Local Color: Gasparilla in Tampa Bay

The number of ships that fell prey to Gasparilla and his cohorts is unknown, but he continued to wreck havoc through 1821 before retiring. However, the sedentary life didn’t suit him and he reunited his motley crew for one last exploit.

Unfortunately for Gasparilla, the vessel they chose to attack was a U.S. Navy warship in disguise. The invaders were routed and Gasparilla is said to have committed suicide to avoid capture.

In 1904, Tampa’s social and civic leaders adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city-wide celebration. Secret meetings gave birth to the first “Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla,” whose 40 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.

The first invasion was so successful that city leaders chose to make the carnival an annual event. In 1954 the Krewe commissioned the building of a fully rigged pirate ship, which was christened Jose Gasparilla. It’s usually docked and open for visitors to tour at the Tarpon Weigh Station on Bayshore Boulevard.

In addition to the traditional invasion and parade, the Gasparilla celebration encompasses a full week’s worth of activities held throughout the city. And this year, on the last Saturday in January, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will lay siege upon Tampa once again. Arrr, argh!

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