Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 49 minutes ago
Gasparilla Safety Tips and Important Information
Avast Ye! Gasparilla season is upon us and we have some safety tips and important information for your krewe.
Stay informed- text GASPARILLA to 888-777 to receive Gasparilla event updates, traffic alerts, and safety tips.
See Something, Say Something: The Tampa Police Department asks all attendees to remain vigilant during the parade and report any suspicious activity. As always, officers will be stationed along the route. There are several other ways to contact the police department:
TEXT: SAFETAMPA and your tip to 847411 (TIP411) and you will receive a response.
PHONE: Call 833-872-4636 (TPA-INFO)
Saturday, January 25th from 9am-8pm
IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, please dial 911
Have a Meeting Place: Please note, that due to large crowds there may be limited cell service during the event. For this reason, it is important to establish a meeting place ahead of time in case some of your krewe gets lost at sea.
Take a Photo of Your Child in Costume: To help identify your child if they get lost, take a photo of them on the day of the parade. This will help law enforcement officers quickly identify your child by their pirate garb. If you lose your child, alert the closest officer immediately. They will be stationed along the entire route.
Drinking and Wet Zone: Drinking is PROHIBITED during the Ashley Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A (Jan 18).
During the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest (Jan 25) wet zones will be established along the parade route and in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Consuming alcohol on public property outside these wet zones is prohibited.
There is zero tolerance for underage alcohol consumption and disruptive behavior. Please drink responsibly and keep the following in mind:
No underage alcohol consumption
No open alcohol containers or consumption outside of designated wet zones
No coolers, kegs, or vessels that provide mass distribution of alcohol
No glass containers of any type
NOTE: All bags and backpacks are subject to search
Prohibited Items: Drones, tents, umbrellas, glass containers, coolers, kegs, styrofoam cups, grills, scooters and fencing are just a few items that are PROHIBITED during the event. For more details, please visit the Gasparilla Pirate Fest FAQ.
Pets: Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed at the event.
Bicycles: Bicycles are allowed for transportation to the event site, however within the event street closure cyclists must walk with their bikes. The event site is very crowded with pedestrians, including small children. Do not leave your bicycle unattended and do not lock it on private or city property.
Shared Escooters and Ebikes: A No-Ride Zone has been established for the Children's Gasparilla (Jan18) and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest (Jan25) for shared escooters and ebikes. Personal scooters are not allowed at either event.
Golf Carts: Personal golf carts are not allowed at either event. Only golf carts used by authorized festival staff and vendors will be permitted.
Boat Docking: Docking space in and around downtown Tampa for Gasparilla is extremely limited. Boaters attempting to “come ashore” along the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade or any other property without a permit is strictly prohibited.
As the Jose Gasparilla reaches the southern end of Harbour Island, vessel traffic entering the Tampa Convention Center Basin will be shut down at the Harbour Island Bridge, the Platt Street Bridge, the West side of Tampa General Hospital, and the Seddon Channel entrance to the Tampa Convention Center Basin. Vessels will not be permitted to be anchored, moored, or loiter within the Tampa Convention Center Basin.
No anchoring, mooring, docking, or loitering will be allowed at the Tampa Convention Center, the Tarpon Weigh Station on Bayshore, the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade within 100 feet of the Tarpon Weigh Station, Harbour Island within the Tampa Convention Center Basin (open to residents only), or within 50 feet of the Tampa General Hospital Dock. See map for reference.
Boaters attempting to depart the Tampa Convention Center Basin will be allowed to do so at any time.
The boat ramp at Ballast Point Park will be closed on January 25, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Gasparilla Safety Tips and Important Information
Avast Ye! Gasparilla season is upon us and we have some safety tips and important information for your krewe.
Stay informed- text GASPARILLA to 888-777 to receive Gasparilla event updates, traffic alerts, and safety tips.
See Something, Say Something: The Tampa Police Department asks all attendees to remain vigilant during the parade and report any suspicious activity. As always, officers will be stationed along the route. There are several other ways to contact the police department:
TEXT: SAFETAMPA and your tip to 847411 (TIP411) and you will receive a response.
PHONE: Call 833-872-4636 (TPA-INFO)
Saturday, January 25th from 9am-8pm
IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, please dial 911
Have a Meeting Place: Please note, that due to large crowds there may be limited cell service during the event. For this reason, it is important to establish a meeting place ahead of time in case some of your krewe gets lost at sea.
Take a Photo of Your Child in Costume: To help identify your child if they get lost, take a photo of them on the day of the parade. This will help law enforcement officers quickly identify your child by their pirate garb. If you lose your child, alert the closest officer immediately. They will be stationed along the entire route.
Drinking and Wet Zone: Drinking is PROHIBITED during the Ashley Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A (Jan 18).
During the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest (Jan 25) wet zones will be established along the parade route and in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Consuming alcohol on public property outside these wet zones is prohibited.
There is zero tolerance for underage alcohol consumption and disruptive behavior. Please drink responsibly and keep the following in mind:
No underage alcohol consumption
No open alcohol containers or consumption outside of designated wet zones
No coolers, kegs, or vessels that provide mass distribution of alcohol
No glass containers of any type
NOTE: All bags and backpacks are subject to search
Prohibited Items: Drones, tents, umbrellas, glass containers, coolers, kegs, styrofoam cups, grills, scooters and fencing are just a few items that are PROHIBITED during the event. For more details, please visit the Gasparilla Pirate Fest FAQ.
Pets: Pets (with the exception of service animals) are not allowed at the event.
Bicycles: Bicycles are allowed for transportation to the event site, however within the event street closure cyclists must walk with their bikes. The event site is very crowded with pedestrians, including small children. Do not leave your bicycle unattended and do not lock it on private or city property.
Shared Escooters and Ebikes: A No-Ride Zone has been established for the Children's Gasparilla (Jan18) and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest (Jan25) for shared escooters and ebikes. Personal scooters are not allowed at either event.
Golf Carts: Personal golf carts are not allowed at either event. Only golf carts used by authorized festival staff and vendors will be permitted.
Boat Docking: Docking space in and around downtown Tampa for Gasparilla is extremely limited. Boaters attempting to “come ashore” along the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade or any other property without a permit is strictly prohibited.
As the Jose Gasparilla reaches the southern end of Harbour Island, vessel traffic entering the Tampa Convention Center Basin will be shut down at the Harbour Island Bridge, the Platt Street Bridge, the West side of Tampa General Hospital, and the Seddon Channel entrance to the Tampa Convention Center Basin. Vessels will not be permitted to be anchored, moored, or loiter within the Tampa Convention Center Basin.
No anchoring, mooring, docking, or loitering will be allowed at the Tampa Convention Center, the Tarpon Weigh Station on Bayshore, the Bayshore Boulevard balustrade within 100 feet of the Tarpon Weigh Station, Harbour Island within the Tampa Convention Center Basin (open to residents only), or within 50 feet of the Tampa General Hospital Dock. See map for reference.
Boaters attempting to depart the Tampa Convention Center Basin will be allowed to do so at any time.
The boat ramp at Ballast Point Park will be closed on January 25, 2024, from 10 a.m. to noon.
