The Gasparilla Festival is an annual celebration held in Tampa, Florida, typically in late January. It commemorates the legendary pirate José Gaspar, who is said to have roamed the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. The festival features a grand parade, live music, and various family-friendly activities, attracting thousands of visitors each year. One of the festival's highlights is the Gasparilla Pirate Parade, where participants dress as pirates and throw beads and other trinkets to the crowd. The event also includes a mock pirate invasion, where a ship sails into the harbor, symbolizing Gaspar's arrival. The festival promotes community spirit and local culture.