lot of the rules pertaining to the parade and what you can and cannot do. Unfortunately, not knowing the rules will not get you out of a ticket and Tampa police arrested over 400 people last year. If you happen to follow more of the “Don’t” list than the “Do” list, give the attorneys at Finebloom & Haenel P.A. a call to discuss your case. We are available day and night for a free consultation.

And for those of you that just can’t get enough of Gasparilla, the University of Tampa will be hosting a free presentation entitled: Gasparilla: Tall Tales & Scandalous Stories. The presentation will feature four former mayors of Tampa discussing their experiences with the annual festival. Taking place on Friday January 25, 2013 from 6:45-7:45pm, attendees will also have a chance to partake in the opening night of the Gasparilla museum exhibit. The exhibit is located at the Henry Plant Museum on the University of Tampa Campus. For more information about the presentation and exhibit, click here.