Gasparilla Guide 2023: Everything You Need To Know

  I t's that time of year! Gasparilla season. The pirates have taken over.  Me and another pirate, 2017 Another year has come and that means it's time for another season of Gasparilla. Lets get some of the more important questions out of the way real quick: How much does it cost? Nothing. Gasparilla is a free event. They do offer paid upgrades, but the parade itself is free. Where is it? The Children's parade and Day parade are off of Bayshore Ave in South Tampa into the Channel District in Downtown Tampa. The Knight Parade is on 7th Ave in Ybor City. Where do we park? I've found that the easiest place to park is the parking garages in Ybor. They offer parking + a bus into Downtown for a reasonable price (note: This has not been announced for 2023 as of now. This will change as the event draws nearer.).  You can also park on neighborhood streets. You'll get a few individuals who will try to scare you away. Keep in mind that they do not own the road and you are free

BREAKING: Hillsborough County Votes to Relocate Confederate Monument

The controversial monument now has a new home.

Monument in its current location, 2017

Hillsborough County has found a new home for the controversial confederate monument next to the county courthouse in Downtown Tampa. The new location will be located at the Brandon Family Cemetery in Brandon, Fl. The vote was a 4-2 in favor of the move. Hillsborough County commissioners Hagan and White were the only two to oppose the move. 

The other side, 2017

Half the battle was finding a location that suited the monument. Mayor Bob Buckhorn made it clear to Hillsborough County that the placement of the monument in Downtown Tampa would hinder our message of diversity, and the original location (Oaklawn Cemetery) was off the table because of it's proximity to primarily African-American establishments. The Brandon Family Cemetery reached out to the commissioners for relocation as the family has a history with the confederate army, thus removing the statue from public land and moving it onto private property.

The text, 2017

The biggest advantage to the move comes from the cemetery vowing to take care of the monument, thus removing the cost from the tax payers. It should also make for a good compromise among both parties as the statue no longer rests just outside of the Hillsborough County Courthouse and the statue will still be available for viewing in the public eye. 

Do you think the location in Brandon works better for the monument? What do you think will replace it? Leave a comment below. If you'd like more information on Tampa, check out my YouTube Channel and if you'd like to support my efforts, don't hesitate to buy a shirt from our Spreadshirt. Also, don't be afraid to click subscribe and you'll instantly be notified whenever a new entry is posted. If you'd like to meet other people who love Tampa, consider joining our Facebook Group. Thank you all and I will see you next time!

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