2018 Gasparilla Pirate Festival

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A Special Advertising Section of the Tampa Bay Times OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE SEMINOLE HARD ROCK GASPARILLA PIRATE FEST

FAQs for the festival Heading to the Gasparilla Pirate Festival?

Here’s what you need to know.

How much does it cost to attend?

The Gasparilla Pirate Fest is free, but you can purchase reserved seating for the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade and the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates at GasparillaTreasures.com

Can I purchase alcohol at the festival?

If you’re 21 or older with valid ID, you can purchase beer and wine at one of the fest’s many Gasparilla Charity Beer Gardens. All of the revenue goes to local Tampa Bay charities.

May I bring my own snacks and drinks?

No. Glass containers, coolers, styrofoam containers and grills are not permitted. .

Can I ride my bike to the festival?

Bikes are allowed for transportation to the festival, but once inside the event site, you must walk with your bike. Don’t leave your bike unattended and don’t lock it to private or city property.

May I drive my golf cart at the festival?

No. Only golf carts used by authorized festival staff and vendors are permitted.

May I bring my pet?

No. Other than service animals, pets are prohibited.

Are services available for disabled patrons?

Yes. There is parking (for a fee), and free parade viewing for disabled patrons is located in downtown Tampa at the intersection of Ashley Drive and Whiting Street. Parking for the area is available in the Fort Brooke Garage on a first-come, first-served basis. Disabled patrons can also be accommodated in reserved parade seating along Bayshore Boulevard and/or at the Gasparilla Invasion Brunch at the Tampa Convention Center. Call (813) 251-8844 or go to GasparillaTreasures.com for more info.

Will restrooms be available?

Yes. Portable toilets will be located throughout the event site.

Are strollers allowed?

Yes. In reserved seating sections, strollers must be stowed under bleachers or in a non-obstructive area on ground level.

May I pitch a tent at the festival?

No. But you may bring folding chairs and/or blankets. No roping off of seats.

What if it rains?

The pirates still invade and the parade marches on! But if a dangerous weather situation arises, the festival’s organizers reserve the right to cancel the event.

For more information about these and other issues, go to gasparillapiratefest.com

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By Gina Vivinetto, Times correspondent

It’s Gasparilla time, and the streets are about to be full of pirates young and old.

Get ready for a party!

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re you ready to party like a pirate? It’s time for the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, Tampa’s annual tribute to Jose Gaspar, the mythical Spanish swashbuckler who terrorized Florida’s coastal waters during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

For more than 100 years, Tampa residents and visitors have honored the spirit of Gaspar, a former officer in the Spanish navy who created his own legend when he set off to sink ships, grab treasure and kidnap pretty lassies.

Back in 1904, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, a gang of Tampa citizens with a penchant for the pirate life, hosted the very first Gasparilla celebration as part of Tampa’s annual May Day festival.

Over the years, the festival expanded, and today we toast Gaspar in a monthlong series of events, the most spectacular of which is the rollicking Gasparilla Pirate Festival - two weekends of parades, live music, children’s activities, fireworks, and an epic pirate invasion in the waters surrounding downtown Tampa.

This year’s festival kicks off with an alcohol-free celebration on Saturday, Jan. 20, with a full day of pint-sized pirate fun for little ones at the Gasparilla Children’s Extravaganza, an event that has charmed generations of locals since 1947. More than

100,000 kids (and their parents and grandparents) take to the streets in their own G-rated invasion that includes a Bicycle and Safety Pedestrian Rodeo, the Gasparilla Preschoolers’ Stroll for kids 5 and under, and – the day’s highlight – the Gasparilla Children’s Parade, featuring dozens of floats, school marching bands, dancers from local dance studios, and more family-friendly fun. The day ends at 7 p.m. with a fabulous “Piratechnic� fireworks display.

The following weekend, on Saturday, Jan. 27, grownup pirates storm the city in the Gasparilla Pirate Invasion. Watch as the pirate ship flotilla, led, of course, by the majestic Jose Gasparilla II, sails up Seddon Channel and docks at the Tampa Convention Center. Once the invasion hits land, the captain of Ye Mystic Krewe will force Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to surrender the key to the city.

