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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — It’s official. Pirates have taken over the city of Tampa, at least for the day.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor handed over the key to the city to Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla during the 2025 Gasparilla Pirate invasion.
The invasion is a Tampa tradition stretching back to the early 1900s, when the first Gasparilla Krewe in Tampa Bay decided to invade the city on horseback to create an event to promote the city.
The event is inspired by Mardi Gras and the legend of José Gaspar, a fictional Spanish pirate who was said to terrorize West Florida in the 19th century.
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“These scallywags, Tampa’s the best city in the world, and we’re not going to give it away!” Castor said at the celebration.
However, the mayor gave the Krewe a special “compromise.” They can keep the key to the city for today for giving us a heck of an invasion and parade.
