Make a Difference This Gasparilla Season

The Gasparilla Parade is an iconic event apart of Tampa’s history that’s been celebrated for more than a century. Since 1904, Krewes have staged an “invasion” on our city by docking at the Tampa Convention Center downtown, and demanding the key of the city from our mayor. The parade is the third largest in the nation. Attracting an estimated 300,000-400,000 participants each year. Pirates toss beads, medallions and other goodies along the parade route on Bayshore Boulevard extending nearly 4.5 miles. With nearly 150 floats, the Gasparilla Parade is a spectacle to witness in person.

                The main parade is not all Gasparilla has to offer either. The Gasparilla Season typically kicks off with the Gasparilla Bowl and Cars in the Park in December, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade in January, the Knight Parade in Ybor and Distance Classic in February, as well as the Gasparilla Art and Film Fests in March. Let’s not forget the Gasparilla Music Festival which is hosted at Julian B. Lane Park, dating back to 2011.

                All those events sound awesome, right? But do you think the average Gasparilla participant thinks “What about the Environment?”. The answer to that question is “Maybe”. In fact, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful (KTBB) have witnessed Environmental Stewards who’ve attended the parade and still show up bright and early the very next morning to help with our After Gasparilla Cleanup efforts.

The After Gasparilla Cleanup (held on Feb. 1st this year) is one of KTBB’s largest annual events that have been in production for 16 years now. Our nonprofit organizes 4-8 cleanup sites each year spanning across the parade route, and nearby residential and commercial streets. The impacts speak for itself. With over 500 hundred volunteers showing up to collect thousands of strands of beads, trash, and recyclables, that’s how our community helps to make a difference.

Looking to participate this year? Register for one of our After Gasparilla Cleanup Sites on our Eventbrite page. KTBB will provide all cleanup supplies, snacks, light refreshments, and free shits to help keep warm (while supplies last).

We cant wait to see you there!