Tampa Announces Street Closures For Gasparilla Kick-Off Jan. 20

TAMPA, FL – While enjoying the kickoff of Gasparilla season with the children’s parade Saturday, Jan. 20, Tampa officials want revelers to be aware of parking prohibitions and street closures.

Festivities for the Children’s Gasparilla Parade begin at 11 a.m. with a bicycle safety rodeo on Bayshore Boulevard between Rome Avenue and Dakota Street. Afterward, peewee pirates take to the streets at 1:30 p.m. for Preschoolers Stroll from Howard to Rome avenues.

The main Children’s Gasparilla Parade featuring more than 100 floats kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards. It proceeds north along Bayshore, and ends at Edison Avenue and Bayshore. The festivities will culminate with a fireworks show at 7 p.m.

Tampa Police advise residents and guests that traffic around downtown Tampa will be heavier than usual and move slowly while the festivities take place. Drivers and pedestrians should allow for extra travel time and use caution when driving or walking along streets near the parade.

The city is alerting the public of road closures and towing zones to minimize congestion in neighborhoods that border the parade route. No Parking signs have been installed in the neighborhoods west of Bayshore Boulevard and will be in effect beginning Friday, Jan. 19, through Saturday, Jan. 20.

Only motorists with an ID verifying residency will be allowed to enter the Bayshore Gardens and Hyde Park Preservation neighborhoods after the streets have been closed.

Any vehicles parked on the streets in the affected neighborhoods or in designated “no parking” areas will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense.

ROAD CLOSURE SCHEDULE

Saturday, Jan. 20, at 2 a.m.

Northbound Bayshore Boulevard from Bay to Bay to Rome Avenue will close.

Saturday, Jan. 20, at 6:30 a.m.

Bayshore from Gandy Boulevard to Platt Street/Channelside Drive will close.

Bay to Bay Boulevard from Ysabella Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard will close.

The Davis Island Bridge off-ramp onto northbound Bayshore Boulevard will close.

Saturday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m.

One eastbound lane and one westbound lane on Bay to Bay Boulevard from MacDill to Ysabella avenues will close to accommodate a pedestrian walkway.

Saturday, Jan. 20, at 4:30 p.m.

Eastbound Bay to Bay Blvd at MacDill Avenue will close.

Shuttle service from the Fort Brook Garage, located on the corner of Franklin and Whiting streets, will operate one continuous shuttle route on Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $10 per adult. Children accompanied by an adult ride for free. The shuttle will deliver to passengers to Bayshore Boulevard near the beginning of the parade route at Bay to Bay Boulevard and the Selmon Expressway.

For a complete list of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade events and activities, visit the Gasparilla website.

Map via City of Tampa