Street Closures, Parking, Safety For 2020 Gasparilla Parade

TAMPA, FL — More than 300,000 spectators are expected to line Bayshore Boulevard Saturdy for the annual Gasparilla Invasion and Pirate Fest, sponsored by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.

Traffic is expected to be heavy around Bayshore Boulevard and Downtown Tampa. Drivers and pedestrians alike should allow for extra time and travel through the area with caution. Barricades and signs will be located to assist with traffic flow.

Road Closure Schedule

Friday, Jan. 24, at 10 p.m.

• Bayshore Boulevard from Gandy Boulevard to Platt Street
• Bay to Bay Boulevard from Bayshore Boulevard to Ysabella Street
• Davis Island Bridge Off-Ramp onto northbound Bayshore Drive

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 3 a.m.

• Bayshore Boulevard from Brorein to Platt streets
• Platt Street/Channelside Drive from Plant Avenue to Franklin Street

Saturday, Jan. 25, 5:30 a.m.

• Selmon Expressway eastbound Willow Avenue off-ramp (Exit 4)
• Willow Avenue from Platt Street to Swann Avenue (southbound lanes closed only, one-way northbound)

Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 a.m.

• Ashley Drive from Brorein to Jackson streets
• Brorein Street from Florida Avenue to Parker Street
• Franklin Street from Channelside Drive to Harbour Island Bridge
• Old Water Street from Florida Avenue to Franklin Street
• Washington Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Whiting Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Whiting Street from Florida Avenue to Franklin Street (westbound)

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 9 a.m.

• Kennedy Boulevard from Hyde Park Avenue to Ashley Drive (eastbound)
• Ashley Drive from Cass to Jackson streets
• Jackson Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Streets
• Kennedy Boulevard from Florida Avenue to Plant Avenue (westbound)
• Madison Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Madison Street from Florida Avenue to Tampa Street (westbound)
• Twiggs Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Twiggs Street from Florida Avenue to Tampa Street (westbound)
• Zack Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Zack Street from Florida Avenue to Tampa Street (westbound)
• Polk Street from Ashley Drive to Tampa Street
• Polk Street from Florida Avenue to Tampa Street (westbound)
• Tyler Street from Florida Avenue to Tampa Street (westbound)

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m.

• Cass Street from Willow Avenue to North Boulevard
• North A Street from Willow Avenue to Newport Avenue
• North B Street from Willow Avenue to Newport Avenue
• Fig Street from Willow Avenue to Gilchrist Avenue
• Carmen Street from Willow Avenue to Delaware Avenue
• Newport Avenue from Cass Street to North A Street
• Gilchrist Avenue from Cass Street to Fig Street
• Cass Street from North Boulevard to Ashley Drive (eastbound)

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 1:30 p.m.

• Cass Street from North Boulevard to Tampa Street
• Tyler Street from Tampa Street to Cass Street

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 3 p.m.

• Bay-to-Bay Boulevard from MacDill Avenue to Ysabella Avenue (eastbound)
• Swann Avenue from MacDill Avenue to Armenia Avenue (eastbound lanes closed only, one-way westbound)
• Platt Street at Howard Avenue (eastbound)
• Platt Street at South Boulevard (eastbound)
• Willow Avenue from Kennedy Boulevard to Cleveland Street
• Willow Avenue from Cleveland Street to Platt Street (southbound)
• South Boulevard from Kennedy Boulevard to Cleveland Street
• South Boulevard from Cleveland Street to Platt Street (southbound)
• Whiting Street from Tampa Street to Franklin Street

Saturday, Jan. 25, at 4:30 p.m.

• Kennedy Boulevard at Himes Avenue (eastbound)
• Kennedy Boulevard at MacDill Avenue (eastbound)
• Kennedy Boulevard at Howard Avenue (eastbound)
• Kennedy Boulevard at Willow Avenue (eastbound)
• Kennedy Boulevard at Boulevard (eastbound)

The Tampa Police Department would like to remind all participants and spectators to report suspicious activity. If you see something, say something. Report anything suspicious to the nearest police officer or submit an anonymous tip using the TPD mobile app

available on iPhones and Androids.

Safety Tips

• Police officers will be stationed along the route. You can also call the Tampa Police Department non-emergency line at 813-231-6130. In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
• Have a meeting place: Due to large crowds, there may be limited cell service during the event. For this reason, it is important to establish a meeting place ahead of time.
• To help identify your child if he or she gets lost, take a photo of him or her the day of the parade. If you lose your child, alert the closest officer immediately. They will be stationed along the entire route.
• Know Prohibited Items : Weapons of any kind, glass containers, coolers, kegs, styrofoam cups, grills, tents, and fencing are just a few items that are prohibited during the event.
• Pets (except for service animals) are not allowed at the event.
• Bicycles are allowed for transportation to the event site, however, within the event street closure, cyclists must walk with their bikes. The event site is very crowded with pedestrians, including small children. Do not leave your bicycle unattended and do not lock to private or city property.
• For Gasparilla event updates, safety tips and traffic alerts, text GASPARILLA to 888-777 to have information sent directly to your phone.

