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Mardi Gras is also a religious holiday, while Gasparilla is more of a community-wide celebration. Gasparilla was created to appeal to a younger audience, as well as to coincide with Tampa’s annual May Day Festival and State Fair. Hardee suggested in 1904 that a Gasparilla model be modeled after Mardi Gras. In 1904, Louise Frances Dodge, the Society Editor of the local newspaper, discussed the possibilities with George Hardee who happened to be from New Orleans. He immediately suggested Mardi Gras as a model to consider. A connection with the Krewe of Rex resulted in the first Gasparilla celebration, guided by the expertise of and costumes from Rex. After all, the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates is known as the third-largest parade in the nation. Festivities that feature multiple parades, like Mardi Gras, wouldn’t count against the single Gasparilla History. Founded in 1904, Gasparilla is a yearly pirate-themed parade held in Tampa, Florida, along Bayshore Boulevard. This event started when the social chairs for the city of Tampa wanted to create a unique festival for the area, similar to Mardi Gras in Louisiana. This led to the emergence of the first “Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla,” whose original 40 members kicked off the festivities by staging a mock invasion and storming the city of Tampa on horseback. Gasparilla began in 1904 as part of Tampa’s May Day celebrations. Louise Francis Dodge, a society editor for the Tampa Tribune, and George Hardee, an engineer from New Orleans, envisioned a Mardi Gras-style event that would breathe life into the city’s festivities. Tampa Mayor Donald B. McKay gives the key to the city to the Krewe’s Lord Chamberlain, D. Collins Gillette during the 1914 Gasparilla celebration. When Ye Mystic Krewe first invaded Tampa in 1904, they did so in rented Mardi Gras costumes from New Orleans. They continued this tradition for the next few years until the Krewe took a three-year Like Mardi Gras, only everyone's a pirate. Tampa, Florida Added By Sarah Brumble. Share Tweet Email Though the majority of Gasparilla is distinctly adult in nature, a parallel festival is It’s best known for the Gasparilla Parade. This local festival is named after Jose Gaspar, a mythical Spanish pirate. The festivities begin with an “invasion” of Tampa Bay by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and a flotilla of smaller boats, where the Gasparilla confronts the mayor of Tampa and demands the key to the city. After traveling through the gulf coast areas, we became well aware that Mardi Gras is not an event, it is a season. And although Tampa doesn’t necessarily celebrate Mardi Gras in the intense ways of those other Gulf Shore cities, it has its own season. Gasparilla Season. And that season is called Gasparilla. One of the most notable was Gasparilla, a series of several events throughout the year, but mostly the annual invasion and parade on the last Saturday of January. Since many locals consider Gasparilla to be “just like Mardi Gras,” I realized that most people just did not know the difference. George W. Hardee, a New Orleans native who worked in Tampa for the U.S. Customs Service, suggested that they add a Mardi Gras-style element and incorporate a mythical pirate, Jose Gaspar. Hardee spoke with several young, local businessmen and organized a new social club, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla . It is Mardi Gras but with bitches dressed as pirates. It’s beautiful. 2024 Gasparilla Bowl - Florida vs. Tulane IPS Theme by IPSFocus; Theme . Surly Main For those that are new to the area, think of Gasparilla as Tampa Bay's Mardi Gras, only much more fun, because there are pirates, eyepatches, treasure chests and more! Mardi Gras Tampa at Busch Gardens is a lively and festive event that celebrates the spirit of Mardi Gras. It features colorful parades, live music, delicious cuisine, and more. Things to Do Stay Food + Drink Events Meetings Taking inspiration from Mardi Gras krewes, there was a hierarchy in place with a “king and queen” of Gasparilla crowned each year and debutante balls for young women. For men, getting the chance to don a pirate costume and join the invasion could be a very valuable opportunity. This item: GiftExpress 144 pack Mardi Gras Beads Bulk, Mardi Gras Beads Necklaces Assortment, Throw Beads in Bulk, Gasparilla beads . $27.99 $ 27. 99. What Is Gasparilla? 🏴☠️. Think Mardi Gras set in Tampa, but give it a pirate theme. A tradition since 1904, Gasparilla is a huge parade featuring an “invasion” of downtown Tampa led
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