TAMPA, Fla. - Hundreds of little pirates are set to take over Tampa this weekend!
The Children’s Gasparilla Parade kicks off Gasparilla season on Saturday, Jan. 20.
Festivities begin at 11 a.m. with a bicycle safety rodeo on Bayshore Boulevard between Rome Avenue and Dakota Street. The Preschoolers Stroll takes place at 1:30 p.m. from Howard Avenue to Rome Avenue.
The Children’s Gasparilla Parade steps off at 3:30 p.m. at Bay to Bay Boulevard and Bayshore Boulevard.
The parade continues north along Bayshore, and ends at Edison Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard. The evening ends with a fireworks show at 7 p.m.
Traffic is going to be heavier than normal. Drivers and pedestrians should plan for extra travel time.
No parking signs have been installed in the neighborhoods west of Bayshore Boulevard and will be in effect beginning Friday, Jan. 19 through Saturday, Jan. 20.
Only drivers with an ID verifying residency will be allowed to enter the Bayshore Gardens and Hyde Park Preservation neighborhoods after the streets have been closed.
Any vehicles parked on the streets in those neighborhoods will be towed.
EVENT SCHEDULE (Details on all events)
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Rodeo
1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.: Preschooler's Stroll
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.: Gasparilla Air Invasion and Socom Day Jump
3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.: Children's Gasparilla Parade
6:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.: Gasparilla Air Invasion and Socom Night Jump
7 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: "Piratechnic" Extravaganza
GASPARILLA CHILDREN’S PARADE 2018 ROAD CLOSURE SCHEDULE
Monday, Jan. 15, 2018 – Thursday, February 1, 2018
Close Bayshore Boulevard crossovers at DeSoto Avenue, Nance Avenue, Albany Avenue and Gunby Avenue
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 at 2 a.m.
Close Bayshore Boulevard Northbound from Bay-to-Bay Boulevard to Rome Avenue
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 at 6:30 a.m.
Close Bayshore Boulevard from Gandy Boulevard to Platt Street/Channelside Drive
Close Bay to Bay Boulevard from Ysabella Avenue to Bayshore Boulevard
Close Davis Island Bridge Off-Ramp onto Northbound Bayshore Boulevard
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Close One Eastbound Lane and one Westbound Lane on Bay to Bay Boulevard from MacDill Avenue to Ysabella Avenue (to accommodate Pedestrian Walkway)
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018 at 4:30 p.m.
Close Eastbound Bay-to-Bay Boulevard at MacDill Avenue
PARK AND SHUTTLE (See map)
Shuttle service from the Fort Brook Garage, located on the corner of Franklin and Whiting Street, will operate one continuous shuttle route on Jan. 20, 2017 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Cost is $10 per adult, children accompanied by an adult ride for free. The shuttle will deliver to Bayshore Boulevard, near the beginning of the parade route at Bay to Bay Boulevard and the Crosstown.
For a complete list of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade events and activities, go to: www.gasparillaextravaganza.com.
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