In your best pirate voice, Lemme hear ya say "ARRGH!"

Shiver me timbers! It's Gasparilla time in Tampa Bay! The best way to explain Garparilla Pirate Fest is that it's Tampa's version of Mardi Gras, with krewes and parades...but Mardi Gras doesn't have the Invasion!! It takes place over two weeks...the first one being the Family friendly weekend (know as the Extravanga) and the second the actual Invasion (known as Pirate Fest)

A quick history lesson: the legendary Jose Gaspar was a pirate, along with his crew terrorized the Florida west coast in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Since 1904, Gasparilla Fest celebrates the invasion of the pirates into Tampa Bay. For our family and friends who are civil war buffs: Gasparilla is kinda like the war reactments, but there are no Union or Confederates: everybody dresses up like pirates! Next weekend, no kidding, there will be a true pirate ship that storms into Tampa Bay, along with every other boat and ship on the FL west coast to invade Tampa!

The family version of the event is today and Anna Kate is participating in her very first parade! She too is dressing up like a pirate and riding in her own treasure chest. There is a "Preschooler's Stroll" for the youngest of pirates, decorating wagons, strollers, trikes, etc and parading down Bayshore Blvd in Tampa. After the Preschooler's stroll, the Children's Parade, Airshow and later in the evening the "Piratechnic" fireworks show.

I promise to load some great pictures---as long as the weather holds out! No matter what, we'll have a good time!