Cannons booming, the world's only fully-rigged pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla, sets sail across Hillsborough Bay and into Seddon Channel today as part of the annual Gasparilla tradition. Other boats intent on defending the city from the invading pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla will sail to meet the ship before joining it on its journey to the Tampa Convention Center.
There, the mayor typically surrenders the key to the city about 1pm, signalling the parade along Bayshore Boulevard to begin.
NOTE: Parking garages and lots throughout downtown Tampa and Ybor City will have a one-time special-event parking rate. Some suggest parking in Ybor City and taking the TECO Line Streetcar, which runs continuously from 9am to 1:30am, to downtown Tampa. For more parking and transit information, click here.