As such, The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Islands Tourism Association, Cayman Airways and the Pirates Week committee have joined forces with the organisers of Gasparilla, a pirate-themed festival held in the city of Tampa, Florida, to host an additional one-day event aimed specifically at promoting the Cayman Islands and Pirates Week 2012. Dubbed Galaparilla, the free event will target all participating Gasparilla parade attendees, pirate ‘krewes’ and festival goers. Gasparilla attracts some 350,000 participants and around 60 pirate krewes. The much-loved festival is a 107-year old Tampa tradition and features a huge parade, pirates invasion, brunch and street festivities. Galaparilla will be held on Friday, 27 January, at the Cuban Club, a national landmark in Ybor City, extending the Gasparilla festivities, which are held the next day on Saturday. To ensure the event gives attendees a taste of Cayman, local band Cayband will be performing and guests will be able to enjoy traditional West Indian fare such as jerk chicken. Adding a frisson of excitement, free trips to next year’s Pirates Week will be given away on the hour, as well as chests or rum, donated by various liquor distributors. Attendees will also be able to get information about Cayman, including details on Pirates Week via big screens, which will play videos featuring popular tourism sights in Cayman.
Pirates Week Festival Director Bernie Bush said the event has the capacity to reach a huge number of their target audience.
“There are 8,000 registered pirates in Tampa, that’s 60 krewes,” he said.
“That’s a huge amount of people to market to.
“During my research I also realised that there is nothing organised the night before the festival. There are hundreds of thousands of people in town all looking for a place to party, which is why we decided to go with this event.
“We are hoping to attract 3,000 people. Already we have had confirmation from 2,000.”
Tasked with coordinating the event, Tampa resident Sheila Ryan says the event not only highlights Pirates Week, but is also a great addition to the line-up of Gasparilla events.
“Hopefully Galaparilla will highlight how fun and unforgettable a vacation in the Cayman Islands during Pirates Week can be as well as what a beautiful and safe place the Islands are. In addition, the event will extend Gasparilla into a multi-day event for all those that attend, which is a major plus. It’s going to be the ultimate pirate parade party for the 2012 Gasparilla season.”
Sheila attended this year’s Pirates Week for the first time as a parade judge with her pirate krewe, Ye Loyal Krewe of Samuel Bellamy, of which she is a founding. “It was very exciting to see how Cayman organised Pirates Week compared to Tampa’s own pirate parade Gasparilla,” she said.
“There were some similarities but it was the differences that our Gasparilla krewe really enjoyed. “The pirate invasion on the ship Valhalla with pirates from various other krewes was the high point especially with the fabulous weather and great camaraderie. Engaging the residents and tourists of the Cayman Islands alike to actively participate in Pirates Week through various contests and friendly rivalries between the six districts. What was also impressive was the amazing turnout and obvious pride from the Caymanians at the parade, fireworks show and street parties and the fact that each district has its own Heritage Day, which makes them want to represent at the festival with pride.
“It was a privilege to be asked to be one of the parade judges this year.
Everyone in our krewe had an absolutely fantastic time and wants to return next year.”
History of Gasparilla
The name and foundation of Tampa’s traditional Gasparilla carnival came from the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar who terrorised the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Gaspar, given to calling himself Gasparilla, served as a lieutenant in the Royal Spanish Navy for five years until 1783 when, upon seizing command of a Spanish sloop-of-war, he with his fellow mutineers set sail for the Florida straits. And so the young Spanish aristrocrat-turned-pirate began an adventurous life as an outlaw of the sea.
The number of ships that fell prey to Gasparilla and his buccaneers during later years is not known, but he continued to ravage Florida waters until December 1821. Deciding it was time to retire from pirate life, Gaspar had just convinced his krewe to split up their accumulated fortune, disband and live out their lives in peace and luxury. But the sight of a merchant ship sailing northwestwardly toward Orleans was all too inviting for the greedy adventure-seekers. Closing in on their prey, the pirates realised they had chosen a US Navy warship in disguise for their final folly. And final it was.
A bloody battle ensued, leaving Gasparilla’s flagship burning to ruin. Just as the commanding officer of the USS Enterprise was boarding the defeated ship, Gasparilla seized a heavy chain, wrapped it around his waist and neck and leaped into the water, brandishing his sword in a final gesture of defiance as he sank into the sea.
When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Though that treasure has never been discovered, the story of the swashbuckling Gasparilla was unearthed and his memory revived in 1904 when Tampa’s social and civic leaders adopted the pirate as patron rogue of their city-wide celebration.
For more information, gasparillapiratefest.com
Galaparilla will be held on Friday, 27 January, from 7pm to 11pm, at the Cuban Club, Ybor City, Tampa, Florida.
Gaspirilla will be held on Saturday, 28 January. For a full event schedule visit www.gasparillapiratefest.com.
To win a free trip to attend both events in Tampa, visit www.caycompass.com.
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