Gasparilla Parade Of Pirates 2016: What To Know Before You Go

TAMPA, FL — The 2016 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates steps off in Tampa Saturday afternoon, promising to bring with it a rowdy good time.

While cannons will fire, beads will be tossed and pirates and marching bands will take to Tampa’s streets, there are some things revelers need to know before they go. Here are just a few:

Parade Times

The parade is set to begin at the corner of Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard at 2 p.m. It is expected to last until 5:30 p.m. or so.

Parade Route

The route starts on Bayshore Boulevard and continues to Brorein Street where the parade will turn east. From there, the fun will head north on Ashley Drive before the parade disbands at Cass Street and Ashley.

Entries

Parade organizers anticipate more than 130 units will march in the 3.8-mile parade. That number includes more than 90 floats, 14 marching bands, more than 50 distinct pirate krewes and, of course, the pirates from Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Cost

There’s no charge to attend the parade, but revelers will want to bring cash to purchase food, drinks and other items from vendors.

Viewing is available along the parade route at no charge, but those who want to enjoy reserved bleacher seating will need to buy tickets online. Advanced bleacher seats start at $45 and are available on GasparillaTreasures.com.

Street Closings

The following roads will be closed to make way for the parade:

Friday, January 29, 2016 @ 10:00 PM

• Bayshore Blvd from Gandy Blvd to Platt St
• Bay to Bay from Bayshore Blvd to Ysabella St
• Davis Islands Bridge Off Ramp onto NB Bayshore Dr

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 3:00 AM

• Bayshore Blvd from Brorein St to Platt St
• Platt St/Channelside Dr from Plant Ave to Franklin St

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 5:30 AM

• Crosstown- EB Willow Ave Off Ramp (Exit 4)
• Willow Ave from Platt St to Swann Ave (SB lanes closed only, 1-way NB)

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 7:00 AM

• Ashley Dr from Brorein St to Jackson St
• Brorein St from Florida Ave to Parker St
• Franklin St from Channelside Dr to Harbour Island Bridge
• Old Water St from Florida Ave to Franklin St
• Washington St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Whiting St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Whiting St from Florida Ave to Franklin St (WB)

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 9:00 AM

• Kennedy from Hyde Park Ave to Ashley Dr (EB)
• Ashley Dr from Cass St to Jackson St
• Jackson St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Kennedy Blvd from Florida Ave to Plant Ave (WB)
• Madison St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Madison St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
• Twiggs St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
• Zack St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Zack St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
• Polk St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
• Polk St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
• Tyler St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 11:00 AM

• Cass St from Willow Ave to N Blvd
• North A St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave
• North B St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave
• Fig St from Willow Ave to Gilchrist Ave
• Carmen St from Willow Ave to Delaware Ave
• Newport Ave from Cass St to North A St
• Gilchrist Ave from Cass St to Fig St

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 1:30 PM

• Cass St from N Blvd to Tampa St
• Tyler St from Tampa St to Cass St

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 3:00 PM

• Bay-to-Bay Blvd from MacDill Ave to Ysabella Ave (EB)
• Swann Ave from MacDill Ave to Armenia Ave (EB lanes closed only, 1-way WB)
• Platt St at Howard Ave (EB)
• Platt St at S Blvd (EB)
• Willow Ave from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St
• Willow Ave from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)
• South Blvd from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St
• South Blvd from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)
• Whiting St from Tampa St to Franklin St

Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 4:30 PM

• Kennedy Blvd at Himes Ave (EB)
• Kennedy Blvd at MacDill Ave (EB)
• Kennedy Blvd at Howard Ave (EB)
• Kennedy Blvd at Willow Ave (EB)
• Kennedy Blvd at Blvd (EB)

Where to Park

The City of Tampa recommends the following parking locations:

• Ft Brooke Garage - $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
• Jackson Street Parking Lot - hourly rate of $1.60/hr, with a $9.50 daily maximum and will open at 7 a.m.
• Poe Garage –AT 9:30 a.m. at a rate of $47 per vehicle entry. Due to the parade route, this garage will be closed from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Customers will not be able to enter or exit this garage until after 6:00 p.m. For those attending the Straz 8 p.m. show, Poe Garage will reopen at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a $6 flat rate paid on entry.
• Royal Regional Lot – $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
• Tampa Convention Center Garage - $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
• Twiggs Street Garage - hourly rates of $1.20/hr, with a $7 daily maximum and will open at 6 a.m.
• All numbered spaces on Kennedy Blvd. and south of Kennedy Blvd. are enforced up until midnight at the standard hourly rate.

Weather

The National Weather Service anticipates Saturday will be a bright, sunny day with a high around 68 degrees in Tampa. It could get a little chilly heading into the overnight hours. The low is expected to drop to about 50 degrees, so bringing a jacket might be a good idea.

To find out more about the parade and other associated festivities, visit the event’s website.

Photo courtesy of the City of Tampa’s Facebook page