YE MYSTIC KREWE OF GASPARILLA

THE NAME AND FOUNDATION OF TAMPA'S TRADITIONAL YE MYSTIC KREWE OF GASPARILLA PIRATE INVASION AND PARADE COME FROM THE LEGENDARY PIRATE JOSE GASPAR, "LAST OF THE BUCCANEERS," WHO TERRORIZED THE COASTAL WATERS OF WEST FLORIDA DURING THE LATE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURY. AS AN ARISTOCRAT BY BIRTH AND OFFICER IN THE SPANISH NAVY, GASPAR WAS WELL EDUCATED, POSSESSED COURTLY MANNERS, AND HAD ALL THE APPEARANCES OF A FINE GENTLEMAN. WHEN JOSE GASPAR DIED, HE SUPPOSEDLY LEFT AN UNTOLD FORTUNE IN BURIED TREASURE SOMEWHERE ALONG THE FLORIDA COAST. THOUGH THAT TREASURE HAS NEVER BEEN DISCOVERED, THE STORY OF THE SWASHBUCKLING GASPAR WAS UNEARTHED AND HIS MEMORY REVIVED IN 1904 WHEN YE MYSTIC KREWE OF GASPARILLA WAS FORMED AND ADOPTED THE PIRATE AS PATRON ROGUE OF THEIR CITY-WIDE CELEBRATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)INSPIRED BY THE LEGEND, THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO ENRICHING THE VITALITY AND IMAGINATION OF TAMPA AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. EACH YEAR THE KREWE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA, U.S. COAST GUARD, AND DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO SPONSOR THE GASPARILLA INVASION AND PARADE, THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH PROVIDES ENTERTAINMENT TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE LANDFALL OF THE JOSE GASPARILLA PIRATE SHIP AND THE CHILDREN'S PARADE FIREWORKS SHOW HAVE BECOME TOURISM ICONS. WHEN NOT HOSTING THEIR ANNUAL CHILDREN'S PARADE AND PIRATE INVASION AND PARADE, THE KREWE MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY AND CHARITY EVENTS THROUGH SPECIAL APPEARANCES IN TAMPA BAY AND THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. KREWE MEMBERS, IN PIRATE ATTIRE, REGULARLY VISIT HOSPITALS, ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS, CHILDREN'S VENUES, AND SCHOOLS, ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY IN THE SPIRIT AND FUN OF GASPARILLA EVENTS. THE KREWE ALSO CARRIES ON ITS SOCIAL TRADITION WITH THE ANNUAL DEBUTANTE AND CORONATION BALLS.IN ADDITION, YMKG WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ESTABLISHING THE INTER-KREWE COUNCIL, WHICH HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 60 OTHER KREWES. EACH KREWE IS ORGANIZED FOR SPECIFIC CHARITABLE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PURPOSES.

THE KREWE OWNS AND MAINTAINS THE JOSE GASPAR, A FULL-RIGGED PIRATE SHIP, AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION. IN 1911 A SHIP WAS USED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY YMKG TO CAPTURE THE CITY OF TAMPA, BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL 1937 THAT THE KREWE OWNED ITS FIRST VESSEL, THE JOSE GASPARILLA I. IN 1954, YMKG COMMISSIONED THE BUILDING OF THE WORLD'S ONLY FULLY RIGGED PIRATE SHIP, JOSE GASPARILLA II, WHICH WAS CHRISTENED DURING THE KREWE'S 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY. DURING THE YEAR, THE SHIP IS DOCKED AT THE TARPON WEIGH STATION ON BAYSHORE BOULEVARD FOR THE PUBLIC'S VIEWING PLEASURE.