Tampa, Florida -- On Saturday, more than 300,000 people are expected to descend upon Bayshore Boulevard and downtown Tampa to witness an invasion!
New Gallery: Photos from the 2012 Gasparilla Parade
Arrrgg! Gasparilla is here! Since 1904, pirates with Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla have invaded Tampa Bay, but have you ever wondered how the parade grew to what it is today?
We spoke with YMKG's Historian Dr. Bill Carson to find out how Gasparilla came to be.
Photos: Gasparilla through history
Well, it turns out, even back in 1904 people wanted to have some fun.
Tampa already had an annual May Day celebration during the turn of the last century, but Carson says a group of about 50 people decided they wanted to "liven things up".
So, he says they sent a few letters to the local newspaper warning that the pirates were about to invade.
Carson tells us, back then, the legend of the artistocrat turned pirate Jose Gaspar was well known.
YMKG says the legend goes that he plundered 36 ships along Florida's West Coast during the end of the 18th century and early 19th century.
Link: Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla
Because of YMKG, Jose Gaspar went from a legendary pirate to a deep rooted tradition in Tampa Bay.
The very first invasion, wasn't the invasion we know today, but rather an invasion of 50 'pirates' on horseback!
The people of Tampa loved it and the tradition continued.
Carson says the pirates made their first invasion by borrowed boat in 1911.
There were some years when YMKG didn't know if they'd have a borrowed boat until the night before the parade, so as you'd imagine, Carson says the men would have to move fast to decorate the borrowed boat!
Finally, in 1937, Carson tells 10 News YMKG bought its first pirate ship 'Jose Gasparilla I' and used that until 1954 when they purchased the ship we see today, 'Jose Gasparilla II'.
Carson tells us Jose Gasarilla II is actually a flat bottom boat with no engine, so it has to be tugged through the shallow waters of the bay.
The early years of the Gasparilla parade went through downtown Tampa, ending at the South Florida Fairgrounds which was where the University of Tampa's soccer fields stand today, Carson explained.
And, up until 1966, Ye Mystic Krewe was the only krewe in the parade. Carson says the Krewe of Venus, Knight's of Saint Yago and Rough Riders followed. In the 90's, Gasparilla added dozens of more krewes that represent a variety of charitable causes and organizations.
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla has also grown over the years, from about 50 members in 1904 to about 800 members today.
YMKG added yet another tradition in Tampa in the 1940's with the Children's Parade which has grown vastly in popularity.
It's estimated more than 100,000 people attended this year's Children's Parade.
As for the beads?? Carson says the tossing of beads started in 1985. Before then, parade goers went after the coins and shell casings from the pirates' guns and cannons...which were firing blanks, of course.
We called up the Bead Barn in South Tampa, which started supplying beads in the mid 90's. JB with the Bead Barn says they've sold more than 40 million strands of beads so far this year...yes, 40 million! The parade season isn't over yet though, JB tells us they just got another truck load with 2-3 million more strands of beads!
So, when you step out in your best pirate gear, remember how the Pirate Fest got its start...more than 100 years ago, on horse back by a group of 50 Tampa residents.
Schedule of Events: Gasparilla 2012
Click: GasparillaPirateFest.com
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Gasparilla Invasion: Jose Gasparilla sailes from south end of Hillsborough Bay toward the docks at the Tampa Convention Center
10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Gasparilla Invasion Brunch at the Tampa Convention Center
2 p.m.-5:30 p.m.: Gasparilla Parade of Pirates (Starts at Bayshore and Bay to Bay and ends at Cass Street and Ashley Drive)
10 a.m.-10 p.m.: Gasparilla Invasion celebration at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, at Ashley Drive between Madison and Polk)
Information courtesy of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
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