TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

On Saturday, Little Pirates Get Chance To Parade

ADVERTISEMENT

By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: January 23, 2009

Updated: 01/23/2009 06:00 am

TAMPA - It's party time for Tampa's pint-sized pirates.

For the 62nd year, little landlubbers will have a chance to gawk and stare and scream for booty from a host of Tampa's finest pillagers on Saturday. The 2009 Gasparilla Extravaganza not only features the Children's Gasparilla Parade, it starts with a bicycle safety rodeo and is followed by the "Piratechnic" Extravaganza, a fireworks show.

"People just love pirates around here," said Darrell Stefany, whose EventFest company produces the festival. "It will all be amplified this Super Bowl year."

Saturday's parade, an alcohol-free, family-friendly event, kicks off a string of reasons for Bay area residents and visitors to celebrate, from Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1 to the Gasparilla PirateFest on Feb. 7.

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the primary social group behind the annual festivities, has commemorative "throws" (beads and other souvenirs tossed by surly pirates) honoring the presence of the Super Bowl. The trinkets will debut at the children's parade.

"I think with all that's going on, people are excited and in the festival mood," said Stefany, who also is excited about an early weather forecast for sun and temperatures in the low 70s.

Last year, a squall line halted the parade about a half-hour into the show. Post-parade fireworks were rescheduled for another evening.

Saturday's children's parade will be on Bayshore Boulevard, beginning at Bay to Bay Boulevard and heading northeast for about 1.4 miles to Watrous/Orleans avenues.

Share your photos from the children's parade and view a complete Gasparilla schedule of events at TBO.com, keyword: Gasparilla.

If You Go

WHAT: 2009 Gasparilla Extravaganza, including annual children's parade

WHEN: 11 a.m. Saturday

WHERE: Bayshore Boulevard between Bay to Bay Boulevard and Watrous/Orleans avenues

SHUTTLE SERVICE: Available from South Regional Parking Garage, 301 Channelside Drive; and the Fort Brooke Parking Garage, 107 N. Franklin St. Adults pay $5 roundtrip; children ride for free.

COST: Parade and other events are free; reserved seating is available for $14 at www.gasparillaextravaganza.com and on Saturday at golf carts along Bayshore Boulevard.

DON'T BRING: Coolers, glass, alcoholic beverages

Bayshore Events

• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bicycle Safety Rodeo between Albany and Gunby avenues

• 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Gasparilla Air Invasion, Part One

• 2 to 3 p.m. Gasparilla Preschooler's Stroll, starting at Bay to Bay Boulevard and ending at Howard Avenue

• 3 p.m. Gasparilla Air Invasion, Part Two

• 3:30 to 6 p.m. Children's Parade

• 6:30 p.m. Gasparilla Air Invasion, Night Flight

• 7 to 7:30 p.m. "Piratechnic" Extravaganza

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

Share this:

MORE FROM THIS CHANNEL

• Del-Fi Records founder Bob Keane dies at 87

• Mellencamp to quit smoking if Facebook group hits 1 million

• New walking tour shows Ybor City's underbelly

• 'Precious,' 'Last Station' lead Spirit Award nominations

TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

gasparilla piratefest • gasparilla parade • super bowl xliii • channelside drive • ye mystic krewe • squall line • raymond james stadium • bayshore boulevard • bay boulevard • festival mood • bicycle safety • pillagers • shuttle service • stefany • shuttle service • landlubbers • stefany • weather forecast • landlubbers • social group • weather forecast • social group • parking garage • party time • parking garage • extravaganza • party time • roundtrip • extravaganza

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT