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Friday, January 20, 2012

THE PIRATES ARE COMING! THE PIRATES ARE COMING!


THE ANNUAL GASPARILLA INVASION IS IMMENENT!

Driving through south Tampa, yesterday, evidence of the annual pirate invasion was in full force.
All along the parade route (right down Bayshore Blvd), spectator areas were being fenced off. Food and beverage kiosks were being raised. And ROWS of porta-potties lined the median...all the way to downtown Tampa.
  






Homes, all along the parade route, are dressed and ready for the big day/weeks!  (Wish I could have captured the homes with pirate skeletons climbing the pillars and on the rooftop. They rivaled the scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean! Bayshore Blvd. is dressed to the nines, but too busy to stop and take photos.)

(This photo was borrowed from the Gasparilla Event website)


This Saturday is the Children's Parade...a watered down parade geared to the young set (Thank goodness!). Children and parents stroll on a much-shortened parade route. They dress the part, and ride in wagons, on bikes, etc. So cute!

The Children's event is capped off by an early evening fireworks display...

 


Next weekend is the "official" invasion!
That's the day when Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla arrives in Tampa aboard the ship, Jose Gaspar. The ship arrives, guns blazing, at the docks of the convention center, were the mayor of Tampa hands over the keys to the city, in the hopes that the Pirates will not destroy it.  Then the real festivities begin!

There's "Breakfast with the Pirates" at the Gasparilla Brunch, the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival (10am-10pm) with live music from 5pm on, and FOOD...did I mention FOOD? Lots of it...everywhere!


Move over Mardi Gras! The Pirates are coming!!! 

9 comments:

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

I've never heard of this but boy, that sounds like fun!! Thanks for posting about it. I hope more pictures of the celebration are coming.

michelle said...

Oh my gosh this looks so fun! I love the photos.
xoxo

Sylvia K said...

Fun, colorful post, Jane, and terrific captures! I love them! Reminds me of when I lived in New Orleans!! Hope you have a great weekend!

Sylvia

Completely Coastal said...

Oh... what a fiesta! I'd be watching from a distance...

rjerdee said...

So much like Mardi Gras, isn't it? I've never gone but we surely do see items about it on Channel 8.

jmac said...

So. Much. Fun!!! I happened to be on a girls weekend in Tybee Island when the Pirates invaded there for a festival. OMG.......we had a blast! Git yur skivvies and your eye patches gathered ms. jane....arrrrgh with the best of them!!!

jmac said...

p.s.............be on the lookout for a pirate named cap'n the first of the week......he's flying into Ft Myers to recapture Blew Bayou for his trip out to sea! Will be setting sail from there before daylight on Wednesday! I, of course, will be here waiting on the birth of baby Austin...

Kaybe said...

It's alot like Mardi Gras. There are over 50 krewes that sponsor all kind of events. Who would have thought grown men would get so excited about dressing up like a pirate. Believe it or not I lived in Tampa Bay area for 40 years and never went once but it's fun to watch on tv in the comfort of your own living room. Tampa has done a great job at cleaning up the parage and making it more family friendly.

Kelley said...

This looks like so much fun Jane!

xo kelley