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Everything You Need To Know About Gasparilla

If it's your first time going or if you're a seasoned pirate, here are some tips to surviving the invasion.

Sophia Guerra

Jan 15, 2019

University of Florida

432

Everything You Need To Know About Gasparilla

If you have never heard of Gasparilla before, first of all, let me just tell you how sorry I am. Basically, its like Mardi Gras in Tampa, with pirates. The day includes a lot of walking, eating, drinking and, of course, a sh*t ton of beads. Here are some tips and tricks I have learned over the years that make for a perfect paaaaarrrrrrrty.

Don't worry, that was the only poor pirate pun I used.

1. You must get a corndog. Trust me.

Exhibit A.

2. The lemonade is amazing, especially if you splash some vodka in it.

#notsponsored #but #please #sponsor

3. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take some time to rest your feet on whatever you can find.

No moose were harmed in the making of this photo.

4. WEAR SUNGLASSES, trust me. They cover up the drunk eyes you’ll have before the parade even starts.

Ok, so you can still tell I'm drunk here. But, look at the parade views!!!!!

5. Every year the weather forecast says it’ll be cold. It’s cold for two hours in the morning and then it’s perfect weather all day. Wear that crop top, girl.

Not cold whatsoever.

6. You should probably wear the shoes you usually wear for game days. You know, the ones that have dirt and vodka and orange crush caked into them? Yeah, those are perfect for gaspy.

You can always edit out the dirt in Facetune later.

7. Don’t be the girl that bitches about walking. Prepare to walk at least four miles today.

Conversations on Gasparilla be like:

8. Eat. I don’t care if that black corset squeezes tighter after every french fry, everyone looks bloated by noon anyways. You will need to eat to survive the copious amounts of alcohol you will be putting into your body.

I will say it again: GET A CORNDOG.

9. Be nice. By the end of the day, people are cranky, drunk and tired and are just looking for someone to argue with them. Do not argue back if someone tries to heckle you on the street. Trust me, you don’t want to be breaking up a fist fight and collecting hoops off the street (TBT to gaspy 2016)!

Hours prior to being jumped on the street.

10. Take your photos early in the day. I know you’re gonna want some at the parade, but I promise you they will not turn out how you think they will. Get some before you even start drinking, just in case.

You don't want to see what we looked like at the end of the day.

11. Have fun!!! Eat, drink, catch as many beads as you can, make new friends, and enjoy the spirit of Jose Gaspar!

Can't wait for January 26!!!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Lifestyle

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

North Carolina State University

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Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

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Everything You Need To Know About Gasparilla

If it's your first time going or if you're a seasoned pirate, here are some tips to surviving the invasion.

1. You must get a corndog. Trust me.

2. The lemonade is amazing, especially if you splash some vodka in it.

3. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take some time to rest your feet on whatever you can find.

4. WEAR SUNGLASSES, trust me. They cover up the drunk eyes you’ll have before the parade even starts.

5. Every year the weather forecast says it’ll be cold. It’s cold for two hours in the morning and then it’s perfect weather all day. Wear that crop top, girl.

6. You should probably wear the shoes you usually wear for game days. You know, the ones that have dirt and vodka and orange crush caked into them? Yeah, those are perfect for gaspy.

7. Don’t be the girl that bitches about walking. Prepare to walk at least four miles today.

8. Eat. I don’t care if that black corset squeezes tighter after every french fry, everyone looks bloated by noon anyways. You will need to eat to survive the copious amounts of alcohol you will be putting into your body.

10. Take your photos early in the day. I know you’re gonna want some at the parade, but I promise you they will not turn out how you think they will. Get some before you even start drinking, just in case.

11. Have fun!!! Eat, drink, catch as many beads as you can, make new friends, and enjoy the spirit of Jose Gaspar!

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Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures.

1. Sun showers

2. Smiles

3. Tight hugs

4. Discovering new foods you like.

5. Laying in bed after a long day.

6. And being completely relaxed

7. "This reminded me of you"

8. Breakfast foods

9. Over-sized clothes

10. Contagious laughs

11. Car rides with that one person

12. Random (I miss you/ I love you) texts

13. The city at night

14. Surprises

15. Blanket cocoons

16. Good hair days

17. Really good coffee

18. Days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason

19. Conquering a fear

20. When they give you a lot of guac at Chipotle

21. Being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything

22. Home-cooked meals

23. Tattoo stories

24. Leaves changing color in fall

25. Butterflies in your stomach

26. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches

27. When you can't stop laughing

Cool Off with These 8 Beers!

Coors Light Summer Brew:

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Want to know more about beer?

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Hell or High Watermelon

Blue Moon Summer Honey

LandShark Lager

Corona

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

Perfect Weather

You'll get an effortless tan

You can exercise with a view

You don't have to worry about bug bites

In n Out all day, every day

We have outdoor concerts

We live where people vacation

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

1. “Don’t get too close, it’s dark inside. It's where my demons hide.”

2. “Tonight, we are young.”

3. “Cuz I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it.”

4. “Tell me how they got that pretty little face on that pretty little frame.”

5. “I can’t wait to fall in love with you, you can’t wait to fall in love with me.”

6. “Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin with no makeup on.”

7. “Why you so obsessed with me?”

8. “We ain’t ever getting older.”

9. “I didn’t know that I was starving until I tasted you.”

10. “Didn’t they tell you I’m a savage?"

11. “I’m gonna make you miss me.”

12. "Cheers to the freakin weekend.”

13. “Love’s a game. Wanna play?”

14. “You don’t know about me, but I bet you want to.”

15. “Let’s set each other’s lonely nights, Be each other’s paradise.”

16. “Trippin’ on skies, sippin’ waterfalls."

17. “Wish we could turn back time, to the good old days.”

18. “But you will remember me for centuries.”

19. “Something about you makes me feel like a dangerous woman."

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1. "Talk about a dream
Try to make it real
You wake up in the night
With a fear so real
Spend your life waiting
For a moment that just don't come
Well don't waste your time waiting." (Badlands)