The rain put a big damper on Tampa’s signature event. Organizers estimate that the crowd was far less than half of last year’s 350,000. With 50 extra officers, and twice the number of portable toilets, you would think this small crowd would be manageable. But police were doing a bit more than just trading beads. [...]
In response to Bayshore and Hyde Park residents and their concerns about all the trouble the Gasparilla parade brings, head krewe Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, along with EventFest, which runs the party, says they have got all the problems fixed. From the St. Pete Times – Gasparilla changes: more security, more toilets, altered parade route: … [...]
South Tampa residents are crying about Gasparilla. Over 30 people (Trib says more than 50) showed up at a meeting to complain about the day long invasion and parade. They say it’s gotten too wild, and they are tired of it. Some have suggested it be moved to other parts of the city. I can imagine [...]
From what I can tell, Gasparilla is the nation’s biggest pirate festival. It’s gotta be – we stretch this thing out for about two months. It all starts with the Children’s Parade & Extravaganza, and includes the main Invasion, Parade, and PirateFest, the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Illuminated Knight Parade, the Gasparilla Distance [...]
Sarah’s client is planning a move to Tampa, and they will be bringing in a big bunch of employees from various parts of the world to help run things. Sarah has been charged with letting those employees know what to expect once they get here. The problem is that Sarah has never been to Tampa. She [...]
Now that that Super Bowl nonsense is over with, it’s time to get back to some sort of normalcy. Assuming normalcy = pirates.
With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, the credited author of A Visit from St. Nicholas. ‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all ‘cross the Bay Not a creature was stirring, not even a Ray; The beach pails were stacked in the Florida room, ‘Cause St. Nick is coming, or so we assume; The children in shorty pajamas were sleeping, While dreaming [...]
After a successful debut in 2007, the Gasparilla Film Festival has bigger and better plans for this year’s festival, which opens tonight, February 27. At a recent press conference, festival executive director John Rosser and president Eric Odum presented the film line up, announced guest appearances, and listed the panels, receptions and special events planned [...]
107 people were arrested during last month’s Gasparilla invasion and parade. The two you see being carted off here were busted before the parade even started. There were eleven felonies reported and 96 misdemeanors, including nine charges of boating under the influence. The director of Hillsborough County Health Department and professor of internal [...]