Floats, pirate garb, beads and booze all come together in a harmonious fashion to present Tampa with the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which is taking place Saturday.
It’s a unique experience to say the least, and for those that have never had the privilege of attending it, know that you are missing out and it’s time to get to it.
This pirate-themed parade starts with tons of decorated ships sailing into the Tampa Bay. Then drunk people watch the floats and stand around to catch $3 beads. It’s supposed to symbolize the invasion of the pirate legend Jose Gaspar and his secret island base in the south of Tampa. Most people just use it as a Mardi-Gras substitute, though.
Via: WordPress
As a Tampa native, I grew up around the festival. In high school, I commemorated by dressing up and wishing I was of age to take part in the more festive traditions of the festival (i.e. drinking alcohol). As a collegiate, it’s a totally different ball game.
If you’re planning on attending this year, I say, “Good idea,” and “See ya there.” But whether you’re a first-timer, a returner or even a Tampa native, I preach caution.
With events of this magnitude, it’s important to have a plan. I can tell you that your happiness and well-being depend on you sticking strictly to this plan. If there are two things I feel that are important to integrate into any fail-proof strategy, these are it:
Via: Matt May Photography
Don’t lose your friends.
You definitely don’t want to be that freshman that gets too drunk at the apartment pregame (because pregames start around 9 o’clock in the morning), walk by the parade for a few minutes and then disappear to either buy a hotdog, go to a port-a-potty or try to find other friends in the massive crowd of people. I tried all three and ended up crying in a random alley alone, having to meet my friend’s parents at the University of Tampa campus to be taken home.
Don’t fight with anyone.
I don’t care how drunk you are. Don’t fight with strange older women who don’t like you pushing up near them to get beads; they are serious about their beads. Don’t fight with your significant other because you’re drunk and annoyed with them. You will end up with a face full of wet mascara, and nobody will tell you. Don’t fight with your friends because you need them to survive this event of rachetry. And, needless to say, definitely don’t fight with the authorities because that never goes well.
Via: Visit Tampa Bay
My overall warning is this: Don’t get TOO messed up, make sure you know with whom you’re staying and stick with them and, most importantly, enjoy the show. It really is a unique experience.
For more tips and tricks on how to do Gasparilla, just ask the vets at TampaBayScene.
Feature photo courtesy of: Gasparilla Pirate Fest
