The Jose Gasparilla anchors a flotilla of pleasure boats Saturday as it sails along Hillsborough Bay toward the Tampa Convention Center, where Mayor Pam Iorio handed over the key to the city. Guided by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, the ship signals the beginning of the invasion of Tampa. ...more

February 8, 2009

South Tampa residents have a love-hate relationship with the annual pirate invasion. ...more

February 6, 2009

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates disembarked from their ship-float Tuesday afternoon at downtown's Lykes Gaslight Square and demanded to speak with Mayor Pam Iorio. ...more

February 4, 2009

Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla "pirates" disembarked from their ship/float Tuesday afternoon at downtown's Lykes Gaslight Park and demanded to speak with Mayor Pam Iorio. "Where's the mayor? We want the mayor!" the pirates said. Pirates led Iorio to the park from Tampa City Hall, across Kennedy Boulevard. The mayor refused to hand over the city to the pirates as a crowd of onlookers took photographs, shot video and collected beads and plastic swords from the pirates. ...more

February 3, 2009

They're here. The Steelers have landed. Monday morning, David Chamberlain was waiting for them. He had been standing on the roof of the short-term parking garage at Tampa International Airport, or, as we travelers like to call it, Level 9. ...more

January 26, 2009

The brigands loyal to the mayor of Ybor City cleared the way Sunday for pirates to invade next week with volleys of stale Cuban bread and blasts from water cannons. ...more

January 26, 2009

Gasparilla season continues at noon today with the annual bread and water battle between the U.S. Navy and boaters from the Davis Island Yacht Club. ...more

January 25, 2009

You don't have to join the flotilla to be part of the 25th annual Alafia lighted boat parade. The Dec. 6 event is billed as a holiday party for landlubbers alike. ...more

November 26, 2008

Pirates have hijacked a Danish cargo ship with 13 crew members near Somalia, a maritime official said Saturday. ...more

November 8, 2008

Boorish Behavior Regarding "Gasparilla Parade Has Plenty Of Room For Improvement" (Letters, Feb. 2): ...more

February 9, 2008