TAMPA BAY EVENTS

Gasparilla

For almost one hundred years the city of Tampa has celebrated the arrival of the Pirate Jose Gaspar, and his raid of the city.  During the festival, Tampa Bay is packed with boats overloaded with Gasparilla partyers.

The festivities begin with a steel hull pirate ship surrounded by locals who attempt to prevent the attack.  The Gaspar then docks in downtown Tampa, and over 700 pirates "raid" the city, culminating with a parade down Bayshore Ave.  Crowds of about 400,000 people line the street for the Mardis Gras of Tampa every year.

Gasparilla  Web Site

Spring Training

Photo courtesy of DigitalBallparks.com

Several Major League Baseball teams base their Spring Training in the the Tampa Bay area.  The hometown Devil Rays' facility is Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, just a couple miles from Tropicana Field, and the Yankees Legends Field is across the street from Raymond James Stadium.  There are several other Grapefruit League teams that play within an hour or so of Tampa.

See the johnnyroadtrip.com Spring Training page for more information.

Grapefruit League Map

Tampa Bay Classic (PGA)

The Tampa Bay Classic is held each September in Palm Harbor, on the Gulf Coast north of Clearwater, at the Westin Innisbrook Resort.

Tournament Web Site

Outback Bowl

Boston College defeated Georgia in the first Hall of Fame Bowl at Tampa Stadium in 1986.  Now the Outback Bowl, this New Year's Day tradition pits the third place teams from the SEC and the Big Ten Conference at Raymond James Stadium.  Adding to the party, Ybor City hosts a New Year's Eve parade and fireworks show.

Outback Bowl  Web Site

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