Once the seafaring scallywags take over the city, carousers celebrate at the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates. The sprawling parade, which travels for 3.8 miles along Bayshore Boulevard, is the 3rd largest in the United States. Each year it attracts more than 200,000 bead-crazy revelers with 112 elaborate floats, several exciting marching bands, and dozens of costumed pirate krewes.

Of course, the annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest is about more than just merriment and marauding. For participating krewes – more than 60 again

this year – giving back to the community is a big part of their mission. Tampa Bay area krewes raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for local nonprofits. Krewe members also volunteer their time at local hospitals, schools, churches and other organizations throughout the year. Many members also commit to spending time before the festival visiting local hospitals in their full pirate regalia.

The charitable giving continues even during the festival, where the event provides designated spots for local nonprofits to sell beer and wine along the parade route. And every year, the festival’s Charity Beer Gardens raise more than $100,000 for local nonprofit groups.

Read about the Gasparilla Pirate Festival’s many events and colorful krewes in the pages of this special guide. You’ll also find insider tips and fun historical facts about the fest.

Argh, get ready! For the next few weeks, it’s the pirate life for all of us. Be safe and have fun.

8 golden rules for Police will be working to make sure everyone’s safe. Revelers can help.

Let’s be real: Alcohol figures prominently in many Gasparilla-related events, which means keeping all involved safe takes some diligence.

Luckily, the Tampa Police Department has consistently proven it’s up to the task. Visits to local high schools before Gasparilla have helped curb underage drinking, and a robust police presence during events has helped make the atmosphere less like a lawless free-for-all.

Police arrested more than 400 people in 2010, mostly for misdemeanors including marijuana possession and disorderly conduct, but in the last couple of years have seen a significant drop in arrests.

“We want to remind spectators that if they see something that doesn’t look safe or smart to say something,” said Don Barnes, executive officer of Ye Mystic Krewe. “There will be law enforcement in clearly marked uniforms all along the parade route. If something doesn’t

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look right, reach out to the nearest law enforcement officer and let them know.”

Here are some safety tips to keep in mind to make sure everyone has a good time.

• Don’t bring glass, coolers or grills Breakable items aren’t good in crowds, and fire is always bad.

• Don’t bring weapons or illegal drugs • Only event staff is permitted to use golf carts, and bikes must be walked inside event perimeters • Don’t fight The heavy law enforcement presence means chances are great that you’ll wind up in jail for fighting.

• Don’t bring tents or rope or fence off areas for your party • Don’t throw beads back at the krewes It can be dangerous if they’re not expecting it.

By Virginia Pelley, Times correspondent

• Leave pets (other than service animals) at home • Boats should have designated drivers, too The waterways are crowded, and when alcohol is in the mix, things get dangerous. Keep in mind that inebriated boaters have made up a large portion of Gasparilla-related arrests in past years,

and that your boat could be towed by police if there’s no one aboard to operate it safely. See the FAQ page at gasparillapiratefest.com for more specifics about stricter boat regulations, including when and where motorless vessels are banned, and areas where permits are required to enter during Gasparilla.

The mystique of

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By Virginia Pelley, Times correspondent

For more than a century, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s work for the annual parade and community has left its stamp on the city.

Few organizations can claim to have as big an impact on city tourism dollars as Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla can in Tampa. Since the nonprofit organization was established in 1904, the krewe has organized the ever-expanding Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Tampa’s signature annual event that includes one of the largest annual parades in the United States, joining the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City and Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. Parade attendance estimates vary, but every year, around a quarter of a million people flock to Bayshore Boulevard to watch the Parade of Pirates, and it’s said that roughly half are from out of town.

