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By SHARON KENNEDY WYNNE
Published January 28, 2005
tbt* files
Want beads? Try to stand next to (a) a buxom woman, or (b) some cute kids. But don’t get called for pass interference.
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It may seem bizarre -- and it is -- but here are the Gasparilla basics for the half-million people lining up for the hoopla on Saturday (1/29):
A big ship "invades," and Tampa's mayor "surrenders" the city to a band of "pirates" whose are really doctors, lawyers, politicians and captains of industry dressed up in eye patches and fake scars. Riding elaborate floats or just walking along Bayshore Boulevard, the merry marauders snarl at the crowds and throw beads and dubloons. The crowd, many of whom have awaited the spectacle for hours, eats it up.
Paradegoers can anticipate the usual invasion by sea, beginning at 11:30 a.m. with the appearance of Ye Mystic Krewe's Jose Gasparilla ship, accompanied by a flotilla.
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio will hand over the city's key to Jose Gaspar and his band of pirates at 1 p.m.
The parade starts at 1:45 p.m. and lasts more than three hours. It begins on Bayshore and Bay to Bay boulevards and winds through downtown to the Channelside district, capping off at Marion Street.
The 4-mile route features some 90 floats, more than a dozen high school bands and 30 participating krewes.
There's also a Pirate Fest Street Festival that continues with daylong entertainment on three stages throughout downtown. The street festival (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.) is along Franklin Street between Whiting and Brorein streets.
- Sharon Kennedy Wynne wynne@tampabay.com
Staff writer Shannon Breen contributed to this report.
Parking: Don't park illegally: Tampa police began enforcing restrictions in neighborhoods bordering the parade route on Thursday (1/27) at 4 p.m. Tickets will be issued for illegal parking at first, but after 10 p.m. Friday (1/28), your car will be towed.
In past years, some revelers parked in restricted areas, expecting to pay only a fine of $30, which they considered a kind of "parking fee," police said. These days, if you park illegally, expect to be towed.
Prefer to drive in on Saturday morning? Plan to leave super-early (we're talking sunrise) and still walk several blocks to the parade route. Several streets in and around the downtown area will be closed, so expect to take detours and alternate routes. Parking costs vary from lot to lot, but it won't be cheap if you want to get close.
A better option might be the shuttle from Raymond James Stadium on N Dale Mabry Highway. Operated by HARTline, it runs continually from 9 a.m. to midnight, going from the stadium to Hyde Park Avenue and DeLeon Street ($7). Another option: Head to Ybor City and ride the TECO Street Car to the Southern Transportation Plaza ($3, exact change only), which is across from the Tampa Convention Center. Plan to abide crowded conditions in either case.
What to wear: First the sensible stuff -- comfy shoes for lots of walking, layers of clothes in case the weather turns cold or warms up, sunscreen and hats. Now for fun: Pirate gear, tropical prints, hoop earings, puffy shirts and bandanas will fit in well. If you have any unusual-looking beads, wear them because beads are hard currency here. Kids clamor for them and women will, in unbelievable numbers, drop their tops for them.
Bathrooms: The most overlooked necessity is the Necessary Room, as Grandma used to say. Find a spot near a portable bathroom or buy a ticket for one of the Gasparilla parties at the hotels and restaurants along the way, which cost a minimum of $25 to get in.
Cash is king: Parking will cost you. Food, beer and soft drinks won't be cheap. Accept it.
For kids: Put identity bracelets on younger children with your cell phone number so that if they get lost, police or others trying to help will be able to contact you. Traffic will be awful, so stash some games and goodies to make sitting in the car tolerable.
The 411 on hootch
The entire Pirate Fest and parade area has wet zoning, which means it's like one big bar allowing you to walk around with a beer in your hand, bought from one of the many beer vendors there. Do not, however, bring glass containers or your own liquor, Tampa police say. Even though you will see people pushing shopping carts full of ice and beer, they just may get caught. Police typically make about 100 arrests that day, 80 percent of them for alcohol violations.
[Last modified January 27, 2005, 14:41:01]
| by Sharon | 02/01/05 07:29 AM |
| I just logged on to see when the Great Gasp was this year,only to find out that I missed it!!! Bummer Man, I'll try again next year!!! | |
| by Brenda Daily | 01/28/05 11:58 AM |
| i wonder who checks out the floats - I know they carry 1'K's of dollors worth of Alcohol aboard the float , and drink from morning to night - unsupervised .Some even get in their car and drive home afterward - because they cant afford the hotels that... | |
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