Our live updates for Gasparilla 2025 have concluded. Read more about the festivities here.

TAMPA — Shiver me timbers: It was an especially cold morning for those pesky pirates invading Tampa again, but it warmed up as the festivities progressed Saturday. For more than 100 years, city leaders have held the signature Gasparilla event to draw visitors with a day of pirates and a parade of buccaneers. It borrows heavily from Mardi Gras, from beads to krewes and even each krewe’s signature boozy Milk Punch.

More than 300,000 people — including over 50 krewes and a 120-unit parade — were expected to plunder Bayshore Boulevard for the Gasparilla parade, throwing beads and trinkets along the way.

Follow along with Tampa Bay Times reporters and photographers on the scene today.

4:20 p.m. The floats roll on

As the afternoon goes on, the crowd’s energy is just as strong. Maybe the Celsius and Red Bull energy drink cans littering the street are to thank.

State Sen. Darryl Rouson tossed out beads, and Tampa Electric’s float resembled a streetcar. It’s a nod to 1887, when electric streetcars were introduced, which led to a rapid expansion of public transportation.

At some point, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla rolled on by.

3:34 p.m. The mother of invention

Finding a spot with a view of the parade can be difficult, but some Gasparilla-goers had solutions.

These clever fans brought their own ladders.

3:13 p.m. Swashbucklers take over

After a relatively quiet start to the morning, Tampa is anything but. Groups of friends are weaving down Bayshore Boulevard to find their viewing spot — or beverage.

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The energy is lively, and the sidewalks packed. One reserved lot has a DJ and buffet of Cuban food for patrons.

3:06 p.m. A new float from Bitcoin

A new krewe this year, the Krewe of Bitcoin Bay, passed through. The group advertises themselves as the world’s first Bitcoin pirate parade float.

2:17 p.m. See our Gasparilla photos in one place

Our photographers are out in Tampa today documenting the scene. See all our favorite photos here. We’ll update this story throughout the day.

2:12 p.m. When pirates invade your city

The huge pirate ship with sails flapping in the chilly wind approached shore with hundreds of private boats and yachts joining the flotilla.

And the crowd was as dressed up as the invaders. Here are some images of the invasion from photographers Luis Santana and Jefferee Woo.

12:47 p.m. Invasion is underway

The sound of cannon balls rang out as the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship made its way to the Tampa Convention Center.

With hundreds of private boats and yachts joining, it is estimated to be one of the largest flotillas in the country. Because of the busy boat traffic there is heavy police presence on land and sea, with idle speeds enforced to keep the boaters safe.

12:45: Images as crowd awaits

The paradegoers were as dressed up as the invading pirates, including their pets and kids.

12:14 p.m. Warming up to the crowd

It’s getting noticeably warmer and busier. The line for a women’s restroom near the Tampa Convention Center is wrapped around the entrance and down the stairs.

Meanwhile, artist Cienna Alida is providing live entertainment for folks as they grab drinks and food and mingle near the Garrison Channel.

Alida said she loves the no-drama fun of Gasparilla. And while she sings, she gets to look at all of the pirate costumes — which is like watching a performance of its own, she said.

”I know it sounds so cliche, but it really is fun,” she said. Alida will be performing all day.

12:03 p.m. Steer clear of trouble, pirates

Traffic will be an all-day issue in Tampa today as roads are closed for the parade of pirates.

As thousands of paradegoers converge on Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa, the city made some significant road closures in expectation of heavy traffic throughout the day.

Here are some of the road closures. You can see the full list and suggestions for alternative routes here.

8 p.m. Jan. 24 to 5 a.m. Jan. 26

3 a.m. to midnight Jan. 25

5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 25

7 a.m. to midnight Jan.

Water Street between Franklin Street and Florida Avenue.

11:31 a.m. A chill on business

David and Renai Herd of the Port Richey-based Breaking Bread BBQ food truck have been vendors at Gasparilla for three years. The cold seems to have chilled early business. So far, it’s not as busy as previous years, they said.

Renai said last year was non-stop orders and never-ending lines. But David said he thinks business will pick up around 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m., as it has done before.

11:26 a.m. Scurvy dog joins in

Natalie Ronan and her dog Fluffy, both dressed in pirate gear, are attending their first Gasparilla.

“She likes it,” Ronan said.

The invasion hasn’t yet begun, but some have already begun to find spots along Bayshore Boulevard where the parade route will pass through.

11 a.m. Shiver me timbers!

Peggy Bulado, left, is visiting her aunt Nancy Marshall, right, from New Mexico for Gasparilla.

This is both of their first times at the parade, and they’re “very excited.”

