Pirate Invasion

Every February in Tampa, pirates invade and take over the city. A fully rigged pirate ship sails into the bay with cannons firing to find a flotilla of citizen's boats trying to defend their town. But the pirates are always the victors and are joined by the citizens of Tampa in a festival called Gasparilla which is celebrated with parades, beads, coins, and Krewes in period costumes. Even children get in on the act with the Children's Parade. Little league baseball teams, soccer teams, ballet classes, gymnastic classes, and scout groups become little pirates and march through the streets of Ybor City. A night parade and fireworks take place about a week after the Invasion. Revelers fill the streets of Ybor City to snag as many strands of colorful beads as they can. There are bands performing after the floats have passed by to keep the party going late into the night.

The Invasion is Saturday, February 7 this year. Come on down!