Is that Jose Gaspar? No. Can he be roasted? Aye. Credit: Chip Weiner
100th Gasparilla Pirate Paarghty takes over the streets of Tampa Credit: Chip Weiner
A marauding band of pirates, wenches, celebrities, and politicians entertained thousands of people as they marched through the streets of South Tampa on Saturday for the 100th anniversary of the annual Gasparilla Parade. Bright skies and free-flowing alcohol fueled the energy of the hoards of screaming bead-hungry parade goers.
No date? No problem! This partier’s inflato-date got more beads than many. Credit: Chip Weiner
With the masses of people yelling “beads, beads, beads,” the thumping of dance music from the floats, and the occasional cannon fire from the Krewe of Gasparilla, walking the parade route on Saturday was deafening. The air was sweet with the smell of fried foods and sometimes rancid with the odor of spilled stale beer. The sun was bright, the air was warm, and revelers were a little nutty. Over 50 crews interspersed with dignitaries, politicians, marching bands, and military units took part in the nearly three-hour event.
Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Bayshore and downtown Tampa to see the festivities. Here they are stacked up on the Davis Islands bridge Credit: Chip Weiner
This eye in the sky from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department helped officers keep watch over the parade route. According to news reports, there were 1,500 law enforcement officers and security cameras in and around the celebration to deal with the massive crowd. Arrests were down from 2014. Credit: Chip Weiner
These experts proved that the best place for bead-catching is right up front. Credit: Chip Weiner
Mayor Bob Buckhorn in his perennial skull-and-crossbones pants celebrates with the city. Credit: Chip Weiner
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Mario Lopez of TV’s “Saved By The Bell” and ” Extra” was 2015 Grand Marshal. Credit: Chip Weiner
Tamala James rocking the Hard Rock glasses and catching the Gasparilla Spirit. Credit: Chip Weiner
Mario Boskovic breakin’ on Bayshore as part of the Tampa Bay Rays crew. Credit: Chip Weiner
The big ones! This little guy got what everyone was after. The bigger the beads the better. Credit: Chip Weiner
SCORE! Credit: Chip Weiner
Angela McCoy with her bead collecting system. Credit: Chip Weiner
Abby Fishman, wearing her USF Bull hat (right), poses with the USF mascot Rocky and a cheerleader. Credit: Chip Weiner
State Rep. Ed Norain and wife Monica hone their bead-throwing skills. Credit: Chip Weiner
The majestic Budweiser Clydesdales were real crowd-pleasers. Credit: Chip Weiner
Members of The Rowdies joined the folks from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino float for the celebration. Credit: Chip Weiner
The crush of the crowd was thick, in some spots 25 people deep. Credit: Chip Weiner
Retiring Police Chief Jane Castor took on something of a rock star status during the celebration, with many paradegoers asking to take a photograph with her prior to the parade. Here she poses with Major Rocky Ratliff. Credit: Chip Weiner
It’s the pirate life for me! Two-year-old Jason celebrates in downtown by waving his Jolly Roger flag. Credit: Chip Weiner
