Nothing says Tampa more than Gasparilla Day. It's been a Tampa celebration since 1904. The pirate ship Jose' Gaspar, filled with "pirates" invades Tampa and takes over the city.
Legend has it that Jose' Gaspar operated in the Tampa area and plundered ships on the west coast of Florida. In the old days when I was young the invasion and parade always coincided with the Florida State Fair.
If you have lived in Tampa for any length of time chances are you have participated in Gasparilla Day. It is a day long festival with parties everywhere.
There be pirates
Hundreds of boats follow the Jose' Gaspar across the bay to her dock on the Bayshore
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Thousands line the street for the parade down Bayshore and into downtown Tampa
Even the Mayor shows up
The ship and many of the floats are manned by "Krewes" which are clubs that operate throughout the year and many of the Krewes are very involved in charity work in the area
Gasparilla Day...a Tampa tradition
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