Gasparilla Season welcomed by Brandon residents
January is the time for pirates, booty and partying as Gasparilla Season begins.
To kick off the season, the Rotary Club of Tampa will be presenting its first Gasparilla Ball. Guests are invited to come in pirate regalia and dance to live music provided by The Black Honkeys on the SS American Victory. Hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be part of the evening’s agenda.
A Gasparilla Pirate Parade is scheduled for later in the month. The day will begin with a Gasparilla invasion in which the Jose Gasparilla and flotilla will begin its route south of Hillsborough Bay, go to Seddon Channel and end at the Tampa Convention Center. That morning the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch will be served all morning and will include a buffet, live entertainment and a good view of the invasion.
The 3.8-mile Parade of the Pirates will last about 3 ½ hours. The procession will feature over 130 units with banners introducing the 90 floats, over fifty social organizations and 14 marching bands. Brandon pirate-wanna-bees can enjoy live entertainment on stages before and after the parade in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The Ball will be Saturday, January 13th from 6 to 11 pm. The ship will be boarded in the Water Street District, in downtown Tampa. Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Invasion (11:30 until 1 pm) and Parade (2 pm until 5:30 pm) will be January 27th. Festivities will begin at 9 am and end around 9 pm.
To kick off the season, the Rotary Club of Tampa will be presenting its first Gasparilla Ball. Guests are invited to come in pirate regalia and dance to live music provided by The Black Honkeys on the SS American Victory. Hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be part of the evening’s agenda.
A Gasparilla Pirate Parade is scheduled for later in the month. The day will begin with a Gasparilla invasion in which the Jose Gasparilla and flotilla will begin its route south of Hillsborough Bay, go to Seddon Channel and end at the Tampa Convention Center. That morning the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch will be served all morning and will include a buffet, live entertainment and a good view of the invasion.
The 3.8-mile Parade of the Pirates will last about 3 ½ hours. The procession will feature over 130 units with banners introducing the 90 floats, over fifty social organizations and 14 marching bands. Brandon pirate-wanna-bees can enjoy live entertainment on stages before and after the parade in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
The Ball will be Saturday, January 13th from 6 to 11 pm. The ship will be boarded in the Water Street District, in downtown Tampa. Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Invasion (11:30 until 1 pm) and Parade (2 pm until 5:30 pm) will be January 27th. Festivities will begin at 9 am and end around 9 pm.