the best way to do gasparilla?
permalink | categories: 366, ask a tampan, bayshore, downtown, free, gasparilla, holiday, law enforcement, tampaby tommy @ 8:52 am
New people move into Tampa Bay all the time. When gasparilla season rolls around, many people go down to the parade route, guessing everything will work out just fine. And it does, for the most part.
However, the big Gasparilla parade and Invasion is this Saturday. There will be upwards of half a million people down there, and lots of places from which to observe the spectacle. Which leads to those people in year two to ask a tampan:
I did Gasparilla last year, but I’ve got a bunch of friends coming down this year, what’s the best way to do it? Aside from renting a boat and stocking it with Bucs cheerleaders… Last year we had tickets and sat on the bleachers. Should we just follow that plan, or is there a better way?
Dave
PS: what are the rules about drinking in public for Gasparilla?
Ah… the age old question. First, we’ll answer the public drinking issue.
It is illegal to carry an open container with even a drop of alcohol in public. It is also against the law for women to pull up their shirts in public. But the cops probably aren’t gonna bust many folks for either of those. (however, if they do, you can’t sue me - if you are concerned, just don’t do, k?)
Having said that, make sure you have NO GLASS BOTTLES. Oh, and you certainly don’t want to taunt or AGGRAVATE THE POLICE. In fact, don’t even bother them at all. They have a tough time dealing with half a million people, many of them drunk. Their first concern is getting the parade to pass through their station with no one getting hurt. The last thing they need is another drunk asking them if they were on that episode of COPS.
As for the best location to watch with your friends, it depends on what you want… If you want to party party party, then get to the corner where bayshore & platt meet. Many use that area as a “home base” and stroll up & down the parade route (you’ll want a cooler with wheels, or a lil red wagon to tote your beverage of choice). Of course, this option provides the best opportunities to people-watch, and mingle, and perhaps not a great opportunity to watch the actual parade.
I have found that the downtown spots have many more children, and it’s not easy to move around (even walking) - many of the streets are blocked.
If you just want to chill and stay out of the fracas, then the bleacher seats are the way to go. You & your guests will still get plenty of beads, and you will actually be able to see the parade, and there will be less opportunities for your beverage to be knocked outta your hands.
Either way, there are a couple of “musts.”
- #1. Mentally prepare yourself for a long day. the earlier you get there, the better seating/parking situation, but the longer the day. If you wait until the last minute to show up, you’ll curse the driving, parking, and walking. Leaving the scene is a very, very long affair as well.
- #2. BRING SUNSCREEN (see #1 above)
- #3. If you are gonna drink, get a very patient designated driver.
Ok… That’s all I can think of at this time. Where do you go for the parade? Are there any other rules? Will you please help Dave with anything I am forgetting?
Tags: 366, ask a tampan, bayshore, downtown, free, gasparilla, holiday, law enforcement, tampa
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January 23rd, 2007 at 9:16 am
you forgot the most crucial issue: where to recycle all that beer, i.e., port-o-potties. its easiest if youre ticketed. hardest if youre just in the rabble on the sidewalk. there’s a lot of going in the bushes, by the guys, of course, and some girls who get desperate. ive seen them in tears when nature is urgently calling and theres nowhere to go. some of the bayshore swells hire rent a cops to keep people off their grass. be prepared for long lines either way….
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 am
Yes there is one more rule: Don’t consort with the corn-dog crowd. This applies to fairs and carnivals as well. Oh! And Busch Gardens.
Trust me.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am
The parade starts at Bay to Bay and it’s generally less busy between there and Howard. Most of the action is closer to the Davis Island bridge. Sooo - if you want to see the parade and revel in something close to peace, go South. Plus we aren’t allowed to throw beads before Bay to bay, so the Krewes that obey the rules throw a lot of beads right after the parade start point.
Have fun!
