Gasparilla!

[CubanCarlos]

Gasparilla...the pirate. The name and foundation of Tampa's traditional Gasparilla Carnival come from legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, "last of the Buccaneers," who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century. Gaspar, given to calling himself "Gasparilla," served as a lieutenant in the Royal Spanish Navy for five years until 1783 when, upon seizing command of a Spanish sloop-of-war, he with his fellow mutineers set sail for the Florida straits. And so the young Spanish aristocrat-turned-pirate began an adventurous life as outlaw of the sea.

 

Gasparilla..the extravaganza. When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gasparilla was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Tampa's social and civic leaders adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city-wide celebration. 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.

 

The first invasion was so successful and well-received by the people of Tampa that a city-wide demand was voiced to make the Mystic Krewe organization permanent and to replicate the carnival each year.

 

Tampa has upheld its tradition by celebrating Gasparilla every year with only ten exceptions since that infamous first invasion. Today, Ye Mystic Krewe numbers over 700 of the city's most prominent men, who uphold their mascot Gaspar as a "hearty old swashbuckler with courtly manners and possibly – just possibly – prankful habits."

 

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 West Indiaman used in the 18th century. She is constructed of steel at 165' long by 35' across the beam, with 3 steel masts standing 100' tall. During the year she is usually docked at the Tarpon Weigh Station on Bayshore Blvd. for the public's viewing pleasure. In the past, Gasparilla has been celebrated on the second Monday in February.

 

A break in tradition came in 1988 with the move to a Saturday festival. The change allows surrounding communities to take part in the celebration. In 2002, the festival was moved to 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. This January, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will lay siege upon Tampa once again.

 

Picture of the Flotilla Invasion.

 

Picture of ye loyal ship, "Jose Gasparilla" invading Tampa's convention center ready to steal the Mayor and the key to the city.

 

Video link of the history and events of Gasparilla

http://gasparillapiratefest.com/video.shtml

 

if you want to see more pictures, or get more information, go to

http://gasparillapiratefest.com/

 

Just thought i would like to share rich history on what goes on in Tampa Bay, hopefully those of you around Florida can stop by and visit one day!

 

Smooth Sailing me Hearties!

[Slazenger]

Truly fucking epic. Thanks for additional info. Hearing about it was one thing, but this is sick. xD

[fox*]

wow amazing truly amazing lol

[NOMNOM]

I'm seriously thinking about attending next year.