Your Guide To The 2020 Gasparilla Music Festival March 7-8

TAMPA, FL — For some people, Gasparilla is all about the pirates and the beads. But for hard-core music lovers, the Gasparilla season signals the approach of one of Tampa Bay's most-anticipated music gatherings -- the Gasparilla Music Festival.

The ninth annual festival, presented by Cigar City Brewing, will take place on five stages across downtown Tampa's Riverwalk Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8.

It will feature an eclectic mix of more than 45 local and touring bands covering a variety of genres for an audience of 25,000 people.

This Year's Lineup

On Saturday, Brandi Carlile will headline the Water Street Tampa Stage in Curtis Hixon Park, and De La Soul will close out the Ashley Homestore Stage at Kiley Gardens.

New additions to the Saturday lineup include Brooklyn-based synth pop St. Lucia, New Orleans' Queen of Bounce Big Freedia and Gainesville native Edan Archer, along with Tampa Bay area favorites Someday Honey, Shevonne and the Force, Jordan Patrick & the Midas Touch, Ashley Smith & the Random Occurrence, The Stillhouse Shakers and Kerry Courtney.

There will also be a silent disco Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Ferman Amphitheatre.

On Sunday, Portugal The Man will take the stage on Water Street. New additions to the Sunday lineup include sacred steel/gospel blues jam band The Word; Nashville-based Southern soul musician Anderson East; Orlando-based Indie pop Sales; New York-based progressive rock-fusion band TAUK; the Indie, electro and funk band argonaut&wasp from Brooklyn, New York; and folk-Americana band The Wandering Hearts, along with local acts Will Quinlan & the Holy Slow Train, The Wandering Hours, Discord Theory, Synergy in a Cup, PLEASURES, Vetnough, New Fang and Charles Irwin.

Visit the festival website for the complete lineup and times.

The festival even offers musical entertainment geared toward younger music fans. A fest within a fest, the GMF Kids Fest takes place Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. across several stages. Featured artists include the School of Rock, Bears & Lions, the Tampa Metro Youth Orchestra, Mr. Tommy's Musical Show for Kids and Josh & the Jamtones.

A kids' zone at the festival will include an instrument petting zoo, face painting and arts and crafts.

Presented by Tampa General Hospital, the kids fest includes free admission into the Gasparilla Music Festival for all kids 12 and under.

"Community comes first with every planning decision we make. We want this festival to reflect the best parts of our amazing community," said David Cox, GMF's executive director. "And, equally important, we want it to be a celebration of where we live."

Ride The Park

Get an early start on the music fest Friday night when the legendary Tone Loc performs a special set following SOHO Cycling's Ride the Park on Friday, March 6. Tickets are $15 and proceeds benefit GMF's Recycled Tunes Instrument program.

SOHO Cycling's third annual Ride the Park is Tampa's only outdoor spinathon at the Gasparilla Music Festival. The ride features 52 bikes where riders pedal for 45 minutes in three waves at the Ashley Homestore Stage in Kiley Gardens Park.

A cash bar at the Synovus VIP Tent will be open from 5 to 9:45 p.m.

To support a team OR to sign up to participate in ride, make an online donation here (riders get free admission to Ride the Park and after-party, one general admission Saturday ticket to GMF, swag bag and two free drinks).

Gasparilla Music Foundation

Organized by volunteers with the nonprofit Gasparilla Music Foundation and funded by more than 70 locally based corporate sponsors, the event has been described as a "festival on a mission" The foundation provides musical instruments, repairs and funding for local Title 1 schools' music classrooms through its Recycled Tunes program. To date, Recycled Tunes has provided support to 26 Bay area schools and donated more than 350 instruments.

"Our goals are to ensure that every kid has access to a musical instrument and to support their teachers so they can focus on teaching," said Cameron Williams, Recycled Tunes' director.

The foundation also promotes local musicians through its GMF Productions program. GMF Productions has provided more than 500 paid performance opportunities for local musicians. The program works with other organizations to showcase original artists from the Tampa Bay area.

Additionally, GMF highlights local artists by booking more than 50 percent of its acts from Florida.

"There is more talent in the Tampa Bay area today than during any time in its history," said Cox. "We want to ensure that music and art are woven into our region's fabric as it continues to grow."

Food Vendors

Nearly as anticipated as the music is the festival's Calle Cocina in Curtis Hixon Park, a food court featuring food from the area's top restaurants and food trucks including indigenous Tampa dishes like Cuban sandwiches, deviled crabs and grouper sandwiches.

This year's vendor lineup includes:

Big Ray’s Fish Camp – Grouper Sandwiches, Peel and Eat Shrimp
Cafe Hey – Cuban Sandwiches, Vegan Truffle Mac & Cheese
Cass Street Deli – Hot Dogs
Dochos – Jerk Chicken, Seafood Rice Bowls
Dough Nation – Cookie Dough & Ice Cream
Ella’s Folk Art Cafe – Chicken and Waffle Sandwich
Haven & Elevage – Dry-Aged Loco Moco and Beef Cheek Banh Mi
Hot Donut Co – Doughnuts and coffee
Ichicoro – Veggie Curry and Japanese-Style Street Corn
The Independent – Vegan Sloppy Joes and Indie Cheesesteaks
Kona Ice – Shaved Ice and Novelty Ice Cream
Malio’s Prime Steakhouse – Prime Rib Sandwich
Nebraska Mini Mart – Kick-Ass Vegetarian (or Not) Nachos
Nico’s Arepas Grill – Gluten-Free Arepas, Cachapas and Tequenos
North Star Eatery – Stinky Bunz and Lettuce Wraps
Parnell Foods – Lemonade
Shadrach’s Fiery Furnace Pizza – Wood-Fired Pizza
Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar – Empanadas
Teer – Cold Brew Tea
The Bricks – Mojo Chicken Sandwich and Veggie Sandwich
Whatever Pops – Gourmet Ice Pops

Cigar City Brewing and Tito's Handmade Vodka are the exclusive beer and vodka sponsors.

GMF's Sustainability Program encourages vendors to use recyclable products. The program was established in 2012 to reduce the environmental impacts of festival production. Its initiatives have grown to include the elimination of single-use plastics, recycling, composting and the reduction of attendees arriving by cars to the festival by offering bicycling accommodations and public transportation options.

Tickets

Tickets start at $40 for a weekend pass. The two-day advanced-purchase VIP weekend pass is now sold out.