Each year the notorious pirate ship, The Jose Gasparilla, is received into Tampa Bay by fleets of boaters and land lovers who go bat-shit crazy over beads, booty, brawls and booze. Overthrowing local laws, the mythic pirate, Jose Gaspar, inspires what looks to some like a riot. To others, this pirate festival is a vicious cocktail of events: a massive tailgate without a game, a pirate costume party, and a Mardi Gras festival during the day. Whether you want to join or dodge the madness that is Gasparilla, here's what you'll need to know to survive.

When and where: The pirate invasion and parade (featuring over 90 floats, 14 bands, and 50 pirate Krewes) will be Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.. The 3.5-mile parade route along Bayshore Blvd crosses the river on Brorein St., heads north on Ashley Dr., and spills into the free concert stage at the renovated Curtis Hixon Park.

New and old rules that matter:

This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2010.