'Guardians Of Galaxy' Star Dave Bautista Leads Gasparilla Parade

TAMPA, FL — In a tradition dating back to 1904, a band of scallywags invaded Tampa City Hall Tuesday but were held at bay by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and students from Rampello K-8 Magnet School.

The invasion is part of the annual events leading up to the Gasparilla Festival Saturday. Each year, members of Ye Mystic Krewe, organizers of the Gasparilla celebration, give the mayor an ultimatum to surrender the key to the city or risk an invasion by a parade of pirate ships Saturday.

Following in the footsteps of her predecessors, on Tuesday at noon at Lykes Gaslight Park , Castor refused to hand over the key to Ye Mystic Krewe Capt. Richard Chapman, signaling the launch of Saturday's invasion.

Tampa's signature event, the Gasparilla Festival is a tribute to the fictional pirate, Jose Gaspar, who was rumored to sail Tampa Bay in the 1700s, plundering towns along the way. Over the years, Gasparilla has grown into the third largest parade and festival in the country, attracting tourists from around the world and filtering an estimated $23 million into Tampa's economy.

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and a fierce battalion of pirates will invade downtown Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m. for the 2020 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

The 103rd annual event will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with the Invasion Brunch at the Tampa Convention Center, which includes a buffet brunch with a cash bar and reserved table seating.

Guests will gather along the waterfront to witness the fully rigged Jose Gasparilla pirate ship and its flotilla sail into Seddon Channel and dock at the convention center at 1 p.m. There, Castor will ultimately surrender the key to the city.

Triumphant, the Krewes of merry pirates will then take to the streets for the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates at 2 p.m. starting at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards.

This year, Marvel star and six-time WWE world champion Dave Bautista will serve as grand marshal for the 2020 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest

Lt. Travis Maus of the Tampa Police Department, who just returned from a year-long deployment in Iraq, will serve as this year’s honorary community hero.

“Dave Bautista and Travis Maus represent some of the best in our Tampa Bay community,” said Chapman. “Each year, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla selects accomplished individuals that shine a spotlight on our city and give back to others. Both of these gentlemen exemplify these traits and we look forward to welcoming them in the 2020 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates.”

“It’s very exciting to have Dave Bautista as the grand marshal for Gasparilla,” said Steve Bonner, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “It’s a great way to honor a true champion before he is inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April as part of WrestleMania Week right here in Tampa.”

Bautista starred as Drax the Destroyer in the 2014 Marvel feature "Guardians of the Galaxy" opposite Chris Pratt, Benicio Del Toro, Bradley Cooper and Zoe Saldana. "Guardians of the Galaxy 2" premiered in May 2017, adding Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone to the cast. The Guardians have since joined the Avengers in "Avengers; Infinity War," which opened April 2018 to the highest-grossing opening weekend in history. The fourth installation of the Avengers franchise premiered in April 2019 with "Avengers: Endgame," which became the highest-grossing film of all time with over 2.79 billion dollars.

Bautista is currently shooting the second season of the Apple TV series "See" starring opposite Jason Momoa. It can be seen on March 13 in the family action film "My Spy."

Maus has been a member of the Tampa Police Department for almost 20 years. A member of the U.S. Army Reserve for almost 15 years, Maus is a senior instructor pilot on Blackhawk helicopters and is currently a chief warrant officer 4 with Alpha Company, 5-159th.

During his latest deployment to Iraq where Maus and his company, the “Ghostriders,” successfully flew several hundred missions in and out of five countries in the Middle East, Maus was promoted to lieutenant with the Tampa Police Department by Chief Brian Dugan. This is the first time in the department that a promotion was made during a military deployment.

Maus and his wife, Jessica, have been married for more than 14 years and have three daughters, Olivia, 11; Lillian, 10; and Vivian, 5.

“Travis has dedicated himself to the protection of others,” said Dugan. “Whether it is the local community as a member of our police department, our nation as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve or, most importantly to him, as a husband and father, Travis looks out for others."

See related story: Community Welcomes Police Lieutenant Home After Year In Iraq

Beginning at 2 p.m., Bautista and Maus will lead 103 parade floats, 50 krewes, five marching bands and the infamous Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates down a 4 1/2-mile parade route as 300,000 spectators look on.

The Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates will travel from Bayshore into downtown Tampa, cross over the Brorein Street bridge, turn north on Ashley Drive and end at Cass Street and Ashley Drive. The parade is free to attend but reserved bleacher seating is available.

The Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of the Pirates will be followed by the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival, presented by Bud Light Seltzer.

The Pirate Fest will feature stages along the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa with live entertainment before the parade (starting at 9 a.m.) and post-parade in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and MacDill Park.