when does gasparilla parade start

The big Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa starts at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Parade Start Time & Date

• The main Parade of Pirates begins at 2:00 p.m. and runs until about 6:00 p.m. along the downtown Tampa route.

• It takes place on Saturday, January 31, 2026 , as part of the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest.

Before the Parade: The Invasion

• Much of the fun starts earlier with the Gasparilla Invasion on the Hillsborough River.

* Pirates board the _Jose Gasparilla_ ship and sail across the bay, arriving around **11:30 a.m.** , with the mock invasion festivities wrapping up by about 1:00 p.m..

• This is followed by the main parade, which kicks off at 2:00 p.m. sharp.

Parade Route

• The Parade of Pirates starts near Bayshore Boulevard and Bay to Bay Boulevard , then proceeds south along Bayshore.

• It turns east on Brorein Street and then north on Ashley Drive, ending near Cass Street and Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa.

Quick Tips for Attendees

• Arrive early if you want a good spot — many people line the streets by 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m..

• Traffic and parking will be tight; parking garages near the route open early (around 6:00 a.m.) but close during the parade.

• The party after the parade (with music, food, and drinks) continues into the evening, so plan for a full day.

“When does Gasparilla parade start?” — for 2026, the answer is: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 31 in downtown Tampa.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.