Tampa, Florida, has a rich history of pirate lore seen today in family-friendly parades, exhibits and waterfront activities. The legend is built around pirate Jose Gaspar.
2021 Gasparilla parades officially canceled due to COVID-19
The 2021 Gasparilla parades have officially been canceled due to COVID-19.
and last updated 2021-02-16 18:20:49-05
The 2021 Gasparilla parades have officially been canceled due to COVID-19.
The pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) made the call to cancel Tampa s signature Gasparilla Parades planned for April 10 and April 17. The decision resulted from an ongoing dialogue between event organizers, city leaders, and healthcare experts. We hoped to safely and effectively hold Children s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay and Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, but believe it is our community s best interest to refrain from hosting festivities this year, said Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Captain Peter Lackman. The pirate invasion will continue in 2022, with the excitement and revelry that Tampa Bay has come to know and love.
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Gasparilla festivities were canceled for 2021 after being rescheduled earlier this year. Photo from Gasparilla 2018.
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla officials said it was the best way to make sure the event happened efficiently and safely.
Tampa s signature pirate invasion event, Gasparilla, has been canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The festivities, which draw hundreds of thousands of people every year, were originally scheduled for January and February. They were rescheduled to April and May due to concerns about spreading the virus during mass activities.
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There have been more than 1.8 million cases of the coronavirus in Florida since the start of the pandemic, and more than 29,000 deaths. About 7 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 485,000 have died of COVID-19.