Gasparilla 2013 Events

Ahoy! Next weekend is Tampa’s annual Gasparilla parade, but do you know all the great activities going on in addition to the parade? January 26, 2013 marks the flotilla, parade and street fair; but did you know that there is a Children’s event the weekend before and a museum exhibit as well? Here’s a list of events and other information you need to make the most of this exciting event.

• Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza: McDonald’s and Chevrolet will sponsor the 4^th edition of the Children’s parade. The event will be held on Saturday January 19, 2013 starting with a 1:30 preschooler’s stroll, 3:30pm parade and fireworks going off at 7pm. The extravaganza will take place on Bayshore Boulevard (from Bay to Bay to Watrous and Orleans Avenue). The event will also be televised live on Fox 13 from 4-6pm.
• Former Mayors Speak about Gasparilla: Entitled: Tall Tales and Scandalous Stories, four former Tampa mayors will talk about their experiences with the quirky parade. The event will take place on Friday January 25, 2013 from 6:45pm to 7:45pm at the Music Room of Plant Hall on the University of Tampa campus.

• Gasparilla Exhibit: Entitled, Gasparilla: A Tampa Tradition, the Henry Plant Museum on the University of Tampa campus will be running the exhibit from January 25-February 17. The museum is open from 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5pm on Sunday. General admission is $10, students and those 65 and older are $7, children ages 4-12 are $5 and those ages 3 and under are free. The exhibit will include film footage of the event from the 1920’s as well as gowns, costumes and other memorabilia from years past.

• Invasion Brunch: Kicking the Jan. 26 festivities off is always the famous Invasion Brunch held at the Tampa Convention Center. Here is where the Jose Gasparilla docks and the Mayor of Tampa hands over the keys to the city. The Brunch begins at 10am and reserved tickets are required for adults and children over the age of two. Ticket prices begin at $70.09 Parking is available at the Convention Center but does fill up quickly so be sure to arrive early.

• Parade of Pirates: The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates will find Bayshore Blvd transformed into a scene out of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. The parade goes from 2pm-5pm starting at Bay Street and ending at Cass Street and Ashley Drive. Along the route will be Charity Beer Gardens, food vendors and much more. Admission is free but you can also purchase reserved bleacher seating to guarantee a good seat here. There have been some landscaping changes in addition to recent construction that have limited viewing spots this year so be sure to get there early!

• Street Festival: Live entertainment and food, say no more. The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival goes from 10am-10pm on Saturday January 26. Admission is free and the festival is located in Downtown Tampa between Cass Street and Kennedy Blvd.

As you can see there are a lot of great activities to enjoy on the 26^th and beyond. One thing to note for those of you partaking in the festivities on Saturday, Tampa area police will be on serious lookout for anyone breaking the rules. As some of you may know already, the police switched from arrests to citations for many of the common Gasparilla offenses (i.e. open container violations, public intoxication) so beware that breaking the rules of the event may result in a minimum $75 ticket. Follow our list of Do’s and Don’ts and enjoy your day without getting into trouble!

When it comes to drinking and driving or boating, it should come as no surprise that there will be an increase in patrol cars looking to arrest anyone that appears intoxicated. Knowing this, make sure to plan your transportation out ahead of time. The HART and TECO both offer all day passes for less than $5. If you do find yourself in trouble at Gasparilla, make sure to give the attorneys at Finebloom & Haenel P.A. a call.