Thousands of people are expected to stream into South Tampa and downtown Saturday for the annual Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest. The morning will start out chilly, according to Bay News 9 meteorologists, then warm under sunny skies to the mid 60s in the afternoon.
Schedule
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Street festival features live entertainment and food, downtown along Ashley Drive from Kennedy Boulevard to Cass Street. Free.
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Invasion brunch, Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St. Parking available at the convention center and throughout downtown, but arrive early as parking fills up quickly. Reserved tickets required for adults and children over age 2. Details at gasparillapiratefest.com.
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Gasparilla invasion. The Jose Gasparilla sets sail at the south end of Hillsborough Bay about 11:30 a.m., sails north to Seddon Channel, docks at the Tampa Convention Center about 1 p.m. Free.
2 p.m. to about 5:30 p.m.: Parade of pirates begins at Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards; continues along Bayshore to Brorein Street; turns east on Brorein and then north on Ashley Drive; ends at Ashley and Cass Street. Free viewing and reserved seating. Details at gasparillapiratefest.com.
Transportation
Parking: Available throughout downtown and Ybor City. City parking garages have one-time special event rate paid upon entry.
Restrictions: Parking enforcement is in effect in the area of the festivities and neighborhoods bordering the parade route. Warning slips to illegally parked cars issued 8 a.m. to noon today.. Tickets issued from noon to 10 p.m.; violators towed from 10 p.m. today to end of event Saturday.
Streetcars, buses: Extra streetcar, bus and trolley service offered Saturday. See goHART.org or gasparillapiratefest.com for details.
Street closings
Street closings begin late today. For a schedule, see tampagov.net.