THE PARADE ROUTE: The parade begins at 2 p.m. today at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards. It continues north along Bayshore Boulevard to the Platt Street bridge, continues east on Channelside Drive, then turns north on Florida Avenue to Jackson Street, where it turns east and ends at Morgan Street.
ON TV: The parade will be broadcast live on WFLA-Ch. 8, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
PARADE SEATING: Reserved seats are $20 at (813) 353-8108 or gasparillapiratefest.com.
THE INVASION: Between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. today, the Jose Gasparilla sails north into Tampa Bay accompanied by a large flotilla of pleasure boats, sails between Davis Islands and Harbour Island and docks near the Tampa Convention Center, where the mayor surrenders the keys to the city.
THE GASPARILLA PIRATE FEST: The street festival with carnival rides and games runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. along Franklin Street downtown, between Whiting and Brorein. Admission is free.
ENTERTAINMENT: The Invasion Stage (in the Publix parking lot at Bayshore and Platt Street): 9 a.m., music from WMTX-FM 100.7; 10 a.m., the Flab Four; 11 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., Alex Bach; noon, T. Scott Walker; 1:30 and 6:15 p.m. Funky Bizness.
The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage (parking lot at Brorein Street and Florida Avenue): 11:30 a.m., the Trunk Band; 1 p.m., John Gaar Band; 5:45 p.m. Julliet; 7 p.m., Gregg Rolie (former lead singer of Santana and Journey).
SHUTTLES: Free parking is available in Raymond James Stadium's lots 1, 2, 3 and 4. Round-trip shuttle service from the stadium downtown is available from 9 a.m. to midnight. Shuttle stops downtown are at Jefferson and Whiting streets and at Hyde Park Avenue and DeLeon Street. $7 per person. Or park in the garages in Ybor City and ride the TECO Line Streetcar to the Tampa Convention Center. One-day unlimited ride passes are $3 (exact change required).
PARKING: All parking garages and lots downtown and in Ybor City will be open. Parking enforcement in the area of festivities and the neighborhoods bordering the parade route will begin at 4 p.m. today. Tickets for illegal parking will be issued until 7 p.m. Friday. Cars parked illegally from 7 p.m. Friday through the end of Gasparilla will be towed.
DISABLED PARKING: Disabled parking and parade viewing will be underneath the Crosstown Expressway at Morgan Street. Entry into disabled parking will be on Morgan, south of Brorein. Viewing will be on the east side of Florida between Brorein and Channelside Drive.
TODAY'S STREET CLOSINGS
ALREADY CLOSED: Northbound lanes of Franklin Street from Whiting to Brorein streets; Bayshore Boulevard from Gandy Boulevard to Platt Street/Channelside Drive.
6 A.M.: Willow Avenue from Swann Avenue to Platts southbound; Crosstown exit 4 (Willow) closed eastbound.
9:30 A.M.: Jackson Street from Tampa to Morgan streets; Brorein between Morgan and Franklin streets; Platt/Channelside from Plant Avenue to Morgan; Florida Avenue from Channelside Drive to Kennedy Boulevard; Tampa Street extension between Brorein and Franklin; Crosstown Expressway exit 6A (Florida Avenue) eastbound; Crosstown exit 7 (Morgan) closed to all traffic except buses.
2 P.M.: Whiting Street from Franklin to Morgan.
FOR INFORMATION: (813) 353-8108, (813) 232-6864 or gasparillapiratefest.com
