Ahoy Mates! It’s time to batten down the hatches and prepare for heavy traffic through downtown Tampa and South Tampa this Saturday. The 101st Annual Gasparilla pirate fest will take place this Saturday January 30, 2016.
The pirates arrive by sea and sail into the docks at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 p.m. The parade begins at 2 p.m. at the corner of Bayshore Blvd. and Bay to Bay Blvd. It ends downtown at Ashley Dr. and Cass St.
To top it off, Throwdown by the Bay takes place Saturday night at Amalie Arena. The huge country music concert is expected to draw thousands more into the downtown Tampa after the parade.
Below, you’ll find everything you need to know about parade road closures and how to get avoid parade traffic while trying to get to Amalie Arena for the concert.
South Tampa Neighborhood Parking and Circulation Plans
The City is alerting the public of road closures and towing zones to minimize congestion in neighborhoods that border the parade route. “No Parking” signs have been installed in the neighborhoods west of Bayshore Blvd and will be in effect beginning on Friday, January 29, 2016 through Saturday, January 30, 2016. Any vehicles parked on the streets in the affected neighborhoods will be cited and towed at the owner’s expense. Tampa Police advise motorists not to park their vehicles in the “No Parking” areas to avoid having their vehicle towed.
Street Closure Schedule
Sunday, January 17 – Thursday, February 4, 2016
- Median Closures at DeSoto Ave, Nance Ave, Albany Ave & Gunby Ave at Bayshore Blvd
Friday, January 29, 2016 @ 10:00 PM
- Bayshore Blvd from Gandy Blvd to Platt St
- Bay to Bay from Bayshore Blvd to Ysabella St
- Davis Islands Bridge Off Ramp onto NB Bayshore Dr
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 3:00 AM
- Bayshore Blvd from Brorein St to Platt St
- Platt St/Channelside Dr from Plant Ave to Franklin St
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 5:30 AM
- Crosstown- EB Willow Ave Off Ramp (Exit 4)
- Willow Ave from Platt St to Swann Ave (SB lanes closed only, 1-way NB)
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 7:00 AM
- Ashley Dr from Brorein St to Jackson St
- Brorein St from Florida Ave to Parker St
- Franklin St from Channelside Dr to Harbour Island Bridge
- Old Water St from Florida Ave to Franklin St
- Washington St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Whiting St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Whiting St from Florida Ave to Franklin St (WB)
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 9:00 AM
- Kennedy from Hyde Park Ave to Ashley Dr (EB)
- Ashley Dr from Cass St to Jackson St
- Jackson St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Kennedy Blvd from Florida Ave to Plant Ave (WB)
- Madison St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Madison St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
- Twiggs St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
- Zack St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Zack St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
- Polk St from Ashley Dr to Tampa St
- Polk St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
- Tyler St from Florida Ave to Tampa St (WB)
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 11:00 AM
- Cass St from Willow Ave to N Blvd
- North A St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave
- North B St from Willow Ave to Newport Ave
- Fig St from Willow Ave to Gilchrist Ave
- Carmen St from Willow Ave to Delaware Ave
- Newport Ave from Cass St to North A St
- Gilchrist Ave from Cass St to Fig St
- Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 1:30 PM
- Cass St from N Blvd to Tampa St
- Tyler St from Tampa St to Cass St
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 3:00 PM
- Bay-to-Bay Blvd from MacDill Ave to Ysabella Ave (EB)
- Swann Ave from MacDill Ave to Armenia Ave (EB lanes closed only, 1-way WB)
- Platt St at Howard Ave (EB)
- Platt St at S Blvd (EB)
- Willow Ave from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St
- Willow Ave from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)
- South Blvd from Kennedy Blvd to Cleveland St
- South Blvd from Cleveland St to Platt St (SB)
- Whiting St from Tampa St to Franklin St
Saturday, January 30, 2016 @ 4:30 PM
- Kennedy Blvd at Himes Ave (EB)
- Kennedy Blvd at MacDill Ave (EB)
- Kennedy Blvd at Howard Ave (EB)
- Kennedy Blvd at Willow Ave (EB)
- Kennedy Blvd at Blvd (EB)
City of Tampa Parking Information
For access to the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in South Tampa, consider using the following garages and lots:
- • Ft Brooke Garage - $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
- • Jackson Street Parking Lot - hourly rate of $1.60/hr, with a $9.50 daily maximum and will open at 7 a.m.