See related stories:

• Coast Guard To Enforce Safety Zone For Boaters During Gasparilla
• 'Guardians Of Galaxy' Star Dave Bautista Leads Gasparilla Parade

Parking

Wondering where to park for the Gasparilla Parade and Festival? Pre-pay for parking through the Park Mobile app.

Parking Garages

• Tampa Convention Center Garage (Tampa Street and Brorein Street) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry.
• Ft. Brooke Garage (Whiting Street between Franklin Street and Florida Avenue) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry.
• Poe Garage (Ashley Street, south of Cass Street) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry. Due to the parade route, this garage will close from 1 to 6 p.m. Customers will not be able to enter or exit this garage until after 6 p.m.
• Twiggs Street Garage (Twiggs Street west of Nebraska Avenue) will open at 7 a.m. at normal hourly rates of $1.20/hour with a $7 daily maximum. This will be an automated facility with a Pay Station collecting payment upon exit.
• Centro Ybor Garage (5th Avenue and 15th Street) will open at 6 a.m. at the standard hourly rate with a $9 maximum.
• Palm Ave Garage (13th Street and 9th Avenue) will open at 6 a.m. at the standard hourly rate with a $9 maximum.
• Royal Regional Lot (Tampa Street and Fortune Street) will be open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle.
• Scott Street Lot (Morgan Street and Scott Street) will be open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $5 per vehicle.
• Meters south of Kennedy Boulevard and on Kennedy Boulevard will be enforced from 8 a.m. to midnight
• Attendees may also consider parking in Ybor or the Channel District and taking the TECO Line Streetcar System for free or catching a bus ride with Hillsborough Area Regional Transit.
• Use code 'CAPTAINMORGAN20' for $20 off a Lyft ride. an e-scooter or Coast Bike bicycle rental

Boat Docking

Boat docking space in and around downtown Tampa for Gasparilla is extremely limited. It's prohibited for boaters to come ashore along the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade or any other property without a permit.

There is limited docking space available at The Tampa Convention Center or in the Marina area along Bayshore between Platt Street and the Davis Island Bridge. Contact the City of Tampa Parks Department at 813-259-1604.

Parking And Circulation Maps For Neighborhoods

• Bayshore Beautiful and El Prado
• Bayshore Gardens
• Davis Islands
• Downtown
• Historic Hyde Park (North Side) and Hyde Park Spanishtown Creek (West Side)
• Historic Hyde Park (South Side)
• Hyde Park Spanishtown Creek (East Side)
• Hyde Park Preservation
• New Suburb Beautiful
• Palma Ceia (East Side)
• Palma Ceia (West Side)
• Parkland Estates
• Neighborhood Parking Rules

ADA Access

ADA Accessible parking is available on Howard Avenue with a reserved viewing area at Howard and Bayshore Boulevard.

There are a number of ADA-accessible parking spots at the Fort Brooke Garage. Please note that due to high traffic volume, parking may be limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. A disabled vehicle permit is required.

There is also a free parade viewing area reserved for disabled patrons at the intersection of Ashley Drive and Whiting Street. To ensure accommodations for as many disabled patrons as possible, the number of guests per disabled patron is limited to three people. Note: There are no seats or bleachers in this reserved area.

In addition, disabled patrons can be accommodated in reserved parade seating sections along Bayshore Boulevard.

Bead-Free Bay

This Gasparilla season, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has launched a new campaign as part of her sustainability and resilience commitment: Bead-Free Bay.

#BeadFreeBay is an anti-littering awareness campaign to remind the public that throwing beads and other litter in the water is prohibited.

"Beads and other non-biodegradable items are incredibly harmful to our environment and they pose serious threats to marine wildlife," said Castor.

The goal of the Bead-Free Bay campaign is to minimize the environmental impact of our City’s traditions and events on our waterways and beyond.

“Environmental sustainability is a core tenant of my administration's focus,” said the mayor. “And while we all love a good parade, the beads thrown during the parade have no place harming our delicate ecosystem. Together, we will transform Tampa’s tomorrow by keeping our marine wildlife safe and our environment clean by keeping beads out of the water this and every event season moving forward.”

Gasparilla organizer Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa have already started taking steps to minimize the ecological impact of Gasparilla. YMKG worked with the Coast Guard to issue a litter law notice to all mariners. The city also rolled out a branded campaign with signs at all city docks, and will establish designated “no-throw zones” during parades to prevent beads from accidentally being tossed in the water.

“We recognize that plastics in our waterways is a year-round challenge and believe that Gasparilla can be a catalyst for change,” said Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Capt. Richard Chapman. “As good stewards for our environment and for the city we call home, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is proud to join Mayor Castor and continue to help lead the charge for a more responsible celebration.”