Children’s Gasparilla 2026 was so fun!!
My husband and I used to go to the adult Gasparilla parade every year before we became parents and this was our first time attending the children’s parade! We had a great time & plan to attend next year!
Here are some tips:
- Go all-in! Get pirate costumes in advance for the whole family. We ordered our son’s in a size up and hope that it will fit next year too! (Maybe he will want to be a pirate for Halloween and we can really get our money’s worth!)
- Plan to attend at a time that works for your child’s nap schedule. We chose to miss the first part of the day because we knew that our son (and us 😂) would have the most enjoyable day if we waited to attend until after his nap. We did a car nap there, which gave us plenty of time to find parking, and then we stayed for the entire rest of the event. The nighttime air show and the fireworks were well worth it!
- Bring a stroller or wagon, and a blanket.
- Pack food, snacks, and waters. (No alcohol!) There were some food trucks but it was easiest to just bring our son’s favorites.
- Bring layers. January in Florida could be hot, cold, sunny, rainy, or all 4 in one day. It’s best to be prepared! We also brought hats, sunglasses, sunblock, etc.
- Look at the Gasparilla website in advance to check out the schedule, the parade route, and the parking options.
- Don’t stress about getting a front spot right along the gate. You can still enjoy the parade from farther back and it’s less stressful to not have to “guard your spot.” We caught our son plenty of beads and we were never at the front.
- Keep an eye out! Beads, balls, rubber ducks, and more may be thrown to the crowds during the parade. Make sure you and your little one(s) don’t get hit in the face! 😎
- Bring a flashlight or something to help your family be more visible for your walk back to your car. There will probably be some traffic so bonus points if you have snacks leftover for the car ride home.
Follow Kid Things to do in Tampa Bay for more tips from a local mom! 🌴 🏴☠️
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