GASPARILLA 2007

With canons and pistols blazing, the pirate ship Gaspar entered the harbour of Tampa and took control of the city!

If your not familiar with this event, it is one of the top 10 parades in the nation, drawing around 500,000 people to the parade and surrounding events. I have been part of the official work force of the event for more years than I want to remember. This is a month of festivities all surrounding the legend of Jose' Gaspar, a blood thirsty pirate that sailed the waters of the Gulf of Mexico killing and plundering. It is said that his gold is buried somewhere around the Tampa Bay area. Put away your shovels, Jose is fictitious. Still, we have a month of art festivals, marathon runs, concerts, parades, parades and parades. It all kicks off with a children's parade the week before the invasion. Then on a Saturday, the big Invasion parade. Hundreds of Tampa's elite, dress up in their best pirate gear and board the ship that is escorted by hundreds of boaters. Yachts, power boats, sail boats and big party boats jam the waters. Folks, this is one major party with some very creative people.

The parade has the marching high school bands, politicians in convertibles, beauty queens, floats and of course pirates throwing the much wanted BEADS! The seniors get beads out of respect...the kids because their so cute and the gals... well lets just say they are very convincing that they just can't live without the trinkets. There has got to be millions of beads thrown just at this parade alone by all of the different "krewes".

The parade takes days to set up and runs its course in about 3 hours. The entire route is lined with bleachers for paid viewing, public free areas, private and corporate party tents, media, and vendors. All of the parade fare is at hand. Corn dogs, hot dogs, sausage, burgers, funnel cakes, cotton candy, beer...beer...beer. Over head are the Red Baron flying team as well as every local media and police helicopter. It's a sight to see. But it doesn't end with the end with the parade. Besides the traffic jam, many follow the parade into downtown Tampa for "Pirate Fest". Streets are closed and parking lots are filled with beer gardens, food vendors and concert stages. That party goes late into the night. Then after the police and paramedics have carted away the last of the drunks, the cleaning crews go to work. Bulldozers, blowers, street sweepers and dump trucks line the streets and by morning, all is back to normal. Until....next week when there is the "Gasparilla Knights Parade" in Ybor City (e-bor city; the bar district) It's pretty much the same drill except it is at night...much more decadent...much more drinking and depending on the weather, a lot more gals "Begging beads". Being armed with a big camera with a big lens, there was no lacking for photo shots. If you happen to be one of those gals that "showed off your beads" to me. Contact me for a look at the images. ;) YO HO HO Mates...on to next year, where I will be part of the problem instead of the solution! cyz