Jan 22, 2026 - News
Children's Gasparilla: Road closures and schedule
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Kiddos enjoying a previous Gasparilla. Photo: Linda Davidson/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Children's Gasparilla Parade is Saturday, which means Tampeños should be aware of a few things:
- Road closures, loud noises and cute kids in pirate costumes.
Here's what to know:
Schedule: The festivities kick off at noon with a bike and pedestrian safety rodeo until 2pm on Bayshore Boulevard between Rome and Dakota avenues.
- 2-3pm: Preschoolers' stroll.
- Noon-4pm: Air invasion, featuring monoplane performances and parachute jumpers.
- 4-6:15pm: The parade along Bayshore Boulevard.
- 6:15-7pm: Nighttime air invasion, including the Jose Gasparilla ship light display.
- 7-7:30pm: The grand finale: fireworks.
Road closures: From 10pm Friday through midnight Saturday, these roads will be blocked off:
- Bayshore Boulevard between West Gandy Boulevard and West Platt Street.
- Davis Islands Bridge off-ramp onto Bayshore Boulevard.
- West Bay-to-Bay Boulevard between South Ysabella Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard.
Yes, and: From 9am-midnight Saturday, the eastbound lanes of West Bay-to-Bay will be closed at South MacDill Avenue.