Despite the chilly day, Tampa’s century-old pirate-palooza returned with a bang on Saturday during the Gasparilla Festival.
The Gasparilla parade has been a tradition in Tampa since 1904. The theme and focal point of Gasparilla is a friendly “invasion” by mythical pirate Jose Gasper and his crew, who are portrayed by members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG).
To date, it’s considered to be the nation’s third-largest parade behind Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, New York.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer and Tampa resident Ric Flair served as the grand marshal of the 2023 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest over the weekend riding in a float and greeting fans.
More than 100 plus floats, krewes and groups of dancers paraded down Bayshore Boulevard, flinging beads at the 300,000 or so swashbuckling spectators.
