Ahoy, Tampa Bay! Brace yourselves for Gasparilla 2024, where beads are vanishing, laughter echoes, and pirate fever is about to grip all over the city.
The horizon is adorned with the promise of beads, laughter, and pirate revelry – Gasparilla 2024 is on the horizon! As our beloved city readies its pirate flags and braces for a tidal wave of festivities the main event will take place on Januay 27.
Ahoy! We feel a pirate takeover a-brewin’! @CityofTampa @JaneCastor pic.twitter.com/BIUuZESx0m
— Gasparilla Tampa (@GasparillaTampa) January 4, 2024
Buccaneer Beads’ Bead Frenzy
Bead vendors express enthusiasm as this year is bound to be over the top. In some stores, the expectation is for the 13th truck, a significant increase from last year’s eight. Customers are acquiring beads at an unprecedented pace, anticipating an epic parade season.
Bert Kreischer, Gasparilla’s Grand Marshal
Tampa’s own, Bert Kreischer, crowned Grand Marshal for the 2024 Gasparilla Pirate Fest, promises a wild ride. Hailed as the ‘number one partier in the nation’ in 1997, this hometown hero and comedic genius is set to lead the Gasparilla charge on January 27. Get ready for laughs, spectacle, and the unique energy only Bert can bring to Bayshore Boulevard.
TAMPA!! Are you ready for Gasparilla?! pic.twitter.com/aHrwnEW4tP
— bert kreischer (@bertkreischer) January 16, 2024
Children’s Gasparilla: Pillage and Fun for All Ages
As pirates descend upon Tampa, pint-sized marauders get their day on January 20. Since 1904, Gasparilla has captivated Tampa, and the Children’s Gasparilla parade, kicking off at noon, promises a day of festivities. The city gears up for a whimsical invasion, featuring everything from a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Rodeo to the ‘Piratechnic Finale’ Fireworks Show. Superstars Bianca Belair and Montez Ford lead over 125 krewes, bands, and dance groups, creating a spectacle along Bayshore Boulevard.
All aboard for Children's @GasparillaTampa! 🚌
The FREE Jolley Trolley service will run on a continuous loop from 11:30 am – 8:30 pm. It will pick up & drop off at the intersections of Platt St. and Bayshore Boulevard (near Publix) and Bay-to-Bay and Bayshore Boulevard. pic.twitter.com/DnbV5quFVf
— City of Tampa (@CityofTampa) January 16, 2024
Safety Plans in Place for Gasparilla Pirate Invasion
As Gasparilla fever grips Tampa, safety takes the helm. Chief Lee Bercaw asserts that Tampa stands ready to repel pirates and engage in responsible celebrations. With the Children’s Parade kicking off the merriment, and the Pirate Invasion on January 27, safety remains paramount. Tampa Fire Rescue, taking the lead for the Jose Gasparilla Pirate Ship, is gearing up for medical challenges on the water. Over 30 agencies coordinate efforts to ensure a safe Gasparilla season, with first responders patrolling by land, air, and sea.