The parade and Ye Mystic Krewe have a rich and interwoven history, and what that history lacks in veracity, it makes up for in color. In March of 1904, Edwin Dart Lambright, editor of the Tampa Morning Tribune, and society editor Louise Frances Dodge plotted a marketing campaign for a new May Day Festival in Tampa, according to the

Ye Mystic Krewe History Committee. George Hardee, the collector of customs in Tampa, urged the newspaper editors to incorporate the legend of pirate José Gaspar into their promotion of the event in the paper and suggested they create a “Mystic Krewe” led by the legendary José Gaspar, who would invade the city and kick off the event. Ye Mystic Krewe’s ranks soon grew to 50 local men who participated in the inaugural event, with Hardee as their first captain.

Today, the krewe has around 800 members and still upholds many of the traditions begun in the early 20th century, including society events like the annual Debutante Ball, held around Thanksgiving; the pre-Gasparilla Pirate Fest Captain’s Ball before January’s flagship Invasion and Flotilla and Parade of Pirates; and the Coronation Ball to crown a new king and queen in February.

They’re also visible throughout the year at sports, charity and political events. Members of the YMKG Special Events Committee have visited hospitals in full pirate regalia, giving beads and cheer to patients since 1969. They also make appearances at area schools and assisted living centers. In addition, krewe executive officer Donald J. Barnes says, “Each year, the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Community Fund selects graduating high school seniors from Hillsborough County for four-year college scholarships.

We received 116 nominations from 28 high school principals and selected five of these outstanding students for awards of $10,000, four-year scholarships.”

Scholarship dollars awarded by the Gasparilla Community Fund and its predecessor not-for-profit total three-quarters of a million dollars, Barnes adds.

The krewe also helps the Salvation Army collect donations during the holiday season, and selects area charities to run and receive the proceeds from the Parade of Pirates beer gardens that dot the parade route. Last year, the eight gardens together raised more than $100,000. YMKG members sometimes bring children who are ill onto the José Gasparilla II to play pirate for the day.

Barnes says he’s proud of how YMKG has helped enrich Tampa for more than a century, saying in an interview last year, “Celebrating what sets Tampa apart is what it’s all about.”

Parade Route Flotilla Route Trolley Route Parade Seating Tickets Open Parade Viewing

Handicapped Parade Viewing at Whiting & Ashley Parking at Fort Brooke Garage Gasparilla Invasion & Brunch Tampa Convention Center Tickets Corporate Tents

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Gasparilla Invasion Stage – MacDill Park, 98 Rock (Rock)

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Sail Pavilion Stage, 100.7 (Mix)

Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage – Curtis Hixon Park, 106.5 La Rumba (Latin) Ferg’s Live Tampa Stage, 93.3 FLZ (Top 40)

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Event details are subject to change, so be sure to check the appropriate websites for the latest information.

2018 McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza

Saturday, January 20, 2018, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Visit gasparillaextravaganza.com for more information.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Rodeo Kids can learn how to safely bike in traffic and score a free helmet, while supplies last, in this educational event on Bayshore Boulevard between Rome and Dakota avenues, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll Presented by Tampa Lowry Park Zoo. Kids can out-arrrgh each other and showcase their best pirate attire in this half-mile walk along Bayshore Boulevard starting at Howard Avenue at 1:30 p.m. and ending at Rome Avenue at 2:45 p.m. Advance online registration is required.

Gasparilla Air Invasion and SOCOM Day Jump The U.S. Special Operations jump team Para-Commandos will dazzle onlookers big and small with precision parachute jumps, 2:45-3:15 p.m.

Children’s Gasparilla Parade An integral element of Gasparilla since 1947, this alcohol-free event starts at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards and ends at Edison Avenue. Krewes, dance troops, marching bands and school and community organizations bring the excitement, 3:30-6 p.m.

Gasparilla Air Invasion and SOCOM Night Jump The Para-Commandos will jump again. It’s even more exciting after sundown, 6:15-6:30 p.m.

“Piratechnic” Extravaganza Fireworks light up the sky, 7 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

2018 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest Saturday, January 27, 9 a.m.-�8 p.m.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest presented by Budweiser 10 a.m.

The Pirate Fest offers entertainment all day and night along Tampa’s Riverwalk, from before the invasion until after the Parade of Pirates. Stage locations include Curtis Hixon Park, MacDill Park, Sail Pavilion at the Tampa Convention Center and Ferg’s Live. All stages will pause for the parade.

