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LIVE BLOG: Updates on Hurricane Milton

Gasparilla 2020: Here's What You Need To Know

A large pirate ship enters a crowded Tampa Bay.
The Jose Gasparilla, seen here in 2018, will invade Tampa Bay again Jan. 25 as part of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest CREDIT: Daylina Miller/ WUSF Public Media

Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to break out the pirate costumes, line Bayshore Boulevard, and beg for beads Saturday for the Children's Gasparilla Parade and Jan. 25 for the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. 

Started in 1904, the annual event commemorates the legendary Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, who, according to some stories, plundered the Gulf of Mexico before leaping from his ship with an anchor tied to his hips to avoid capture by the U.S. Navy. 

Over 100 years later, the parades are still a Tampa Bay tradition. 

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the parades are a signature event for the city. 

"It's just such an integral part of our history," said Castor. "It signifies the diversity in our city, the inclusion, and really how we just like to celebrate - celebrate our diversity, celebrate good times and celebrate together." 

LEARN MORE about the history of Gasparilla from a 2019 Florida Matters episode

This Saturday's activities start at 11 a.m. at Bay to Bay and Bayshore, with the parade itself starting at 3:30 p.m.

On Jan. 25, WWE wrestler and Guardians of the Galaxy actor Dave Bautista will share grand marshal duties with Tampa police Lt. Travis Maus for the Parade of Pirates. 

The pirate invasion will begin with the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m.

The parade will begin at 2.p.m. at the intersection of Bayshore Boulevard and Bay to Bay Boulevard. The pirates will then head north on Bayshore before ending their invasion downtown at Cass Street and Ashley Drive.

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority will have continuous streetcar service with extended hours from 8:30 a.m. till 2 a.m. Parade goers can ride the streetcars for free or snag an all-day bus pass for $4. HART will also provide free shuttle service between popular parking lots and bus terminals from 9:30 a.m. till 7 p.m.

Gasparilla Children's Parade Road Closure Schedule

Credit: City of Tampa

Saturday, January 11, 2020 – Thursday, January 30, 2020

Close Bayshore Blvd. Crossovers at DeSoto Ave., Nance Ave., Albany Ave. and Gunby Ave.

Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 2:00 a.m.

Close Bayshore Blvd. Northbound from Bay-to-Bay to Rome Ave.  

Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 6:30 a.m.

Close Bayshore Blvd. from Gandy Blvd. to Platt St. Close Bay to Bay Blvd. from Ysabella Ave. to Bayshore Blvd.

Close Davis Island Bridge off-ramp onto Northbound Bayshore Blvd.

Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 9:00 a.m.

Close one Eastbound Lane and one Westbound Lane on Bay to Bay Blvd. from MacDill Ave. to Ysabella Ave. (to accommodate Pedestrian Walkway)

Saturday, January 18, 2020 @ 4:30 p.m.

Close Eastbound Bay-to-Bay Blvd. at MacDill Ave

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Gasparilla Pirate Fest Road Closures

Credit: City of Tampa

Saturday, January 11 – Thursday, January 30, 2020

Bayshore Blvd Crossover Closure at DeSoto Ave, Nance Ave, Albany Ave & Gunby Ave

Friday, January 24, 2020 @ 10:00 PM

Bayshore Blvd from Gandy Blvd to Platt St

Bay to Bay from Bayshore Blvd to Ysabella St

Davis Island Bridge Off-Ramp onto NB Bayshore Dr

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 3:00 AM

Bayshore Blvd from Brorein St to Platt St

Platt St/Channelside Dr from Plant Ave to Franklin St

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 5:30 AM

Crosstown- EB Willow Ave Off-Ramp (Exit 4)

Willow Ave from Platt St to Swann Ave (SB lanes closed only, 1-way NB)  

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 7:00 AM

Ashley Dr from Brorein St to Jackson St

Brorein St from Florida Ave to Parker St

Franklin St from Channelside Dr to Harbour Island Bridge

Old Water St from Florida Ave to Franklin St

Washington St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Whiting St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Whiting St from Florida Ave to Franklin St (WB)

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 9:00 AM

Kennedy from Hyde Park Ave to Ashley Dr (EB)

Ashley Dr from Cass St to Jackson St

Jackson St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Kennedy Blvd from Florida Ave to Plant Ave (WB)

Madison St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Madison St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Twiggs St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Twiggs St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Zack St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Zack St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Polk St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St

Polk St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Tyler St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 11:00 AM

Cass St from Willow Ave to N Blvd

North A St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave

North B St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave

Fig St from Willow Ave to Gilchrist Ave

Carmen St from Willow Ave to Delaware Ave

Newport Ave from Cass St to North A St

Gilchrist Ave from Cass St to Fig St

Cass St from N Blvd to Ashley Dr (EB)

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 1:30 PM

Cass St from N Blvd to Tampa St

Tyler St from Tampa St to Cass St

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 3:00 PM

Bay-to-Bay Blvd from MacDill Ave to Ysabella Ave (EB)

Swann Ave from MacDill Ave to Armenia Ave (EB lanes closed only, 1-way WB)

Platt St at Howard Ave (EB)

Platt St at S Blvd (EB)

Willow Ave from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St

Willow Ave from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)

South Blvd from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St

South Blvd from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)

Whiting St from Tampa St to Franklin St

Saturday, January 25, 2020 @ 4:30 PM

Kennedy Blvd at Himes Ave (EB)

Kennedy Blvd at MacDill Ave (EB)

Kennedy Blvd at Howard Ave (EB)

Kennedy Blvd at Willow Ave (EB)

Kennedy Blvd at Blvd (EB)

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Public Transit and Shuttle Service Options

TECO Line Streetcar System

  • Continuous streetcar service from 8:30 a.m.- 2:00 a.m.
  • For parking in Ybor City, Station #2 (Centro Ybor) is your best bet to the event with Stations #3 and #4 CLOSED from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. A FREE bus shuttle will be provided (details below). 

HART Bus Service

  • An all-day pass is $4, which may be purchased in advance at HART retail outlets or on board buses on Gasparilla Day with cash only (no change provided). Passengers may also use their monthly bus pass. 
  • For parking in Ybor City, HART will provide FREE bus shuttle service between Station #3 (Streetcar Society Station) and Station #4 (Cadrecha Station) and downtown Tampa (Station #10 - Dick Greco Plaza) continuously from 9:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
     
  • For parking at the Port Authority Parking Garage, HART will be providing FREE bus shuttle service to/from Station #10 (Dick Greco Plaza) continuously from 9:30 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.

Getting to Downtown Tampa on HART

  • From University Area: Routes 1*, 5, 6, 9, 12, 275LX, MetroRapid
  • From Temple Terrace: Route 6
  • From New Tampa/Wiregrass: Route 275LX
  • From Brandon: Routes 8, 360LX*
  • From West Tampa/Citrus Park: Route 7*
  • From South Tampa: Routes 19*, 360LX*
  • From Tampa International: Routes 30*, 60LX

HART Service Maps and Schedules 
HART Trip Planner

Delaney Brown is a radio news intern for the fall of 2019.
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