In Tampa, Florida, the excitement was palpable as children flocked to Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday for the 2026 Children’s Gasparilla Parade, signaling the beginning of the city’s famed pirate festivities.

The parade, complete with vibrant floats and a shower of beads, vividly showcased Tampa’s rich pirate tradition to its youngest admirers.

Spanning over a hundred years, Tampa has honored the tale of José Gaspar, a legendary Spanish pirate who prowled Florida’s west coast during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

“We’re here to join in the pirate fun,” exclaimed one enthusiastic youngster.

“Being born in Tampa, it feels like a must to be part of this,” chimed in another child.

“A lot of great, like, culture, so kind of hearing about the history of Gasparilla is really cool and about how Tampa Bay has really invested in it,” said one boy.

“The pirate culture in Tampa, you can’t beat it. It’s so much fun,” said Kelsey Sierra Goyale, who brought her son and nephew to their first Children’s Gasparilla Parade.

Sierra Goyale said that although this was her first children’s parade, the festival itself is one that runs in her bloodline.

“Probably 50 years of celebrations between, you know, all the grandparents and everything. So we love it. Yeah,” she said.

The festivities continue next week with the main Gasparilla Pirate Fest.