Like pirates , love beads, in Florida during the 3 rd week of January? -if so then there is only one place for you to be and that is at the annual Gasparilla invasion .
Held each year in Tampa Gasparilla celebrates the activities of a legendary pirate- Jose Gaspar.
Known as the ' last of the Buccaneers, ' and reportedly the terror of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century- Gaspar was a lieutenant in the Royal Spanish Navy for five years until 1783 when, seizing command of a Spanish sloop-of-war, he with fellow mutineers set sail for the Florida straits.
His reign ended when he mistakenly attacked a US Navy ship . The battle that followed left Gasparilla' s flagship burning in ruins. The story goes that , just as the commanding officer of the U. S ship was boarding the defeated ship, Gaspar seized a heavy chain, wrapped it around his waist and neck and leaped into the water, brandishing his sword in a final gesture of defiance as he sank into the sea.
Legend has it that he left a fortune in treasures somewhere along the Florida coastline -which to date has not been discovered -what did come to light though was the story of Gaspar .
A lady by the name of Miss Louise Frances Dodge, society editor of the Tampa Tribune, was planning the city' s first May festival. At the suggestion of George W. Hardee, then with the federal government in Tampa, she decided to develop a theme for the affair based on the legend of Gasparilla.
Secret meetings gave birth to the first ' Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, ' whose forty members planned to surprise the populace with a mock pirate attack on Tampa. Masked and fully-costumed, the first krewe arrived on horseback and ' captured the city' during the Festival Parade.
In 1954 the Krewe commissioned the building of the world' s only fully rigged pirate ship to be built in modern times. Named the Jose Gasparilla, the ship is a replica of a ship used in the 18th century. Constructed of steel at 165' long by 35' across the beam, with 3 steel masts standing 100' tall-which during the festivities are covered with bodies right up to the crows nest. During the year she is usually docked at the Tarpon Weigh Station on Bayshore Blvd. for the public' s viewing pleasure.
The festival is held on the last Saturday in January. In addition to the traditional invasion and parade, the Gasparilla celebration encompasses a full week' s worth of activities held throughout the city and includes a special parade for children only.
The main event on the Saturday is a riot of noise and colour. The small crafts leave -all intent on defending the city. They sail forth to meet the ship. But quickly seeing the error of their ways, they turn to join forces with the Captain and his Krewe’s flotilla. The colourful Gasparilla Flotilla then makes its way north across Hillsborough Bay and into Seddon Channel (channel between Davis Island & Harbour Island). The Gasparilla Invasion has begun!
On the way out and back the boats of all shapes and sizes are decorated with hundreds of string of beads . These are the “treasures” of Gaspar and the boat owners launch them by a variety of mean at the hoards of people along the channel . It is considered a great triumph to catch as many of these treasures as possible and then wear at the next years Gasparilla .
Those in the know arrive early armed with picnic chairs and baskets filled to the brim . This year 2011 there was even a party with their own portaloo! As many of the roads in the Tampa area are closed due to the parade in the afternoon it is advisable to check the Gasparilla site to find out which ones are affected before setting off
http://gasparillapiratefest. com/index. html
This is really a different and fun way to spend time in the Tampa area and I thoroughly recommend going if you possibly can .