Gasparilla features a month of activities. For three days pirates "invade" the city - sailing into Tampa Bay by ship with an escort of hundreds of pleasure craft and vessels of all sizes. The entire city comes out to celebrate a street festival that include one of the largest art shows in the southeast, street music and entertainment, fireworks and plenty of food. The "landing" parade is free to the public with some reserved seats available for a fee. A host of activities including the invasion, the Gasparilla Parade, an arts and crafts show, a street festival featuring local and national entertainment acts, and a brilliant fireworks display draw thousands of people downtown.

Parade of Pirates: (Bayshore Blvd. to Downtown Tampa) Pirates invade the city kicking off the annual Tampa Bay version of the New Orleans Mardi Gras. They take their ´hostages´ when they make their landing via their pirate ship at the Tampa Bay Harbor. They´re escorted into downtown Tampa by parade amid marching bands and decorative floats along scenic Bayshore Boulevard into downtown Tampa. Street festivals, parties, entertainment, food, and art shows entertain visitors from all over in a Tampa Bay 3-day festival.

Distance Classic: (Downtown Tampa) The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association has donated more than $1.3 million to local youth organizations and college scholarships for more than 2 decades. The 22nd annual run featured both 5 and 15K Men and Women´s Open Course and Open Male Wheelchair race competions.

Fiesta Day: (Ybor City) Fiesta Day has grown and changed since it originated in the 40's. With plenty of action taking place from Seventh Avenue to Centennial Park. Entertainment and food, a parade, art shows, and cooking contest make Fiesta Day one of areas most widely attended events attended by both residents and tourists.

The Illuminated Sant'Yago Knight Parade: (Ybor City) The Illuminated Night Parade is the city's biggest night parade and makes historic Ybor City come alive. It passes through Tampa's historical Ybor City along 7th Avenue with featuring bands from all over Tampa and festive floats covered with lights. The 2.8 mile route stretches from The Florida Aquarium through the Channel District to the Columbia Restaurant at Seventh Avenue and 23rd Street. The parade kicks off at Cumberland Street and Channelside Drive, near The Florida Aquarium and features marching bands, brightly dressed pirates and pirate "royalty" aloft lavish floats.

Children's Parade and Junior Distance Classic: (Downtown Tampa) Children ages 3 to 12 participate in a race area at Curtis Hixon Park. Kids up to 12 can participate in the subsequent parade where the kids get to be "marauders" down Franklin Street handing out "treasure" coins and candy to cheering parade watchers.

Classic Gymnastics Invitational: (Downtown Tampa) According to competition officials, the Gasparilla Classic Gymnastics Invitational to become the largest meet of its kind in the United States. Set at the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa, it is expected to draw more than 3,000 athletes from 25 states - as well as a team from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad.

Annual Festival of the Arts: (Downtown Tampa) One of the finest outdoor art exhibitions in the Southeast over 300 artists express themselves in a variety of media including painting, drawing, ceramics, jewelry, and sculpture to name a few. The festival features hundreds of artists from all disciplines and their works, it attracts more than a quarter million art enthusiasts every year and is one of Tampa Bay's most popular events. The show is located in downtown Tampa stretching between Kennedy Boulevard and Polk Street along Ashley Drive. Festivities include food and entertainment.