TAMPA, Fla. – Since 1904, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) has invaded the shores of Tampa Bay and captured the key to the city. Only a handful of times did our daring pirate invaders decide to spare the city from invasion due to unprecedented world events.
This year, the pirates are making a similar decision to remain offshore and table their invasion plans until the seas calm. Out of an abundance of caution, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) and EventFest has announced the cancellation of Tampa’s signature Gasparilla Parades planned for April 10 and April 17.
The decision resulted from an ongoing dialogue between event organizers, city leaders, and healthcare experts.
“We hoped to safely and effectively hold Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay and Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, but believe it is our community’s best interest to refrain from hosting festivities this year,” said Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Captain Peter Lackman. “The pirate invasion will continue in 2022, with the excitement and revelry that Tampa Bay has come to know and love.”
The cannons will boom once again at Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay on Saturday, January 22, 2022, and the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest on Saturday, January 29, 2022.
The closing event, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla’s Outbound Voyage, will set sail on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Tickets for the 2021 Children’s Gasparilla and Gasparilla Pirate Fest are eligible for a refund, or ticket purchasers can elect to roll over a credit on their account to 2022 festivities.
Ticket holders who choose to keep the credit on their account will receive an additional 15% bonus in value that can be used towards the purchase of tickets or merchandise. Ticket holders can also opt to donate the value of their tickets to the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Community Fund, which supports scholarships for exceptional high school seniors in the Tampa Bay area, community food programs, and more.
Ticket holders will receive further information by email or can contact office@eventfest.com or (813) 251-8844.
This year’s cancellation of Gasparilla festivities is not the first in event history. Over the past 107 years, parades were not held for numerous reasons, including when the city had limited public celebrations or during wartimes.