- • Poe Garage –AT 9:30 a.m. at a rate of $4 per vehicle entry. Due to the parade route, this garage will be closed from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Customers will not be able to enter or exit this garage until after 6:00 p.m. For those attending the Straz 8 p.m. show, Poe Garage will reopen at 6:30 p.m. and there will be a $6 flat rate paid on entry.
- • Royal Regional Lot – $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
- • Tampa Convention Center Garage - $10 flat rate and will open at 7 a.m.
- • Twiggs Street Garage - hourly rates of $1.20/hr, with a $7 daily maximum and will open at 6 a.m.
- • All numbered spaces on Kennedy Blvd. and south of Kennedy Blvd. are enforced up until midnight at the standard hourly rate.
For access to the Amalie Arena in the evening, consider using the following garages and lots: (Scroll down to see alternate routes to Amalie Arena.)
- • The Selmon Expressway Lots - $12 flat rate for concert
- • South Regional Garage - $10 flat rate and will be open from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. for parade parking. After 10 a.m. parking will be restricted to Arena Reserved Parking Passes for the remainder of the day.
For access to downtown and south Tampa from historic Ybor City, consider using the following garages and utilizing HART services:
- • Centro Ybor and Palm Avenue Garages - will open at 6 a.m at the standard hourly rate. HART park and ride available from both locations. HART will be offering extra streetcar, bus, and trolley services. For more information about HART service during this special event, please call (813) 254-4278 or visit www.goHART.org.
Getting to the Straz Center
Drivers attending the 8 p.m. show of The Lion King at the Straz Center are encouraged to take one of the following routes:
From South Tampa
- • Dale Mabry NB to Cypress St.
- • Right on Cypress St to N Blvd
- • Left on N Blvd to Laurel St.
- • Right on Laurel St to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- • Right on Doyle Carlton Dr. to available parking
From Brandon
- • I-4 WB to Downtown Exit 45A
- • Follow Downtown West sign to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- • Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. through Laurel St to available parking
From St. Pete/Clearwater
- • I-275 NB to Exit 44 Ashley Dr.
- • Continue on Ashley Dr. to Tyler St
- • Right on Tyler St to available parking
- • OR Straight to Poe Garage.
From North Tampa
- • South on Tampa St to Laurel St
- • Right on Laurel St to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- • Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. to available parking.
OR
- • I-1275 SB to Downtown Exit 45A
- • Follow Downtown West sign to Doyle Carlton Dr.
- • Left on Doyle Carlton Dr. through Laurel St to available parking See Something Say Something
Gasparilla Day Parade: Alternate Routes to Amalie Arena
SOUTHBOUND I-275
- ? South on I-275 to I-4.
- ? East on I-4 to Exit 2 Brandon – Left Hand Exit (Toll).
- ? South on Selmon Connector (follow 22nd St signs).
- ? Right on 22nd St to SR60 (Adamo Dr).
- ? Left on SR60 (Adamo Dr) to Channelside Dr.
- ? Left on Channelside Dr to Venue.
NORTHBOUND I-275
- ? North on I-275 to I-4.
- ? East on I-4 to Exit 2 Brandon – Left Hand Exit (Toll).
- ? South on Selmon Connector (follow 22nd St signs).
- ? Right on 22nd St to SR60 (Adamo Dr).
- ? Left on SR60 (Adamo Dr) to Channelside Dr.
- ? Left on Channelside Dr to Venue.
ONE LAST THING:
The Tampa Police Department would like to remind all celebrating pirates to report suspicious activity. If you see something, say something. No tip is too small. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U7kLtBrsoo