The cold weather? Not a deterrent for these two.

”We layered,” Bulado said, showing off her pirate gear, gloves and jacket.

10:55 a.m. ‘It’s a good atmosphere’

Colby Outlaw and Sean Lorigan fashioned their own pirate hats.

The two have been to Gasparilla before, but Catalina Ramirez is attending for the first time and said she enjoyed looking at the costumes.

The best parts of Gasparilla?

”The beads and the atmosphere,” Outlaw said.

”You can drink while walking down the street,” Lorigan said. “It’s a good atmosphere.”

10:40 a.m. A chilly sight

It’s a brisk 45 degrees in Tampa. But the tall skeleton-pirate chasing people for tips is sure to wake up Gasparilla-goers this morning.

Other revelers opted for menacing looks as well.

Life Williams, who was working security, said he expected the cold to deter more people but Gasparilla attendees came prepared. He advised those thinking of coming to arrive early before the area becomes too congested.

10:33 a.m. About that Milk Punch

Right now, at the Gasparilla brunch at the Tampa Convention Center and at the many pre-parade parties for the krewes and along the Bayshore Boulevard mansions, you will see lots of pitchers of foamy, boozy Milk Punch being consumed.

The Tampa Yacht and Country Club, which serves as the home base this morning for Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, has 90 gallons of Bloody Marys on hand today and more than 120 gallons of the club’s signature Milk Punch, a strong brandy drink, and they expect to run out of both by noon.

The Milk Punch, based on a New Orleans recipe for Mardi Gras, is only four ingredients, a combination of brandy (and sometimes bourbon) and the cream.

Every krewe has its own recipe, said Jeff Houck, a marketing manager who wrote the forward for “Tampa With a Twist,” a snapshot of Tampa’s bar scene published by Visit Tampa Bay last year.

“It’s like the mint julep during Kentucky Derby,” he said. “Every krewe has its house version, and it’s not just brandy, but bourbon and vodka and other great quantities of booze ... enough to kill a large parrot by accident.”

You can find recipes for the punch and other Gasparilla-themed cocktails here.

10:17 a.m. Revelers are assembling

Marty Giandalia flew in from New York, and Greg Gangemi drove from Sarasota for Gasparilla. The cold morning didn’t phase them. “It’s better than 90 degrees last year,” Gangemi said.

Riley and Jimi Radcliff are attending their first Gasparilla after moving to Tampa last February. They said they were most looking forward to the invasion. “And the good vibes,” Riley said.

10:06 a.m. Today’s pirate schedule

Pirate invasion: The day starts with the first sighting of the fully rigged pirate ship Jose Gasparilla — actually a barge dressed up as an 18th century pirate ship that is pulled by tug boats. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the movie-worthy ship with nearly 300 flags and three steel masts standing 100 feet tall will emerge at the south end of Hillsborough Bay with cannons firing.

As hundreds of members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla hang from every fixture of the 165-foot vessel, it will lead a flotilla of hundreds of personal boats and yachts to join the “invasion.” Tampa Fire Rescue boats will spray dramatic arcs of water in front of the ship as it heads to the Tampa Convention Center.

Pirate Parade: The theater continues after the ship docks and those aboard demand the mayor surrender the key to the city of Tampa to the captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Once they have the key, pirates celebrate by parading through the city starting at 2 p.m. The parade will begin at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards and end at Cass Street and Ashley Drive.

Pirate Fest: The fest will take place along the Riverwalk in downtown Tampa with live music on two stages before and after the parade in Curtis Hixon Park and MacDill Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. After-parties will be going on all night in downtown Tampa and Ybor City.

See photos from last week’s Children’s Gasparilla Parade to get a taste of what’s to come.

9:41 a.m. Gasparilla history

How did we get here?

Back in 1904, Tampa city leaders envisioned a signature event to lure visitors, using the campy fun of pirate costumes and the tale of a mythical pirate named Jose Gaspar who invades the city along with krewes that bestow trinkets to the crowd.

We have a history of Gasparilla, starting when they arrived on horseback. And the Tampa Bay History Center has recounted Gasparilla floats through years, which have gotten more elaborate with each decade.

9:30 a.m. Today’s weather

Heading out early to secure your spot on the parade route? We checked with weather forecasters and expect to find the chilliest morning amid a string of strong cold fronts this year for the annual Gasparilla Parade in Tampa, though the afternoon should warm up nicely.

For the 2 p.m. parade, fans should expect an afternoon high in the low 60s after temperatures bottomed out in the low- to mid-30s this morning.

“It should be a pretty pleasant day once you get out of those very cold morning temperatures,” forecasters said.