It's Gasparilla season again! Tampa Bay's favorite whimsical pirate festival kicks off with a bang on Saturday, January 21st, with the annual Children's Gasparilla Extravaganza and Parade, so get your puffy shirts, eye patches, and tricorn hats ready and say "arrrggghhh!"
Sponsored by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay, the fun gets started at 12 p.m. with activities for kids as well as food and beverage vendors along Bayshore Boulevard and continues all afternoon at this family-friendly and pirate-filled event.
Don't miss the Gasparilla Preschoolers Stroll at 2:00 p.m. with the youngest pirates, dragon, and strollers, that's likely to last till 3:00 p.m. The air invasion starts at 12:00 p.m. if you want to get there earlier to see the largest airshow in Tampa Bay.
After the little ones are done marching, the Gasparilla Children's Parade begins at 4:00 p.m. at the intersection of Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore, heading north and ending at Edison Avenue.
The excitement builds for the Piratechnic display and epic sea battle between the salty swashbucklers of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the brave forces of the City of Tampa as both battle for the city at 7 p.m., setting the stage for the 2023 Gasparilla Pirate Festival. How amazing is that?
This year's Children's Parade is going to be better than ever! Tampa's finest Gasparilla krewes have been busy planning a truly stunning event for 2023. There will be plenty of music and dancing, beautifully-costumed men and women of Tampa's world-famous Gasparilla krewe organizations, community organizations, and beloved local celebrities. And don't forget about the beads, baby: gotta catch 'em all!
The Children's Parade has been a beloved part of the Gasparilla festivities since 1947. It's a great way to spend the day outdoors on Tampa's gorgeous waterfront while enjoying dressing like a pirate and loads of family-friendly fun. There's no alcohol allowed at this event, but it's quite popular, so be sure to plan ahead for routes and parking. Luckily, 813area has got you covered with our handy guide to Gasparilla logistics and parking.
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Cover photo courtesy of Adobe Stock Images
