HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, fla — Bayshore Boulevard will be packed from starboard to port with Pirates on Saturday for the annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest. It is a Tampa tradition, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to celebrate the annual parade of pirates.
People dressed as pirates will start to fill the streets early Saturday, with some road closures starting Friday evening, and then multiple roads will be blocked starting Saturday morning.
Jose Gasparilla will take off from Ballast Point at 11:30 AM. He will head to the Tampa Convention Center to confront Mayor Castor for the key to the city.
The Gasparilla parade kicks off at 2 pm. It is nearly 5 miles long with a route that runs from Bayshore Boulevard at Bay to Bay all the way to Ashley and Cass.
Related: Everything you need to know about Gasparilla 2025
Local law enforcement agencies said they are pledging additional resources to keep people safe during Gasparilla. Mayor Castor suggested that attendees should Gasparilla to 888-777 to receive text alerts.
If you plan to watch the parade from the water, the Coast Guard and other agencies are enforcing a safety zone from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. They want to remind boaters to stay 50 feet away from parade vessels and follow all no-wake and speed signs.
They also want to remind boaters of the basics. Do not drink and drive, wear a life jacket, and file a float plan. Finally, remember it is against the law to throw beads or any items into the Bay.
Gasparilla Pirate Fest brings an invasion of pirates and a big boost to the local economy in a typically down month in business.
