Pirate Pranks And Planks: Tampa Police To Outline Safety Setup For Gasparilla Season

TAMPA, FL — After a tough year battling the pandemic, Tampa residents could use a bit of carefree joviality with some swashbuckling friends.

As Gasparilla krewe members dust off their tricorn hats and boots and dig out their white puffy shirts and waistcoats, the Tampa Police Department is making its own preparations to ensure everyone has a safe time during festivities know for raucous antics and pirate pranks and planks.

On Tuesday at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa city leaders were joined by first responders, event organizer Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and business organizers and sponsors to discuss plans for the 2022 Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

Tampa Interim Police Chief Ruben Delgado, Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Col. Thomas St. John, representatives with the city of Tampa Mobility, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Pepin Distributing, the Hillsborough County School Board, the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, Cracker Jack Media and Event Fest hosted a news conference unveiling plans for the pirate-themed festival that's been a Tampa tradition since 1904.

In preparing for the third-largest parade in the United States attended by more than 300,000 residents and visitors, officials discussed parade routes, parking, alternative modes of transportation, how residents can use their smartphones to obtain information and reminders of where and where not to park to prevent clogging neighborhood roads along the Bayshore Boulevard parade route.

After being forced to cancel the festivities last year due to the pandemic, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said she's happy to see Tampa's trademark event resume.

“We’re very excited about the possibility of bringing back our land, sea and air invasion for the city of Tampa and the entire Tampa Bay area,” Castor said.

This year's festivities will include:

The Ashley Children's Gasparilla Parade presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay Saturday, Jan. 22, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event is free. Reserved bleacher seating is available. Click here.

The Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest will take place Saturday, Jan. 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. This event is free with reserved bleacher seating available. Click here for the parade route and other details.

The Krewe of the Knights of Sant'Yago's illuminated night parade takes place in the streets of the Channel District and Ybor City Feb. 12 from 4 to 11 p.m. Click here for information.

The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts showcases 233 of the world's most talented artists who turn Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park into a museum March 5-6. More than 100,000 visitors come to the free festival to take in art displays, live entertainment, children's activities and food vendors.

This year, the Tampa Police Department will coordinate enforcement on the roads, on the water and in the skies with the help of:

• Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
• St. Petersburg Police
• Clearwater Police
• Bradenton Police
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Citrus County Sheriff's Office
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Florida Highway Patrol
• Lakeland Police
• Manatee County Sheriff's Office
• New Port Richey Police
• Orange County Sheriff's Office
• Pasco County Sheriff's Office
• Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
• Plant City Police
• Polk County Sheriff's Office
• Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
• Sarasota Police
• State Fire Marshal
• Tarpon Springs Police
• Temple Terrace Police
• U.S. Air Force
• U.S. Coast Guard
• USF Police Tampa Police Department PIO