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Gasparilla Pirate Festival
The Gasparilla Pirate Festival in Tampa is one of the most popular and unique festivals that you can visit in the US because of its pirate theme.
The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is held in late January (normally the last two weeks of the month), and boasts three main events: Gasparilla Extravaganza Children’s Parade, the Gasparilla Invasion and the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates.
The children’s parade boasts cool marching bands and dance units, and happens a few days before the Gasparilla Invasion and the Parade of the Pirates events.
The Gasparilla Invasion and the Parade of the Pirates events happen on the same day, and it’s the time when the festival truly comes alive! You'll see people dressed in colorful pirate costumes, and dozens of beautifully decorated floats, marching bands and parades passing through the streets of Tampa Florida.
Gasparilla was first held in May 1904 in Tampa Bay, but the invasion originated on horseback instead of by boat. In years past, a US Navy ship would be attacked by small boats throwing Cuban bread and black bean soup. The Navy would respond with fire hoses but would succumb to the Ybor City Navy, and then surrender to the Alcalde of Ybor City. The sailors would be treated to an evening on the town. This was discontinued after the September 11, 2001 attacks. However, the invasion itself continues as "Capt. Jose Gaspar" and his crew of "Pirates" "attack" Tampa, surrounded by hundreds of other boaters as they sail the Gasparilla Ship through Tampa Bay, land in Downtown Tampa and "take over the city."
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