Good morning Tampa!
It’s chilly and rainy today, but it still beats shoveling snow! 🌞
In this edition, we have…
Gasparilla parade info
Olympic swimmers help local kids
And more!
Gasparilla Pirate Fest
The annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest is upon us!
This Tampa tradition goes way back to 1904.
It’s a fun time and something every Tampa-area resident should experience.
Below we’ve compiled all the essential info you need to make the most of this festival.
When: Saturday, January 25th, 2025
Gasparilla Invasion: 11:30am to 1pm
Info: The Jose Gasparilla II sets sail at the south end of Hillsborough Bay, sails north to Seddon Channel (between Davis Island and Harbour Island), continues north, and docks at the Tampa Convention Center.
Gasparilla Parade of Pirates: 2pm to 5:30pm
Info: Enjoy the march down Bayshore Blvd for a victory parade that follows a 4.5-mile journey along the beautiful Hillsborough Bay through downtown Tampa.
Price: Free to the public. Reversed seats are available (starting at $78).
Viewing: You can witness the Gasparilla parade from a number of spots - please see the parade map above for more info.
Parking: Parking is available at the Tampa Convention Center and throughout downtown, but plan to arrive early as parking fills up quickly for the event.
For more info, Tampa Gov has compiled a comprehensive list for parking, road closures, rideshare, boat docking, and more.
Weather
Thursday 1/23: High 51°/Low 36° - AM Showers
Friday 1/24: High 55°/Low 33° - Sunny
Saturday 1/25: High 61°/Low 43° - Sunny
Sunday 1/26: High 72°/Low 50° - Mostly Sunny
Monday 1/27: High 74°/Low 53° - Partly Cloudy
Tuesday 1/28: High 74°/Low 54° - Partly Cloudy
Wednesday 1/29: High 77°/Low 57° - Partly Cloudy
Upcoming Events:
Music:
Shipwrecked Music Festival - Friday
Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi Tribute) - Saturday
Never Stop Believin' (Journey Tribute) - Saturday
Misc:
Sunshine Market at Midtown Tampa - Saturday
Hillsborough Hiking Spree - Ongoing
Comedian Geoffrey Asmus @ Side Splitters - Friday & Saturday
Olympic Swimmers Support Local Kids
Olympic champions Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke joined young swimmers at the Northshore Aquatic Complex in St. Pete for a memorable event.
Bobby Finke, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder, and Katie Ledecky, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, spent time with the teens and pre-teens before the race.
Afterward, they stayed to cheer on the local kids as they crossed the finish line.
Their encouragement left the kids inspired, proving the power of community and the generosity of role models.
It's heartwarming to see such respected athletes supporting our community!
That’s it for this week’s edition of Tampa Loop!
We hope you enjoy some pirate festivities!
See you next week! 🌞
Kevin C
