It’s time for Tampa’s favorite pirate invasion (although we prefer to call them “privateers”)!
Start Gasparilla Pirate Fest 2016 off right at the pre-invasion party at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park with The Hip Abduction and Howie Day (Fri., 6 p.m., $20).
On Saturday, get ready to plunder with a civilized pre-invasion brunch at the Tampa Convention Center (Sat., 9:30 a.m. $95), then watch the Jose Gaspar (and essentially every other boat in Tampa Bay) sail into Seddon Channel and dock at the Tampa Convention Center (Sat., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., free).
After that, head to the parade that starts at Bay to Bay and Bayshore Boulevard, continues up Bayshore to Brorein Street, heads east, then north on Ashley Drive, ending at Cass Street and Ashley Drive (Sun., 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m., free/$45 for bleacher seats).
A street festval on Saturday and Sunday has music and entertainers at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and MacDill Park (Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-10 p.m., free).
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2016.