Over 25 Gasparilla parties, events and pregames happening in Tampa Bay this weekend

It’s finally time to dust those pirate costumes off and start preparing your liver, because one of the wildest parties of the year is right around the corner. With Tampa’s annual pirate parade and “invasion” happening on Saturday, Jan. 27, bars, clubs, restaurants and other local businesses are hosting a variety of pirate-themed parties.

From Friday night pregames and pre-parade brunches to late-night music festivals and “hair of the dog” specials on Sunday morning, there are tons of debaucherous ways to celebrate 2024’s Gasparilla season. Here are over 25 Gasparilla parties, pregames brunches and events to help you celebrate this beloved Tampa tradition.

All events happen on Saturday, Jan. 27 and are free to attend unless marked otherwise.

Bar Hwrd Block Party This Howard Avenue hotspot hosts a massive block party under a 5,000-square-foot tent where folks can indulge in food and drink specials, ride a mechanical shark, take shots from an ice luge or play a variety of outdoor games.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. $20 & up. 302 S Howard Ave., Tampa. barhwrdtampa.com

Bar 23fifty The best way to prepare yourself for Saturday’s big parade day is to start drinking the night before, of course. This casual Palm Harbor haunt is offering cheap drink specials and bumpin’ DJs to help you do exactly that. Friday, Jan. 26. 10 p.m.-3 a.m. 2350 Curlew Rd., Palm Harbor. @bar23fifty on Facebook

Brew Bus’ Gasparilla Shuttle Tampa’s Brew Bus tours are providing Tampeños with a comfortable, yet boozy ride to the parade festivities on Saturday. It will pick guests up at Cigar City Brewing (at times like 10 a.m., 11 a.m., or noon) and drop them off at the Winn-Dixie on Swann Ave., which is only a 15-minute walk to the parade route. The round-trip ride includes a complimentary beer and a voucher for a free 6-pack of Florida Avenue Brewing Co. beer at Winn-Dixie. 10 a.m.-noon. 3924 W Spruce St., Tampa. Brewbususa.com

Flexx Sports Bar & Ultra lounge This popular Ybor City club and bar is marketing its pirate party as “The Official Black Gasparilla Party,” and tickets come with food and drinks, extra-large pong and bumpin’ music. 3 p.m.-8 p.m. $25-$300. 2003 E 7th Ave., Ybor City. @flexxtampa on Instagram

Grove Soho Enjoy free mimosas from 11 a.m.-noon on parade day and continue the festivities at Grove Soho’s classy champagne pregame before joining the swaths of pirates heading down to Bayshore Boulevard. The popular bar also hosts a “pre-invasion” party on Friday night. 5 p.m.-3 a.m. 406 S Howard Ave., Tampa. Grovesoho.com

Gasparilla Pirate Fest Stage In addition to the annual pirate parade and ​​the beloved reenactment of Tampa’s historic pirate invasion, live performances on Curtis Hixon Park’s mainstage and at MacDill Park (100 N Ashley Dr.) will kick off the pre-parade festivities during the day and keep things going well into the night. 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. 600 N Ashley Dr., Tampa. Gasparillapiratefest.com

Jackson’s Bistro Bar & Sushi Party on this waterfront patio with a DJ and breakfast drinks to kick-off your day-long celebration. There’s no cover for Jackson’s Bistro’s Gaspy gig, but you can always book a VIP table or cabana for bottle service. As always, pirate attire is encouraged. 11 a.m. 601 S Harbour Island Blvd., Tampa. jacksonsbistro.com

Jimmy Guana’s If you live in Pinellas County and don’t feel like dealing with all of the parade craziness across the bridge, then you can always head to Indian Rocks Beach for a pre-party on Friday. There will be live music, casual grub and tons of pirate-themed fun. Friday, Jan. 26. 6 p.m.-10 p.m. 401 2nd St., Indian Rocks Beach. Jimmyguanas.com

La La’s Sangria Bar This 21-and-up, drag-themed brunch is full of hair of the dog drink specials like $6 mimosas and $20 pitchers of sangria. Guests can enjoy performances from local queens like Chanel Cartier, Esme Russell, Kiala Santi and Sadi T. Elise—and don’t forget that tip money. Sunday, Jan. 28. 2 p.m. $10. 203 N Meridian Ave., Tampa. Exploretock.com

Loud Runners of Tampa Bay Scavenger Hunt Early risers can indulge in a casual run and Gasparilla-themed scavenger hunt along Bayshore Boulevard as event organizers are setting the parade route up. There will be prizes for all participants.
6 a.m.-8 a.m. 409 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. Loudrunnersoftampabay.com

MacDinton’ Irish Pub Howard Avenue’s resident party bar hosts a Gasparilla kickoff party on Thursday, an “Invasion Eve” with $15 Bacardi buckets and DJs on Friday, and an official celebration on Saturday. MacDinton’s kicks off parade day with a free breakfast from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. and entertainment all day-long. It also hosts a hair of the dog-themed brunch with unlimited mimosas and bottomless bloody marys on Sunday morning. Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 25-28. Multiple times. 405 S Howard Ave., Tampa. @MacDintonsIrishPub on Facebook.

