Joining the parade as this year’s special guest will be talk show host Steve Wilkos.
Previously the head of security for “The Jerry Springer Show,” the hulking bald man is now in his 16th season of the “Steve Wilkos Show,” and is known as a tough-talking host who tackles abrasive topics such as cheating partners.
The 50th annual Gasparilla Knight Parade happens at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 and runs down 7th Avenue in Ybor City.
The Knight parade has been hosted by the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’Yago since 1974. Each year, the parade helps raise funds for the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’Yago Education Foundation.
While Wilkos previously served as the grand marshall in 2013, this year the honor goes to Tampa native Luis “Gonzo” Gonzalez.
And two weeks before the Knight parade is Tampa’s infamous Gasparilla day parade
happening Saturday, Jan. 28 along Bayshore Boulevard.
Both the day and Knight parade are free to attend, but bleacher seat tickets are available.
This article appears in Jan 5-11, 2023.