Whether this is your first, tenth or twentieth Gaparilla, there are a few you things you should know when planning for this year.
In the past, you may have believed that the standard protocol for Gasparilla included coolers, kegs and even ice loges along the sidewalks of Bayshore. Those party essentials arrived to the parade in a wagon or shopping cart along with a group of eager to party Gasparilla attendees with a solo cup of booze in hand.
But those days are gone.
If you haven’t heard, officials and residents living in the neighborhoods surrounding the Gaparilla parade route have been calling for a halt to the outrageous and often over the top daytime celebrating of this Pirate themed debauchery.
Officials and Hyde Park neighbors are worried about the steady incline in the amount of underage drinking, severe public intoxication and public urination at the parade. (If you want to see some viral examples, go to YouTube and search “Drunk Gasparilla.” WARNING: You probably shouldn’t do that if you are in a public or office setting. Cursing and nudity may ensue.)
Because of the rise of these unfavorable behaviors, officials and police took a stand last year and arrested and/or gave fines to over 400 people. In 2009, just one year earlier, police arrested only 150 people at a parade with a substantially larger crowd than in 2010 when rain cut the parade’s attendance.
Many of those arrests and fines were results of misinformation as Gaparilla attendees were simply confused about the rules of the event.
Who knew that open containers weren’t allowed outside of Bayshore’s sidewalks? Or that coolers filled with beer cans were prohibited? Not a lot of us. Myself included.
For the first time in seven Gasparillas I was stopped by a cop, not once but twice, before the parade even started. I didn’t know that it was illegal to have a solo cup with an alcoholic beverage while walking from a residence located three blocks from Bayshore. I also was unaware that it was illegal to bring outside alcohol to the event.
Luckily, the cops I encountered were nice enough to share the rules that were now going to be highly enforced and allowed me to go on my way with only a warning.
Not everyone was so lucky.
So this year, plan ahead and read up on the rules. You don’t want an expensive Gaparilla Buzz Kill to ruin your day at Tampa’s most extravagant party event!
MAJOR No-No’s
- No open alcohol containers in neighborhoods around Bayshore
- No underage drinking
- No flashing for beads
- No public urination
PROHIBITED ITEMS – Unless licensed, permitted and identified in writing by Event Staff, the following items are prohibited within the event site:
- Styrofoam cups or containers
- Glass containers of any sort (City Ordinance)
- Coolers – Note: Small soft-sided cooler and lunch bags are permitted for childcare needs and medical needs only.
- Tents of any sort
- Vehicles of any sort
- Weapons of any sort
- Illegal drugs of any sort
RULE OF THUMB
- You must purchase alcohol from vendors. Make sure you have a valid Photo ID on you at all times. Vendors will want it and possibly even police officers too.
- While you are permitted to bring in your own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, small soft-sided coolers and lunch bags are permitted for childcare needs and medical needs. Grills, other than those owned by official food vendors, are prohibited within the event site.
- “If you’re on the sidewalk of the Bay, you’re okay,” is the MAJOR RULE OF THUMB as stated by Tampa Police Spokewoman Laura McElroy.
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