Gasparilla Invasion Brunch You’ll need a hearty breakfast to yell for beads, so check out the annual brunch buffet at 10 a.m. at the Tampa Convention Center, presented by Ye Mystic Krewe. There will be socializing and fun, and guests can enjoy amazing views of the annual Gasparilla Pirate Invasion and Flotilla. Cash bar. Combo tickets are available at GasparillaTreasures.com.

Gasparilla Invasion and Flotilla The majestic José Gasparilla II sets off traveling through Seddon Channel into downtown Tampa for the annual pirate invasion, surrounded by hundreds of smaller vessels in an explosion of sight and sound, beginning at 11 a.m. and docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m.

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates After capturing the Key to the City from Mayor Bob Buckhorn, watch the triumphant march of the marauders as Ye Mystic Krewe and krewes of the Interkrewe Council head up Bayshore Boulevard into downtown Tampa, crossing the Brorein Street Bridge and ending 4.5 miles later at Cass Street and Ashley Drive. Parade begins at 2 p.m. and ends around 5:30 p.m.

Children’s Gasparilla Parade Route

Parade begins at Bay to Bay and ends at Edison & Bayshore

Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll Route Stroll begins at Howard and ends at Rome

Handicapped Parade Viewing

at Howard on the land side of the parade route

Reserved Parade Seating – Purchased Tickets Please note: The indicated reserved seating locations are based on demand. Areas not utilized for general admission seating will be available for open parade viewing.

Open Parade Viewing

Shuttle Drop-off

Shuttle picks up from: Fort Brooke Garage in Downtown (Whiting & Franklin) and delivers to the Selmon & Bay to Bay

Tickets The parade is free to the public, but you can reserve bleacher seats at gasparillatreasures .com, where you can also purchase officially licensed Gasparilla Treasures merchandise.

Services for the disabled Cars with disability permits can park free in the Fort Brooke Garage; enter at Whiting Street for hourly parking. Reserve seating tickets ahead of time at GasparillaTreasures.com or by calling (813) 251-8844. For more information, go to gasparillapiratefest.com.

Transportation Gasparillapiratefest.com provides information about buses and streetcar schedules. Lyft is the Official Ride Share Partner of Gasparilla Pirate Fest; download the app today to order a safe ride for the event.

Street closures Call (813) 274-8750 to find out streets to avoid, and where to park on the day of the parade.

You can also follow @FL511 on Twitter for updates, visit FL511.com or download the free 511 app on your smartphone.

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The Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza is a giant, family-friendly and bead-filled party for the shorter scallywags.

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adeleine Fox may be only 3 years old, �but she’s already got two Gasparilla Children’s Extravaganzas under her belt - and she’s eagerly looking forward to this year’s event on Saturday, says her dad, John T. Fox. Fox and his wife, Crystal, who with Madeleine and her newborn sister Marin live in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, began bringing Madeleine to the familyfriendly, alcohol-free extravaganza in 2016. The festive sights and sounds of the G-rated pirate party had Madeleine instantly hooked, so to say.

“For kids, it’s amazing. It’s a spectacle.

It’s unbelievable,” says Fox, who works as a fundraiser for the Florida Justice Association. “There’s lots of noise, there’s lots of colors everywhere. There’s candy!

There’s dancing.”

The popular children’s event has been a part of the Gasparilla Pirate Festival since 1947, giving generations of young swashbucklers the chance to don pirate costumes and take to the streets in their own kid-powered invasion.

While John and Crystal love that the event gives little ones a chance to have a safe, age-appropriate day of revelry all their own, Madeleine’s favorite part of the event is the street parade.

“She really loves the colorful beads people toss from floats. We’ve got a great big bowl of them in our house from years

By Gina Vivinetto, Times correspondent

past, all her favorites,” her father says.

This year the parade, which attracts more than 100,000 attendees every year, features more than 100 different units, including 90 floats, two marching bands, dancers from local dance studios, and marchers from local schools and neighborhood organizations.

