Ok for those of you non Tampa people (ew. non Tampa people) we have a celebration around these here parts… a hooten nanny if you will.. a shing dig.. an event of ginormous proportions… Gasparilla. What is Gasparilla you say? (ew. non Tampa people) Well …
The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual celebration held in the city of Tampa, Florida. Held each year in late January and hosted by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the City of Tampa, it celebrates the apocryphal legend of José Gaspar (Gasparilla), supposedly a Spanish pirate captain who operated inSouthwest Florida. The theme is an “invasion” by Gasparilla and his men, which begins when the “Krewe” (made up of residents of the city) arrives on a 165′ long pirate ship, the Jose Gaspar, in Tampa Bay and land near downtown Tampa. The mayor of Tampa then lends the key of the city to the pirate captain and a parade ensues down Bayshore Boulevard, one of Tampa’s major streets. The krewes throw beads, coins and other items while shooting blank pistols from floats during the parade. The average attendance for the event is over 400,000 people.
Thanks Wikipedia 
Basically its Mardi Gras with pirates… its a tradition that I remember attending since I was a baby all the way up to present day. Its a huge deal here in Tampa and everyone gets super hyped and decks their houses/businesses in pirate garb. This year I’m fortunate enough to be in the parades as a member of the fabulous Krewe of Pair O Dice, seriously it’s been a dream of mine to be in the parade for a long time… ha CHECK that off my bucket list, biznitches.
Arrrrrrgggg nt they great!
So, last year I made some pirate cupcakes (you’re shocked I realize) for some people we had over for a Pit Stop Party for the Day parade (did I mention we have THREE Gasparilla parades?). I hope I’m able to make more this year… I kinda have a tupper full of pirate cupcake decor. I have a problem I realize.
I wanted to take time to also give love to other pirate cupcakes I’ve seen on the Internets…
Yes, that is a treasure map, yes you can swoon.
The detail is astounding.. really
So this January I will be throwing beads and having a fantastic time sharing in a time honored tradition of the city I love so much. I just wish I could throw people cupcakes… ::sigh::
