by Adele Woodyard
They got to the kids first. Last Saturday, younguns with bandana-wrapped heads and make-up scarred faces, wielded plastic swords in the annual Gasparilla Parade just for them. They rode on brightly decorated home-made floats or marched along Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard to the music of high school bands.. Rough-looking grownup pirates from the ship, the Jose Gaspar, saw that the beads and plastic gold coins the little ones threw, reached even smaller tykes that lined the route.
Saturday, January 29, is the adults’ turn to party with a Festival in the name of a legendary pirate, that began in 1904. Fierce-looking Blackbeard look-alikes line the sides and yardarms of the ancient vessel, as it sails up Tampa Bay surrounded by assorted pleasure craft. Their aim? To invade the city. Once they’ve swarmed ashore at the Convention Center, and wrested the Keys from Mayor Iorio, the Victory Parade begins. Over 300 units that include more than 90 floats and 14 marching bands, wind past crowds of onlookers reaching for colorful beads that fly through the air.
When the parade ends about three hours later, pirates and party-goers alike head downtown for the Pirate Fest. Live entertainment, that has occupied the stage at Curtis Hixon Park since 10 a.m. before the invasion even starts, lasts until 10 p.m . The evening ends with a huge display of fireworks. Choreographed to music, they fill the sky from waterborne barges.
Except for food and drink, the Gasparilla Festival is FREE to all comers. One caveat: you must present a valid ID to purchase beer, or Captain Morgan run and cola. If you want reserved seats for the parade, tickets cost $28.04 per person. If you wish to be present at the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, or Lunch (new in 2011) reservations start at $58.88 adult, $49.53 ages 3-12. Number of tickets are limited and on sale NOW. http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com
Early-rising Pinellas County residents and visitors can join the flotilla escorting the Jose Gaspar pirate ship on a Victorian-themed paddlewheel , the Starlite Princess Riverboat… The all-day 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. cruise starts with a Continental breakfast and includes sit-down lunch and dinner service, plus a reserved seat for the Gasparilla parade. There’s live entertainment during dinner and a full liquor cash bar. The boat departs the Vinoy Basin, St. Petersburg. $195 per person,. 727-462-2628; 800-444-4814. http://www.starlitediningcruises.com
The Gasparilla Festival is a major celebration that has spawned three months of related and non-related festivities, such as the Krewe of Sant ‘Yago’s Illuminated Night Parade. in Ybor City. The Florida State Fair runs from February 10-21, and discount tickets are available at Sweetbay Supermarkets and online now until February 9, to save on admission, armbands, and rides. 813-621-7821, 800-345-3247; http://www.floridastatefair.com
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