The parade kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and runs north on Bayshore Boulevard, starting at Bay to Bay Boulevard and ending at Edison Avenue around 6 p.m. (It’s also broadcast live every year on FOX 13 and streamed live on MyFoxTampaBay.com.)

Pint-sized pirates ages 5 and under can participate in the Gasparilla Preschoolers Stroll at 1:30 p.m. The half-mile stroll along Bayshore features decorated wagons, baby strollers, bicycles and pushable floats – but no motorized vehicles of any kind.

For the second year in a row, the event will also feature the Tampa Police Department’s bicycle patrol unit taking over the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Rodeo. The two-hour event kicks off at 11 a.m. to teach little ones about bicycle and helmet safety.

At 2:45 p.m., the Gasparilla Air Invasion and SOCOM Day Jump features the ParaCommandos, U.S. Special Operations Command’s parachute team, landing on Bayshore Boulevard near Howard Avenue.

The team will do it again for the Night Jump, at 6:15 p.m.

The fun ends with the half-hour “Piratechnic” Extravaganza at 7 p.m. Watch in awe as fabulous fireworks light up the sky to re-create the imaginary sea battle between Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa.

A few tips: No large coolers or glass containers are allowed at any Gasparilla events.

Pack extra bags for kids to hold beads, candy and other pirate booty.

Bring your own folding chairs and blankets and claim a spot an hour or two before the parade starts.

While the event is free, families can purchase reserved bleacher seats. Tickets are $38 each.

Go to GasparillaTreasures.com for more information.

Portable bathrooms will be available, but bring along hand sanitizer.

Tampa’s Treasure, the

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By Virginia Pelley, Times correspondent

The Parade of Pirates has become huge, meaning millions in tourism dollars for the city and hundreds of thousands for charity.

Still, it maintains a distinctive friendliness.

Once a publicity stunt to promote Tampa’s May Day celebration at the start of the 20th century, the Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of Pirates has exploded like cannon fire.

Today, the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest is as integral to Tampa’s culture and history as the bay itself, attracting 200,000 attendees, hundreds of thousands in sponsorship dollars and raising an estimated $100,000 for charity on parade day alone.

The beloved pirate-themed event is a major tourist attraction, generating millions for the city’s hotels and businesses.

But for the many people who consider Gasparilla a cherished annual tradition, the crown jewel of the festival is the 4.5-mile Parade of Pirates.

For decades, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla was the only krewe that marched in the parade since its inception in 1904. Krewe membership was restricted to white men until the mid-1960s, when women (also white) marched in the parade for the first time. In 1972, businessmen of Latin descent created the allmale Krewe of The Knights of Sant’ Yago, which was the second krewe to march in the parade. The first all-female krewe, Ye Loyal Krewe of Grace O’Malley, was established in 1992, as was the Grand Krewe de Libertalia, a predominantly black krewe that includes female, white and Hispanic members in their ranks.

This year, parade attendees can choose from nine different beer garden stops, the proceeds of which will benefit local charities including the Diversity Initiative, Pepin and Habitat for Humanity. More than 100 parade floats representing the 60-plus krewes of the Interkrewe Council will delight the screaming

crowds of revelers decked out in pirate garb and weighed down by piles of beads. The authenticity of costumes runs the gamut from a plastic 99-cent eye patch and bandana to custom-made, period-specific garments costing thousands of dollars.

While in terms of units sold, women’s “wench” blouses and men’s pirate shirts are the biggest sellers at Pirate Fashions, which provides one-stop shopping for pirating and pillaging gear on Cayuga Street in Tampa, “Dollar-wise, it’s custom pirate hats and steelboned corsets,” says Tiger Lee, the store’s owner, or self-described Merchant King of the South China Sea. “Sixty percent of what’s in our store, we either make in-house or design and have someone make for us, so much of our plunder is not available anywhere else in the seven seas,” he says.

