Dozens of festivals and events take place in Tampa Bay every year and all year long. The biggest and most famous one is the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. It is a mock pirate invasion and an enormous celebration with four hundred thousand participants.
It has been a major event since 1904 and is organized between January and February. Other Gasparilla festivities are celebrated until the month of March, such as the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Sant’Yago Knight Parade and the Gasparilla Children’s Parade, the Gasparilla Distance Classic and the Gasparilla International Film Festival.
All of these festivals as well as the Clearwater Jazz Festival, where different musicians perform every year, can be enjoyed for free. People bring lawn chairs and watch celebrities like Richie Cole and Dave Brubeck in an open area.
Not every event is free, however, but there are tons of very cheap events going on in Tampa. Last year, fans went crazy when USF football season tickets were sold for super low prices such as $ 6.50. People had their dreams come true watching Tampa Bay Rays games for cheaper than a hamburger.
Tampa hosts many other events during the year, such as the annual Florida State Fair. This Fair lasts for eleven days and people can participate in competitions and try fun food. The Florida Strawberry Festival is a very traditional festival with a parade and takes place in late spring around the time of the strawberry harvest.
Tampa also offers attractions that can be visited all year long, such as the Lowry Park Zoo, a unique zoo for its interactive exhibits. At the interactive discovery center, visitors can ride camels, pet and feed animals and enjoy activities such as the river eco-tour and encounters with West Indian Manatees. As a nonprofit organization, the Lowry Park Zoo can be visited free.
Tampa has beautiful beaches that are visited by people from all over the world. The North Beach at Fort De Soto Park is the most famous one in the area and in the United States, it is considered to be one of the best beaches in the country. It is always full of residents and tourists enjoying amazing beach breaks.
However, Tampa also has beaches for people who are looking for different ways of enjoying a sunny day. Caladesi Island State Park is an island with beautiful and calm beaches and mangroves that can be visited by kayak. Thus, it is not too frequented and a perfect place to relax.
Siesta Key Beach, which is famous for having the whitest sand in the world, is another gorgeous beach while the Blind Pass Beach with dunes can offer lots of fun. There is a beach for all tastes and ages in Tampa but in any case, one is going to be astonished by their natural beauty.
With all of these entertainment options, there will not be enough time to enjoy all of it and there is no doubt about it that many tourists decide to come back to appreciate all the other attractions that were missed out on.