Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Pirate Fest continues Saturday as Jose Gaspar invades the bay with a parade in tow. The celebration has been a popular tradition since 1904.
City of Tampa officials warn that traffic will be heavier than usual downtown on Saturday and many roadways will be closed.
“You should park as far from the parade route as you can while it’s still convenient and that way you can walk in and when you’re leaving, it’ll be much easier to get out,” said Steve Hegarty, the public information officer for the Tampa Police Department.
The event begins with the Jose Gasparilla pirate ship docking at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m. The pirates kick off the colorful parade at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Bayshore Boulevard and Bay to Bay Boulevard. They will head north on Bayshore and end the parade downtown at Cass Street and Ashley Drive.
According to Hegarty, the public should have their own safety plans in place.
“We always tell people if you see something, say something. So if people see something that just doesn’t look right to them, there should be an officer very nearby who can address it,” said Hegarty. “We do this every year. It’s a huge event and we have a pretty good track record.”
STREET CLOSURE SCHEDULE
Monday, January 14 – Thursday, January 31, 2019
Close Bayshore Blvd. crossovers at DeSoto Ave., Nance Ave., Albany Ave. and Gunby Ave.
Friday, January 25, 2019 at 10 p.m.
Bayshore Blvd. from Gandy Blvd. to Platt St.
Bay to Bay Blvd. from Bayshore Blvd. to Ysabella Ave.
Davis Islands Bridge Off Ramp onto NB Bayshore Blvd.
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 3 a.m.
Bayshore Blvd. from Brorein St. to Platt St.
Platt St. / Channelside Dr. from Plant Ave. to Franklin St.
Ashley Dr. from Platt St. / Channelside Dr. to Brorein St.
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 5:30 a.m.
Selmon Expressway - EB Willow Ave. Off Ramp (Exit 4)
Willow Ave. from Platt St. to Swann Ave. (SB lanes closed only, 1-way NB)
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 7 a.m.
Ashley Dr. from Brorein St. to Jackson St.
Brorein St. from Florida Ave. to Parker St.
Franklin St. from Channelside Dr. to Harbour Island Bridge
Old Water St. from Florida Ave. to Franklin St.
Washington St. from Ashley Dr. to Tampa St.
Whiting St. from Ashley Dr. to Tampa St.
Whiting St. from Florida Ave. to Franklin St.(WB lanes closed, 1-way EB)
Selmon Expressway EB Morgan off ramp (6B)
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 9 a.m.
Ashley Dr. from Brorein St. to Cass St.
Kennedy Blvd. from Hyde Park Ave. to Ashley Dr. (EB)
Jackson St. from Ashley Dr. to Tampa St.
Kennedy Blvd. from Florida Ave. to Plant Ave. (WB)
Madison St. from Ashley Dr. to Florida Ave.
Twiggs St. from Ashley Dr. to Florida Ave.
Zack St. from Ashley Dr. to Florida Ave.
Polk St. from Ashley Dr. to Florida Ave.
Cass St. (EB) from Willow Ave to Doyle Carlton Dr. / Gasparilla Plaza (Poe Garage Exit)
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 11 a.m.
Cass St. from Willow Ave. to N. Blvd.
North A St. from Willow Ave. to Newport Ave.
North B St. from Willow Ave. to Newport Ave.
Fig St. from Willow Ave. to Gilchrist Ave.
Carmen St. from Willow Ave. to Delaware Ave.
Newport Ave. from Cass St. to North A St.
Gilchrist Ave. from Cass St. to Fig St.
Delaware Ave. from Cass St. to Fig St.
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 1 p.m.
Cass St. from Doyle Carlton Dr. / Gasparilla Plaza to Tampa St.
Tyler St. from Ashley Dr. to Tampa St.
Ashley Dr. from Tampa Extension to Cass St.
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 3 p.m.
Bay-to-Bay Blvd. from MacDill Ave. to Ysabella Ave. (EB lanes closed only, 1-way WB)
Swann Ave. from MacDill Ave. to Armenia Ave. (EB lanes closed only, 1-way WB)
Platt St. at Howard Ave. (EB)
Platt St. at S. Blvd. (EB)
Willow Ave. from Kennedy Blvd. to Cleveland St.
Willow Ave. from Cleveland St. to Platt St. (SB)
South Blvd. from Kennedy Blvd. to Cleveland St.
South Blvd. from Cleveland St. to Platt St. (SB)
Whiting St. from Tampa St. to Franklin St.
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 5 p.m.
Kennedy Blvd. at Himes Ave.(EB)
Kennedy Blvd. at MacDill Ave. (EB)
Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.
Kennedy Blvd. at Howard Ave. (EB)
Kennedy Blvd. at Willow Ave. (EB)
Kennedy Blvd. at N. Blvd. (EB)
CITY OF TAMPA PUBLIC PARKING OPTIONS
Downtown Tampa
Tampa Convention Center Garage
(Tampa St. & Brorein St.), will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry.
Ft. Brooke Garage
(Whiting St., between Franklin St. & Florida Ave.) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry.
Poe Garage
(Ashley St., south of Cass St.) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle entry. Due to the parade route, this garage will close from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. Customers will not be able to enter or exit this garage until after 6 p.m. For those attending the 8:30 p.m. show at the Straz Center, Poe Garage will reopen at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a $10.00 flat rate upon entry.
Twiggs St. Garage
(Twiggs St., west of Nebraska Ave.) will open at 7 a.m. at normal hourly rates of $1.20/hr., with a $7 daily maximum. This will be an automated facility with a pay station collecting payment upon exit.
Royal Regional Lot
(Tampa St. & Fortune St.) will open at 7 a.m. at a rate of $10 per vehicle.
Parking Meters south of Kennedy Blvd. and on Kennedy Blvd. will be enforced from 8 a.m. until midnight.
Ybor City (Park and Ride Streetcar)
Centro Ybor Garage
(5th Ave. and 15th St.) will open at 6 a.m. at the standard hourly rate with a $9.00 maximum.
Palm Ave Garage
(13th St. and 9th Ave.) will open at 6 a.m. at the standard hourly rate with a $9.00 maximum.
HART will be offering extra streetcar, bus, and trolley services. For more information about HART service during this special event, please call (813) 254-4278 or visit www.goHART.org.
Contact the City of Tampa Parking Division at (813) 274-8179 for parking-related questions.
GETTING TO THE STRAZ CENTER
Drivers attending shows Saturday night at the Straz Center are encouraged to take one of the following routes:
From South Tampa
- Dale Mabry NB to I-275 NB
- I-275 NB to Exit 44 Ashley Dr.
- Continue on Ashley Dr. to Tyler St.
- Right on Tyler St. to available parking
From Brandon
- I-4 WB to Downtown Exit 45A
- Follow Downtown West sign to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. through Laurel St. to available parking
From St. Pete/Clearwater
- I-275 NB to Exit 44 Ashley Dr.
- Continue on Ashley Dr. to Tyler St.
- Right on Tyler St. to available parking
From North Tampa
- South on Tampa St. to Laurel St.
- Right on Laurel St. to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. to available parking
OR
- I-1275 SB to Downtown Exit 45A
- Follow Downtown West sign to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. through Laurel St. to available parking
Updates will be shared on social media via Facebook on the City of Tampa Government and Tampa Police Department pages and via twitter @cityoftampa @cot_traffic and @tampapd.
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