The Gasparilla pirate invasion 2023. Credit: Photo by Dave Decker

Love it, or hate, it Gaspy is here.

The City of Tampa expects about 300,000 people to flood Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa this weekend and take part in this parade that’s been happening for 120 years.

Please, please, please write your emergency contact information somewhere on your body, carry extra phone batteries, and drink a lot of water, folks. Check out a list of Gasparilla parties (before, after, and on day of), and read about José Gaspar’s romantic life to warm up.

The invasion gets going on the water near the convention center around 11:30 a.m., with the parade starting on the south end of Bayshore at 2 p.m. and festivities on the Pirate Fest stage wrapping around 8 p.m.

Revelry for Tampa’s Gasparilla Parade of Pirates happens on Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa on Saturday, Jan. 27 from noon-7:30 p.m. It’s free to watch, but select viewing tickets are available for $30 & up.