A degree of historical accuracy is important to the members of the Krewe of Agustina de Aragon, an all-female krewe of 200 with an auxiliary of 50 men established in 1997. Named for a real-life Spanish heroine who fought Napoleon to defend her town, Zaragoza, from French invasion during the Peninsular War in 1808, the Krewe of Agustina’s female members wear skirts and blouses in line with 19th-century Spanish peasant attire, their hair decorated with roses. The krewe’s floats replicate Agustina’s town in northern Spain, with turrets adorned with the Aragon coat of arms, and a model of Agustina firing a cannon to commemorate the Battle of Zaragoza, which is considered a pivotal point in the battle. Their second float replicates a Spanish marketplace, says Sarah Olsen, the krewe’s president.

“Our main float, the Katherine Marie, can hold about 100 to 125 members, and our second float, the Miss Peggie, can hold about 80 to 100,” Olsen says. “We also have patrons that volunteer every year. Anyone can become a patron, and it’s a great way to figure

out if you want to join the krewe without having to invest in the new member dues right way.”

A Tampa native, Olsen had attended the parade regularly since high school. Even so, her first time as a participant in the parade rather than as a spectator blew her away, she says.

“As a krewe, you get to meet and interact with other krewes in staging, and it’s like a big party before the parade starts,” she says. “And during the parade, you get to interact with the crowds, and honestly, I imagine it’s what a rock star feels like when people are calling out to you to get the beads you have in your hands. It’s wild.”

The event is similar to Mardi Gras, she adds, but Olsen says Tampa’s Gasparilla has a more welcoming feel. Krewe members can interact with Gasparilla crowds if they choose, whereas Mardi Gras krewes, for the most part, are required to stay on their floats during the parades.

“I think people in Tampa are a lot nicer,” she says.

“I couldn’t just name one part of Gasparilla that makes it so unique. The atmosphere is something that you can’t really get anywhere else.”

The need for

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By Virginia Pelley, Times correspondent

Be nice, and keep things PG-rated, and you’re bound to walk away from Gasparilla laden with beads.

Beads weren’t part of the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates until the 1980s, but it’s hard to imagine the event without them now. Collecting dazzling strings of beads is part of the Gasparilla booty experience for revelers, and no small expense for the krewes.

“Each member of our krewe is responsible for buying their own beads,” says Sarah Olsen, president of the Krewe of Agustina de Aragon. During the day parade alone, Olsen says, she typically goes through about a case of beads, which holds about 40 to 60 dozen and can cost from $60 to $150. She adds that some krewes say they spend over $1,000 for each member during Gasparilla.

“How many beads you go through also depends on how heavy of a ‘thrower’ you are,” she says. “Some members are more conservative with their bead throws or walk along the route and interact with the crowds while handing out specialty beads.”

If you want to buy your own, check out the selections at South Tampa Trading Co. and GasparillaTreasures. com, both in Tampa, which offer custom and readymade costumes, beads and accessories especially for Gasparilla. You can also find beads, costumes and accessories at Tampa’s Squaresville. But if you’d rather rely on your charm, follow these tips to score beads during the Pirate Fest:

Keep your shirt on

Flashing the goods is common during Mardi Gras, but many Gasparilla krewe members discourage disrobing for beads.

Make eye contact

Members of the 13 Ugly Men Foundation Krewe walk the parade route and simply hand beads to people, says president David B. Moyer, so lock eyes and smile at passing krewe members and you’ll probably get some beads in return.

Show some love

Expressing support for your favorite krewes appears to be a good bead-scoring strategy.

“There is one person on the parade route who brings a 13 Ugly Men sign, and we always make it a point to get off the float and give him as many beads as we can,” Moyer says.

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By Virginia Pelley, Times correspondent

It’s not all beads and parties. Krewes around the Tampa Bay area devote thousands of hours to help the community year-round.

“Work Hard, Play Hard, Give Back, Do All Things with a Full Heart” is the motto of the Krewe of Agustina de Aragon, one of the many civic-minded krewes marching in the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates this year. Founded in 1997 specifically for the purpose of volunteerism, the krewe’s 200 female members, or Agustinas, and 50 male auxiliary members put in 6,000 hours of community service every year with nonprofits benefiting women and children, says Sarah Olsen, the krewe’s president.

