Prepare For Pint-Sized Pirates At Gasparilla Children's Parade

TAMPA, FL — Tampa's wildly popular Gasparilla season opens this Saturday, Jan. 18 with the 2020 Ashley HomeStore Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay.

Pint-sized pirates will invade Tampa’s scenic Bayshore Boulevard for a day of family-friendly, alcohol-free pirate festival fun.

Pre-parade activities begin at 11 a.m. with the Children’s Gasparilla Parade to follow from 3:30 to 6 p.m.

“A Tampa tradition since 1947, the Children’s Gasparilla celebrates the return of Gasparilla season with a pirate-perfect day the whole family can enjoy in an alcohol-free environment,” said Maiken Stefany, director of operations for Children’s Gasparilla.

This year, America’s largest children’s parade will be led by WWE superstar The Big Show, who will serve as grand marshal.

“When putting together one of Tampa’s biggest shows, we couldn’t think of anyone more fitting to serve as grand marshal than The Big Show himself,” said Capt. Richard Chapman of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, organizer of the annual Gasparilla festivities. “We look forward to welcoming this legendary WWE superstar back to Tampa in front of a crowd of more than 100,000 excited families.”

Known as “The World’s Largest Athlete” at 7 feet tall, The Big Show is one of the most decorated superstars in WWE history. Throughout his illustrious career, he has held the WWE, WCW and ECW championships.

After a brief hiatus from the squared circle, The Big Show made a memorable return this past Monday on WWE’s flagship USA Network program, "Monday Night Raw." The Big Show has participated in many memorable WrestleMania moments and will be a part of WrestleMania Week when it comes to Tampa this April.

Outside the ring, The Big Show has successfully made his mark in Hollywood, appearing in "The Waterboy," "Knucklehead" and starring in the upcoming Netflix comedy series, “The Big Show Show.”

The Big Show will be joined by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay Community Hero Gary Markel as the Children’s Gasparilla special guest.

After seeing the impact of war on the special operations forces, Markel decided to take action by creating the nonprofit Operation Healing Forces.

Operation Healing Forces’ retreats invite wounded, ill and injured special forces members and their loved ones to come together and heal in a safe and supportive environment. Since opening in 2011, Operation Healing Forces has helped 387 wounded special operations couples (774 participants) in their recovery through its retreat program.

It has also helped more than 700 special forces members with immediate needs, including critical medical care not adequately fulfilled by other available programs.

Finally, Operation Healing Forces' transition programs help special forces members reintegrate into the workforce through a recently unveiled program developed in conjunction with the Markel Corp.

See related story: Street Closures, Parking, Safety For Gasparilla Children's Parade

Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Rodeo

The day begins with the Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Rodeo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located along Bayshore Boulevard between Rome Avenue and Dakota Avenue, the bicycle rodeo is free to any kids interested in learning how to bicycle safely with traffic. Volunteers will fit children in attendance with free bicycle helmets that they can keep (while supplies last). Kids can then use one of the rodeo’s bicycles to ride through a fun course that teaches skills that could one day save their lives.

Gasparilla Air Invasion

The Gasparilla Air Invasion will take flight from noon to 3:15 p.m., featuring a precision parachute jump by the United States Special Operations Command Parachute Team (The Para-Commandos), with vintage aircraft including the TP-40 Warhawk “American Dream” and aerobatic routines expertly performed by the Lima Lima Flight Team.

This is the largest Gasparilla Air Invasion in event history and is the first time that the Children’s Gasparilla has been designated as an Official Air Show by the FAA and Aerial Office of Special Events for the United States Air Force.

Gasparilla Preschooler's Stroll

Tampa Bay’s youngest pirates can join in the merrymaking with the Gasparilla Preschooler's Stroll from 1 to 2 p.m. (new earlier start time for 2020). Beginning at Howard Avenue and ending at Rome Avenue, the preschooler’s stroll gives children age 5 and younger the chance to strut their stuff along Bayshore Boulevard. Check out specially decorated wagons, bicycles and strollers and kids wearing their best buccaneers attire.

Children's Gasparilla Parade

From 3:30 to 6 p.m., the Children’s Gasparilla Parade steps off at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards and proceeds north along Bayshore for nearly 1.5 miles before ending at Edison Avenue.

It will include 136 parade floats, krewes, marching bands, dance units, school organizations, community groups and neighborhood associations.

Gasparilla Piratechnic Finale

Immediately following the parade, the reimagined Children’s Gasparilla Piratechnic fireworks finale will begin at 6 p.m. SOCOM Para-Commandos will coast to Bayshore in a night jump, the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship will arrive ablaze with cannons and lights and GhostWriter Airshows will perform their signature fireworks flight.

Then, on command, the captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will order a sequence of firework shells.

Admission for the Ashley HomeStore Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay is free with reserved seating ticket packages available starting at $52.