Gasparillahas been a Tampa tradition since 1904, and whether you're a Tampa Bay native or a newbie to our area, we hope you go out and enjoy one of our local activities. We absolutely love the tradition, culture, and fun that comes with all things Gasparilla.

Fun fact: The parade is the 3rd largest in the US and the combined activities have an approximate economic impact of over $40 million to the local economy.

THE HISTORY OF GASPARILLA

Gasparilla began in 1904 as a surprise "pirate invasion" on horseback during a May Day festival (the first "invasion" by sea occurred in 1911), and continued to be a feature of other community events until finally becoming a stand-alone event in 1913.

The name Gasparilla was born from Joe Gaspar, a pirate who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Fond of calling himself "Gasparilla,"

he and his band of pirates lived a life of seizing and robbing merchant ships off the Gulf

Coast until 1821.

Ready to divide their riches and finally disband to lives of luxury, Gasparilla and his crew decided to seize one last ship before calling it a day. Unbeknownst to them, this ship was a United States Navy warship in disguise. A bloody battle ensued before the U.S. Navy ship reigned victoriously and finally ended the long, thriving career of the legendary Joe Gaspar.

Today's pirate ship invasion involves the world's only fully-rigged pirate ship, which creeps into the bay at the beginning of the festival to "attack" Tampa Bay. A number of pleasure crafts intent on defending the city from Gaspar's mock pirate ship make their way out to the pirate before realizing they are in way over their heads and joining the ship in an all-out invasion. They all dock at the Tampa Convention Center to meet the mayor, who's only choice is to surrender the key to the city to the massive pirate crew.