Gasparilla celebration collides with NHL’s All-Star Weekend in downtown Tampa
Thousands of pirates were swarming the streets of downtown Tampa for Saturday’s annual Gasparilla celebration.
The nation’s third-largest annual celebration of Jose Gaspar, a famous pirate who, according to Visit Tampa Bay, plundered waters of the coast of West Florida in the late 1700s and early 1800s kicked off around 2 p.m.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reports the parade typically attracts 300,000 people. This year the number could be even higher thanks to tourists in town for the National Hockey League’s All-Star Weekend. The NHL All-Star Game is Sunday at Amalie Arena.
All you’re going to see in Tampa today is pirates & Lightening fans #Gasparilla2018 #NHLAllStar #Tampa
— T0Ri (@T0Ri_R) January 27, 2018
#Gasparilla2018 pic.twitter.com/uNvu37Nbte
— Dr. Jesse Morse (@DrJesseMorse) January 27, 2018
Wwweeelllll how about the Stanley Cup wearing a life jacket on a pirate ship with pirates? #Gasparilla2018 #aaaarrrhhhhggg #NHLAllStarWeekend #DillyDilly pic.twitter.com/N1iFS6Vv7E
— Sarah Couture (@MrsCouture217) January 27, 2018
there are pirates all over the place in tampa bay rn
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 27, 2018
There will be heavy traffic in @tampasdowntown this weekend due to @GasparillaTampa & @NHL All-Star weekend. If you're heading to the #TampaCC, arrive early! Ft Brooke & Whiting Garage are great options or you can take the @tampastreetcar from Ybor. Info: https://t.co/H7XfFPpks8 pic.twitter.com/lKfZRI4hwH
— Tampa Convention Center (@TheTampaCC) January 25, 2018
Even the palm trees downtown are dressed up for the occasion. #gasparilla2018 pic.twitter.com/nsJRPfyPCw
— Daylina Miller (@DaylinaMiller) January 27, 2018
Ryan Callihan: 941-745-7095, @RCCallihan
This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Gasparilla celebration collides with NHL’s All-Star Weekend in downtown Tampa."