Melting Pot Social This downtown Tampa restaurant hosts an all-you-can-eat brunch with bottomless mimosas, and you’ll still have plenty of time to catch the parade.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. $45. 105 W Tyler St., Tampa. Eventbrite.com

Modern Medical Aesthetics This St. Pete med spa is helping Gasparilla party goers take care of themselves with a “Buccaneer Boost IV” the night before the big parade. Folks that come dressed in their best pirate gear can win a free facial, too. Friday, Jan. 26. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $120.104 Main St. N St. Petersburg. eventbrite.com

Off The Wall Adventures & Outfitters Join this South Tampa scuba diving company as its crew heads to the parade on a scenic party boat, which also provides complimentary rum punch and beads. Its Gasparilla boat ride departs from its Tierra Verde Marina Resort at 9 a.m.; folks can book by calling 863-709-9253 or emailing Cassi at [email protected]. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. $175. 200 Madonna Blvd., Tierra Verde. Offthewalladventures.com

Pete’s Place South It’s no secret that Pete’s Place is South Tampa’s go-to spot for karaoke, so it’s not surprising that singing is at the center of its pre-Gasparilla party. Live tunes will also be provided by OG Tampa band Ladder 9. Friday, Jan. 26. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. 4145 Henderson Blvd., Tampa. @PetesPlaceTampa on Facebook

Postcard Inn on the Beach This popular St. Pete Beach mainstay hosts two days of Gasparilla-themed fun that you don’t have to drive to Tampa for. Just a few of the Postcard Inn’s festivities include a kid-friendly scavenger hunt, rum tasting for the parents, and pirate costume contest. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 26-27. 6300 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach. postcardinn.com

Pre-Invasion Party Local recreational boat organization Cruis-A-Cade Club hosts the ultimate pregame at its clubhouse on Friday night, complete with live music, beer and BBQ, raffles and more. Friday, Jan. 26. 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. $10-$15. 2002 Cruis A Cade Pl., Tampa. Tampaccc.com

Revive Hydration and Wellness South Tampa’s revIVe Hydration Therapy & Wellness wants you to “drip before you booze” and hosts a pregame party with music, games, a hydrating IV drip and the lure of “real bathrooms.” 8 a.m.-11 a.m. $150. 2201 W Swann Ave., Tampa. Eventbrite.com

Shipwrecked Music Festival It’s no GMF, but the Cuban Club-hosted Shipwrecked Musical Festival will keep the parade festivities going with its two-day lineup of popular electronic and EDM acts like the Sweden-based Liquid Stranger, The Floozies, Haywyre and Black V Neck. Festival organizers say there will be local food trucks, vendors, live art and heritage exhibits, too. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 26-27. $50-$100. Cuban Club. 2010 República de Cuba, Ybor City. eventbrite.com

Soho Run Club SoHo run club is putting a healthy spin on 2024’s Gasparilla festivities with a special pirate-themed 5K. It starts at Bar Hwrd and hits a few other South Tampa hotspots throughout the run. Thursday, Jan. 25.7 p.m.-10 p.m. 302 S Howard Ave., Tampa. @SoHoRunClubTampa on Facebook

Shuffle’s Gasparilla Happy Hour Tampa Heights’ resident shuffleboard spot and neighborhood bar invites folks for a chill night of drinkin’ and shufflin’ before all of the parade-day madness; lanes can be reserved on its website. Friday, Jan. 26. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. shuffletampa.com

Tampa Convention Center Rubix Cubed is described as “the southeast’s biggest ’80s tribute,” and it’s reuniting for Rough Riders’ Gasparilla Pre-Invasion party this Friday. Drinks can be purchased from a cash bar. Friday, Jan. 26. 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m. $25 & up. 333 S Franklin St, Tampa. Tamparoughriders.org

Tangra Nightclub Local radio station Wild 94.1-FM takes over Ybor City's Tangra Nightclub for a rooftop day party with bottle specials and a costume contest.
5 p.m.- 9p p.m. $15-$100. 1611 East 7th Ave., Ybor City. eventbrite.com

Trophy Fish Tampa Seminole Heights’ Trophy Fish teams up with Bacardi to host a Gasparilla kick-off party on Thursday. DJ AJ Hall will be spinning vinyl while guests sip on rum-based cocktails and other happy hour specials. Thursday, Jan. 25. 7 p.m.-11 p.m. 5901 N Florida Ave., Tampa. trophyfish.com

VFW Post 4321 South Tampa’s resident VFW is a great place to park if you’re attending the parade ($30 cash or card), but you can always pregame with cheap beer and casual eats like burgers and smoked turkey legs. Food will be available after the parade, too. 9 a.m. 2010 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. @VfwPost4321 on Facebook

Yacht Starship’s Gasparilla Invasion Brunch Cruise Instead of watching the parade from the sidelines, enjoy the festivities from the water. Yacht Starship’s brunch cruise will meet the Pirate Ship Jose Gaspar and the Pirate Invasion Flotilla as it departs Ballast Point in Hillsborough Bay. Its lofty price ticket also includes a brunch buffet, two alcoholic drink tickets, and DJ entertainment. 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. $299.95. 603 Channelside Dr., Tampa. Yachtstarship.com

7th Annual Gasparilla Bar Crawl and Brunch Nationwide party organizers Downtown Crawlers hosts a city-wide bar crawl through South Tampa, Ybor City and Downtown Tampa. Just a few participating bars and restaurants include: Southern Belle, The Patio, Grove Soho, Four Green Fields and District Tavern. Guests can enjoy a buffet-style lunch, bottomless mimosas, access to multiple after-parties and exclusive drink specials from participating bars. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Various locations throughout Tampa. $29-$89. Eventbrite.com

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