Gasparilla Pirate Fest: Tampa's Annual Invasion and Parade
The annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest in downtown Tampa, Florida, saw revelers in pirate attire gathering for the arrival of a flotilla of boats led by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, who demanded the key to the city before joining in the festivities, including a downtown parade and live music. The event, which has been a tradition since 1904, celebrates the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar and his supposed exploits in the Gulf of Mexico, with his legacy living on in the name of Tampa Bay's NFL team.