That's right, everyone! It's Tampanians favorite time of year again — Gasparilla! The Gasparilla day parade is by far one of Tampa's most exciting, adventurous, fun-filled days. If you have never been, this should be the year (weather permitting)! Gasparilla is a parade travelling through most of South Tampa, reenacting the events of famous pirate Jose Gaspar and his ravaging of Florida waters.
Gaspar was a vengeful pirate who terrorized Florida waters in the 18th and 19th Century. He set out for treasure, wealth and power and seized any ship in his way. Tampa began celebrating the life of this crazy man in 1904. This is when the first "pirate invasion" took place, and the tradition has been carried on ever since.
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What we experience today is a day filled with swashbuckling, bead catching, drunken fun! The enthusiasm in both costume and spirit capture the city as the parade embarks on our waters (and streets). It never fails to impress me how many thousands of people show up to get completely obliterated in "organized" fashion, and to show their boobs for beads (myself included). People from all over the country travel to Tampa to experience something they cannot experience anywhere else.
So ahoy, matey! I say arrrrrggg to anyone who dares get in the way of me Gasparilla fun!