“Our krewe doesn’t put on its own charity events that often, (but) we volunteer at events around the Tampa Bay Area throughout the year,” Olsen says. The Krewe of Agustina de Aragon also offers two college scholarships to senior girls from local high schools.

The 13 Ugly Men Foundation is another krewe dedicated to community service, raising thousands of dollars for local charities while showing donors a fun time. The krewe’s first Derby Party, complete with horses, mint juleps and a bluegrass band, raised $20,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. Later in 2017, an ’80s-themed party�-�a roller skating event with a rented DeLorean and entertainment by Debbie Deb�- pulled in $13,000 for High Risk Hope, a nonprofit that helps families dealing with high-risk See Charities, Page 15

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By Gina Vivinetto, Times correspondent

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Here are some fun facts to help you get ready for the Gasparilla Pirate Fest’s famous Gasparilla Invasion and Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, happening Saturday, January 27.

The Gasparilla Invasion of downtown Tampa pays tribute to the mythical Spanish pirate José Gaspar, who Ye Mystic Krewe of allegedly terrorized Gasparilla hosted the very Florida’s coastal waters. first Gasparilla festival back in 1904.

18th century 200,000 %

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Every year after the Pirate Invasion, pirates and landlubbers alike celebrate at the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, which attracts more than 200,000 revelers.

UG ODUJHVW Blimey! The Parade of Pirates is the 3rd-largest parade in the U.S.

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marauding krewes will don their swashbuckling best to appear in the parade.

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Sail, Ho! The 2018 Gasparilla Invasion’s flotilla will feature 18 large vessels, with several hundred smaller boats trailing behind them in the mosquito fleet.

The ship’s three masts each rise 100 feet into the air.

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of the revenue from the Gasparilla The first 4 Gasparilla Charity Beer Gardens goes to Tampa Invasions found Bay area charities. pirates invading on horseback, but The parade’s soon the scallywags route stretches began seizing power miles along by commandeering Bayshore ships in the water.

Boulevard.

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The charitable side of

165ft.

112

$ 100,000

This year’s parade will feature 112 spectacular floats, and more beads tossed into the crowd than we could possibly count.

Each year the beer gardens raise more than $100,000 for local nonprofits.

The José Gasparilla II stretches 165 feet from bow to stern.

Ye Mystic Krewe debuted its pirate ship, the José Gasparilla II, and it remains the star of the invasion to this day.

Charities, from Page 14 pregnancies. And their 20th annual Halloween Party brought in a $25,000 donation to Redefining Refuge, an organization that benefits exploited and trafficked youth, says the foundation’s president, David B. Moyer.

This year’s Ugly Sweater benefit will raise money for the Ryan Nece Foundation, which benefits high school students and families in need. The Ugly Men also donated to Tampa Theatre and Children’s Cancer Center, and volunteered in cleanup efforts after Hurricane Irma, Moyer says.

The biggest annual fundraiser of the Krewe of Alegria is “Share the Love�-�Share the Shoes” in November.

“At that event, our attendees bring in-kind donations of athleticstyle school shoes,” krewe secretary Jeanne Cameron says. “We also hold a fabulous silent auction at the event, which raises money for us to then purchase additional shoes for children.”

The Krewe of Alegria holds fundraisers all year, including its Back-to-School Shoe Drive, Mother’s Day Fashion Show and Brunch, Halloween Pub Crawl and Costume Contest, and the End of Parade Season Mourning Event held in May, Cameron says.

Now in its seventh year, the Cutest Pirate Dog Contest at Ferg’s Live in downtown Tampa will benefit the Hillsborough Animal Health Foundation’s Vets4Pets, a nonprofit organization that provides low-cost veterinary care to low-income pet owners.

The giving back keeps going, even during the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates. The charity beer gardens organized by Ye Mystic Krewe typically raise around $13,000 for each participating charity.

And some krewes hold onto their community focus and spirit while participating in the parade.

During the 2017 Children’s Parade, 13 Ugly Men’s Moyer says, “we offered space to the Children’s Dream Fund, which allowed children and their families to ride the float and live like a pirate for the day. It was a truly memorable experience for everyone to use Gasparilla as another source of volunteerism.”