The Gasparilla Pirate Fest is an historic Tampa Bay celebration since 1904. The celebration includes a reenactment of an invasion of the city by the mythical Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar. The event offers a Children’s Extravanga on a separate weekend than the invasion events. For further information on the children’s event, read Gasparilla Season – Children’s Parade. Gasparilla events include a pre-invasion celebration, a Gasparilla invasion, and the Parade of Pirates.
Pre-Invasion Celebration
Friday January 29, 2016 is the Gasparilla pre-invasion celebration at 5 pm at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Downtown Tampa. There will be live music entertainment featuring The Swon Brothers, Howie Day, and The Hip Abduction. The gates will open at 5 pm with The Hip Abduction playing at 6 pm. The Swon Brothers will take the stage at 9 pm. For general admission (lawn seating) ticket information visit GasparillaPirateFest.com.
The Gasparilla Invasion
“Land, ho! Hoist the mizzen ‘n’ set sail for Tampa!”
Shouts from the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar and his band of marauding buccaneers will ring out across the waters of Hillsborough Bay as they return to invade the City of Tampa.
Source: GasparillaPirateFest.com
The Gasparilla Invasion will be Saturday January 30 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Jose Gasparilla, the worlds only fully rigged pirate ship will invade the city at the south end of Hillsborough Bay. Numerous vessels join forces with Gasparilla Flotilla to defend the city. They move across Hillsborough Bay and into Seddon Channel. This marks the beginning of the invasion. Canons fire from the ship as The Gasparilla Flotilla travels the Seddon Channel towards downtown. The Gasparilla Flotilla will dock at the Tampa Convention Center at 1 pm where the Mayor surrender the Key to the City of Tampa into the hands of the Captain of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.
The Parade of Pirates begins as the Krewe celebrates their victory through the streets of the city.
Parade of Pirates
With the key to the city in hand, the pirates parade down Bayshore Boulevard and share their wealth by handing out glittering beads and other treasures. The Parade of Pirates is 3.8 miles and will be lively and colorful with floats, marching bands, the Krewe, and the infamous YMKG pirates. This is a free event, but there are reserved seating for the bleachers available for purchase.
For tickets and further information about the Gasparilla Pirate Fest events, go to GasparillaPirateFest.com or follow them on facebook to keep up with all the activities and events.
We, at South Tampa Smiles, hope you can enjoy this 2016 Gasparilla Pirate Fest and remember your family’s dental checkups. Give us a call at (813) 289 – 0560 to make your appointment with Dr. John Cannariato, your South Tampa Dentist.
All Hands Hoay! This January 23, 2016 marks the return of the Gasparilla Season to Tampa Bay with The Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza. The Children’s Parade has been a part of the event since 1947. The parade route is the same as The Parade of Pirates along the beautiful Bayshore Blvd. in South Tampa. This is an alcohol free event, so put on your pirate gear and take the kids out and enjoy the parade and festivities.
Explore all the fun activities with your little buccaneers and enjoy all the entertainment the Gasparilla event has to offer. As the floats ride past, the marchers will hand out a bounty of beads, soft footballs, pirates’ “gold”, and CANDY! The entire staff of South Tampa Smiles would like to wish all the families a wonderful time and experience this event to the fullest. But, Pirates aren’t exactly known for their bright and healthy smiles. All those sugary sweets throughout the day, without proper brushing, can lead to tooth decay. Keeping around some water can help rinse away some of the sugar on the teeth until you can get to brush and take care of them properly after all the fun.
Keeping that “pirate smile” at bay and ensuring your children’s smiles stay healthy and bright is a real treasure. Enjoy this 2016 Gasparilla Season and remember your family’s dental checkups. Give us a call at (813) 289 – 0560 to make your appointment with Dr. John Cannariato, your South Tampa Dentist.
This is what we are watching. What are you watching?
Merry Christmas from South Tampa Smiles!
Title: A Christmas Story
Twas the night before the dentist and all thru the house,
Everyone was brushing and flossing their mouths.
The toothbrushes were hung in the cabinet with care,
In hopes the germs wouldn’t grow on them there.
The children were excited but finally went to beds,
While visions of candy and gum danced in their heads.
And Mamma had a toothache on the top in the back,
I had just settled my brain with a little nightcap.
When just before dawn we awakened to chatter,
Pancakes for breakfast, the kids mixed the batter.
We ate in a hurry and got ready in a flash,
Out the door we went, all in a mad dash.
I set the GPS with directions to go,
Adjusting my speed to the traffic flow.
Just as our appointment time drew near,
Our South Tampa Smiles’ office appeared.
We were welcomed and politely asked to take our pick
Of our seats in the waiting room, though our wait time was quick.
Soon after we seated, a staff member came,
With a warm and friendly smile, she called us by name.
Now Dexter, now Amber, now Spencer and Kristen,
We each took a stand as we quietly listened.
She guided us back and down through the halls,
To chairs that reclined and had little suction straws.
X-rays were taken of all of our teeth
To check all the areas between and beneath.
The cleaning was pleasant; it went very fast
Next was the exam, which the dentist did last.
He checked each tooth and the appointment was done
But those that needed treatment made another one.
Our checkup was complete and the experience was polite.
Regular dental visits keeps our smiles shining bright!
Article: Twas The Night Before The Dentist
Contact South Tampa Smiles for your next dental appointment at (813) 289 – 0560.
With the new Star Wars movie coming out, lots of folks will be flocking to the theater to watch their beloved trilogy and enjoy a big bowl of buttery popcorn. We all know that irresistible movie popcorn smell that makes your mouth water. When it comes to popcorn, there can be some surprises as you bite down, such as on a kernel. Ouch! This could actually crack your teeth. It is also easily lodged in between the teeth and the sharp edges can cut your gums up quite a bit.
This leaves us to question… Is popcorn bad for your teeth?
The answer is regrettably, YES! But that doesn’t mean you must give up an occasional indulgence of this savory American favorite. We have put together 5 tips so that you can still enjoy your popcorn while keeping teeth and gums in the best shape possible.
- Watch for the kernels. Try to be mindful of those sporadic hard pieces especially when you get to the bottom of the bag. Try taking your eyes off the big screen while grabbing from your bag to keep from getting those unfavorable chunks.
- The toothpick Trick. Try using a toothpick to get the lodged pieces out. It’s almost impossible to eat popcorn without getting some lodged somewhere. Remove the pieces as quickly as you can to keep from damaging your gums.
- Water. Water, Water. Popcorn is one of those foods that create lactic acid in your mouth. This acid is bad for tooth enamel if left on the teeth without proper cleaning. Try bringing along water. This will not only keep you hydrated, but flush away some of the debris and lactic acid.
- Sugar-Free Gum. Chewing on sugar-free gum after you’ve eaten helps stimulation saliva. This is also helpful in washing away popcorn pieces and harmful acids.
- Proper Oral Hygiene. Lastly, proper brushing and flossing as soon as you can after the movie is the best way to rid your mouth from these harmful substances. You can enjoy some of your guilty pleasures without the harmful effects on your oral health by proper brushing and flossing in a timely manner.
Contact South Tampa Smiles if you are experiencing pain from biting down on popcorn or other hard foods or for your next dental checkup. Our friendly staff is ready to assist you at (813) 289 – 0560.
