Gasparilla Pirate Fest Draws Thousands To Downtown Tampa: Watch

TAMPA, FL - Gasparilla pirates returned with a massive flotilla Saturday, acting on their threat to invade Tampa. Along with more than 1,000 boats, the pirates docked the Jose Gaspar Pirate Ship at the Tampa Convention Center where they demanded Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn turn over the key to the city.

Thousands (more than 300,000 were expected) descended on downtown Tampa Saturday for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest, the city's community event held every year since 1904. The parade is the third largest parade in the country, ranking only behind the Rose Bowl parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

This year's Gasparilla had a different twist because it coincided with the National Hockey League's All-Star Game taking placing at Amalie Arena and hosted by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The hockey invasion also provided a different story line to the battle over the key to the city.

The NHL Stanley Cup got a ride on the pirate ship since it had been (allegedly) captured by the pirates. After some pleading from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (see video), the mayor agreed to turn over the key to the city to the pirates. After chants of "Let's Go Bolts," the pirates left to start their parade down Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard.

And despite the large crowds, most of the revelers behaved themselves. Tampa police reported few arrests and citations. Here are the preliminary figures from police as of one hour after the conclusion of the parade:

Felonies: 1 (battery on a law enforcement officer); misdemeanors: 19 (including 14 for underage drinking, misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct, trespass after warning); civil citations: 1 (less than 20 grams marijuana).

Video via City of Tampa; photo by Don Johnson, Patch Staff