Sat 23 Jan
Coming soonThe family pirate parade in Tampa, a week before the big one.
Going as a group? Charter the van · Other events
Know someone who'd come?
Every share is a seat closer.
On film
The trip
Children's Gasparilla is the family day of Tampa's pirate season, a week before the big parade. The parade runs a mile and a half up Bayshore Boulevard, from Bay to Bay Boulevard to Edison Avenue, with more than 125 entries: krewes, marching bands, dance groups and school teams. Stunt planes and parachutists put on an air show over Bayshore, and the whole event is alcohol-free.
It is four hours from Tallahassee, and the organisers say parking is limited and ask families to carpool. So we drive it. The van leaves Tallahassee in the morning, drops you near the parade, and brings you home at the end of the day. Nine seats, one driver, and nobody in your family has to watch the road instead of the floats.
0 of 9 seats booked. 4 more seats and the van runs.
A seat is $90.00. Pay now, and if the van does not fill, every cent comes back. It leaves in 85 days.
Photos
Gasparilla's own Instagram and Facebook are the best look at Bayshore Boulevard on a parade day, and where the organisers post news as the day gets close.
No ticket needed
Children's Gasparilla is free. You do not need a ticket to stand along Bayshore Boulevard and watch it go by. What we sell is the ride: from Tallahassee to the parade, and home again the same day.
If you would rather have a seat waiting, the organisers sell reserved bleacher and chair seats along the route through Gasparilla Treasures, their own store. They are optional, and only the organisers sell them.
Follow it
The day
Getting on. Be at your pickup place a few minutes early. It is a long drive, the van leaves on time, and it does not come back for a second run.
Your pickup place. You tell us where at checkout, anywhere within 15 miles of Tallahassee, and the van comes to you.
On Bayshore. You are dropped near the parade route. The organisers ask everyone to cross to the side they want before the parade starts, and without a reserved seat you can cross to the waterside at any block from Barcelona Street to Edison Avenue. Chairs and blankets are welcome, and so are strollers. Tents, glass and coolers are not, and outside food and drink is not allowed on the route, apart from a small soft cooler or lunch bag for child care or medical needs.
Coming home. The van is back where it dropped you at the time on your booking. Put that time in your phone before the parade starts, and pick a spot to meet in case your group gets split up in the crowd.