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:47 pm
One word: Depends.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:16 pm
There’s more truth to the corn dog principle than you can imagine. The first time I went to Gasparilla a Doberman threw up on my shoe. From what I could tell the offending meal was a corn dog.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:43 pm
See, Joel? I *am* always right.
Is there anything going on Saturday evening that does NOT include Gasparilla?
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Don’t be hating on the corndogs! That is the 5th food group in case you didn’t know.
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:24 pm
Kate-
From what I’ve seen there are several art receptions and wine tasting/festivals going on…….but I don’t know if that’s your cup of tea or not……
January 23rd, 2007 at 5:49 pm
18 Gasparillas in a row(one Bombaleo-remember that year?) and the best times are defintiely on Bayshore. Downtown tends to get folks from outside of Tampa, where Bayshore are mostly the locals, and friends, relatives, and want to be friends and relatives of the locals. The bleachers are for the mature, sane, individuals that want to see the parade liek a civilized person, use bathrooms when needed and not wait, and get beads without being knocked down. The otehre side is the real thing..ability to move around, go party to party(which are mostly happening in the streets)..and just be silly with the hundreds of thosands of others. I got the most beads ever standing in fromt of 345 Bayshore last year, they just kept landing on our heads while standing on the sidewalk…bring a backpack with change of clothes or a sweatshirt, plant to be there ALL DAY and into the evening…most of all, smile, relax and enjoy the beautiful january weather, and the 4th largest public festival in the nation!!
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:00 pm
Art receptions? Wine tastings? Mmmmm…yummy. Where and when? I want to avoid pirates.
January 23rd, 2007 at 6:49 pm
My Saturday will consist of helping friends move, followed by another friend’s birthday dinner at Ceviche’s. No pirates, no beads, no corn dogs, no problem.
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
we always wind up the day dancing on the deck at Newk’s…….hit the parade and then cruise on in for chow and plenty of captain….plenty of booty there !! if you know what i mean
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Joel, if Ceviches you speak of is the Tampa one on Howard..you WILL be involved in Gasaprilla..I had dinner there last year around 900pm, and it was PACKED with pirates! Arrrrgh!
January 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 pm
rick: thanx for telling joel what i planned to. ceviches will be full o semi drunkn pirates with beads sat night. as will all other eateries on soho.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I had this idea that I had gone to Ceviche’s last year the day of Gasparilla without any pirate sightings, but thanks to blog archives I’ve now realized that it was Guavaween.
I will definitely be mentioning this bit of news to my friends - we may end up at the St. Pete location.
Thanks to Rick and dreaming for the advice.
January 24th, 2007 at 9:40 am
You can park in Ybor City and ride the trolley to the end of the line downtown then walk to the parade route. After the parade come back to Ybor City hang out then go to the Blue Shark about 9:30pm. The Johnny G Lyon Band featuring our own Sticks of Fire “daddy” Tommy Duncan, will be playing at the Blue Shark this Saturday (Gasparilla night). Knowing those wild and crazy guys… you can count on some kind of pirate theme going on. I can see it now!!!!! the requests Johnny and Tommy will make if ya want to get some beads from ‘em!! I’m sure something about peaches and shaking your tree will be involved!!!
I get a little irritated at the people that pooh pooh Gasparilla and the pirate thing. If you don’t care for it, don’t show up or be around it but to run it down and make fun of it in a negative way gets tiring. I grew up in a city where about the only parade was every four years on New Years Day because that’s when the newly elected Governor was inaugurated. When I moved to Tampa in 1987 I was amazed that there were so many varied options of things to do….ALL THE TIME!!!!!! The whole Gasparilla thing was and still is wonderful!! When I first moved here, I lived on Davis Island on the shipping channel right across from what is now Harbor Island and to watch the flotilla come in then ride a bicycle or walk on down to Bayshore to party and watch the parade was great. I don’t always go to the day parade anymore….but I really appreciate the opportunity to go should I choose to.
January 26th, 2007 at 3:14 am
Don’t go.
January 26th, 2007 at 3:15 am
BILLY BOWLEGS LIVES!