Gasparilla Pirate Festival: Difference between revisions
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A few weeks before the "invasion" and the main parade, there is a family-oriented children's parade, and a few weeks after the invasion, there is a more adult-oriented [[Sant'Yago Knight Parade]] in [[Ybor City]] held at night. Krewes have social events and parties throughout the year for members and hold philanthropic events for favored causes. |
A few weeks before the "invasion" and the main parade, there is a family-oriented children's parade, and a few weeks after the invasion, there is a more adult-oriented [[Sant'Yago Knight Parade]] in [[Ybor City]] held at night. Krewes have social events and parties throughout the year for members and hold philanthropic events for favored causes. |
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The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is well known for the ridiculous amount of public intoxication, public nudity, and other public displays, in many cases pubic, that go on in broad daylight. It's the one day when a high school student can safely say to a cop, "I'm so fucking drunk!" with little to no fear of being arrested. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 07:00, 27 January 2006
Every January Tampa hosts the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, named for pirate captain José Gaspar who operated out of the area. The invasion begins when the "krewes" (made up of city denizens) arrive on boats in Tampa Bay and land near downtown Tampa. The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and a parade ensues down Bayshore Boulevard, one of Tampa's major streets. The pirate krewes throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. At times, participants in the festivities throw things back.
Krewe memberships are much desired in many social circles in Tampa and many celebrate ethnic and cultural themes. The Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is the oldest krewe involved in the parade, and members of the many krewes that now participate spend a great deal of money on beads and floats.
A few weeks before the "invasion" and the main parade, there is a family-oriented children's parade, and a few weeks after the invasion, there is a more adult-oriented Sant'Yago Knight Parade in Ybor City held at night. Krewes have social events and parties throughout the year for members and hold philanthropic events for favored causes.
History
Gasparilla was first held in May 1904 in Tampa Bay but the invasion originated on horseback instead of by boat. In years past, a US Navy ship would be attacked by small boats throwing Cuban bread and black bean soup. The Navy would respond with fire hoses but would succumb to the Ybor City Navy, and then surrender to the Alcalde of Ybor City. The sailors would be treated to an evening on the town. This was discontinued after the September 11, 2001 attacks.