Credit: JAVIER ORTIZ C/O GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Credit: JAVIER ORTIZ C/O GASPARILLA MUSIC FESTIVAL
If you want to see recent Grammy-winning rapper Nas, Sylvan Esso or any other act at Tampa’s upcoming Gasparilla Music Festival, you better have proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test result.

The annual festival, which is held Oct. 1-3 at Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park, made the announcement today via social media, adding that they’ll provide more details about the policy in the coming days. 

“Everyone will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the festival,” said the post.  “If you are vaccinated, you may provide proof of vaccination instead of a negative test.”

The announcement comes after Live Nation made a similar policy change for the upcoming Harry Styles’ show on Oct. 10 at Amalie Arena. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order bans “vaccine passports,” but there are a few loopholes that businesses can use without defying the order.

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This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2021.

Colin Wolf has been working with weekly newspapers since 2007 and has been the Digital Editor for Creative Loafing Tampa since 2019. He is also the Director of Digital Content Strategy for CL's parent...