Comedian Bert Kreischer Named Grand Marshal Of 2024 Gasparilla Fest

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Bay area native and comedian Bert Kreischer is the grand marshal of the 2024 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

“Get ready Tampa. I’m partying hard Jan. 27,” he said in a video announcement posted to his social media page. “I will see you there and I promise you this: I’m gonna make Jose Gaspar look like a Jesuit priest.”

Since 1904, this Tampa tradition has celebrated the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar with a pirate invasion of the city, a parade, live music and other events.

This year’s festival takes place Jan. 27, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the invasion sailing into the Tampa Convention Center basin from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Gasparilla Invasion Brunch is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tampa Convention Center and the Parade of Pirates marching down Bayshore Boulevard along Hillsborough Bay through downtown Tampa from 2 to 5:30 p.m.

Live entertainment takes the stage at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and MacDill Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. before and after the parade.

“Ohh, mateys. It’s about to get Bert Wild,” festival organizers wrote in a Facebook post.

Kreischer is one of the top-grossing stand-up comics in the business, according to his website. In 2022, he landed at No. 4 on Pollstar’s “Top 10 Highest Grossing Tours” list after performing to sold-out arenas around the world.

He’s known for his Netflix comedy specials, including “Razzle Dazzle,” “Secret Time,” “The Machine” and “Hey Big Boy.”