A large, energetic crowd of people dressed as pirates cheering and waving beads on the deck of a ship
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla invading Tampa Bay.

The big parade on Jan. 31 isn’t the only Gasparilla activity in town. This weekend sees the kickoff of official Gasparilla pirate activities when the most powerful men and women in Tampa tone it down for the children’s parade. Kicking off at noon with the pre-schooler’s stroll (you must be registered), the parade starts at 4 p.m. goes just 1.5 miles. Entertaining families in between are parachute jumpers, with an air invasion and fireworks set to close it out.

Tampa’s still-debauched day of drinking and revelry happens at the end of the month (Jan. 31, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.) with alarge invasion that could bring more than 300,000 partygoers to Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa. Using public transportation is highly recommended since many surrounding roads will be closed (HART will provide transport, along with the TECO Streetcar)

Bleacher tickets are available for the parades, which are free to attend. Please drink water and respect the neighborhoods.

More wholesome Gasparilla activities follow the parades, thanks to the Gasparilla Distance Classic (Feb. 21-22), Gasparilla International Film Festival (March 3-8), and Gasparilla Music Festival (April 10-12). The unofficial “Gasparilla Clean Team” will also pick up trash in North Hyde Park in March.

Have a look at the bounty of events going down this gaspy season, and see even more on Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s user-submitted events calendar. Don’t see your event? Submit it here.

Scallywag Slam Dink Pickleball Tournament Thursday, Jan. 22. 7:45 p.m.-10 p.m. $30. Tampa Pickleball Crew, Ybor City.

The Tampa Bay History Center Presents: ‘The History of Gasparilla’ Friday, Jan. 23. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. No cover (registration required). East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor.

Barks of The Bay 26′ Friday, Jan. 23. 6 p.m.- 10 p.m. No cover. Dog Bar, St. Petersburg.

Children’s Gasparilla 11 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. No cover (Bleachers $65-$80). Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa.

Gasparilla Bracelet Bar Tuesday, Jan. 27. 6-8 p.m. $42.13. Armature Works, Tampa.

Seas the Treasure Friday, Jan. 30. 4 p.m.-9 p.m. No cover. Jimmy B’s Beach Bar, St. Pete Beach.

The Roast of Jose Gaspar Friday, Jan. 30. 7:30 p.m. $12. The Commodore, Ybor City.

The Official Pre-Gasparilla Latin Night Invasion Friday, Jan. 30. 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. $10. Catrinas Tacos and Tequila, Tampa.

Tampa Gasparilla Bar Crawl, Brunch & Festival Saturday, Jan. 31. 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. $40.89. Yeoman’s Topgolf Swing Suite, Tampa.

Gasparilla Invasion Brunch Saturday, Jan. 31. 10 a.m.-1:30 pm. $180. Tampa Convention Center, Tampa.

Gasparilla Invasion 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. No cover. Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa.

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates Saturday, Jan. 31. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. No cover (Bleachers $65-$100). Bayshore Boulevard, Tampa.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage Performances Saturday, Jan. 31.10 a.m.-8 p.m. No cover. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park; MacDill Park, Tampa.

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This article appears in Jan. 15 – 21, 2026.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...

Selene San Felice is managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Prior to joining CL in 2025, she started the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter and worked for her hometown paper, The Capital in Annapolis,...