TAMPA, Fla. — Arrgh you ready?! Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla is set to invade Tampa Bay and take over Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday after Tampa Mayor Jane Castor refused to surrender the key to the city.
Crowds of people gathered Tuesday to witness Ye Mystic Krewe's elite Plunder Team raid downtown. Sirens blared and cannons fired as the pirate ship floated down Tampa's streets. The Krewe previously demanded Castor voluntarily meet with them.
She refused, causing the pirates to "kidnap" her and bring her down to an agreed-upon meeting place: Lykes Gaslight Park on Franklin Street.
Pirates shouted with glee as Castor was led to the stage, the golden key securely in her hands. The Krewe then "kindly" asked her to hand over the key "peacefully."
Castor, after hearing the Krewe's demands, defiantly refused to have the key change hands. Because of this, the Krewe says it has no choice but to take over Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday for the historic Gasparilla Pirate Fest.
Members of Ye Mystic Krewe also took some time out from plotting their upcoming weekend invasion to meet with some special kids who could use a reason to smile. Among them was 12-year-old William Rumpf, who’s been laid up recently and hasn’t had a whole lot of reasons to laugh.
He and lots of other kids who couldn't make it out to this year's Gasparilla children's parade got a big surprise Tuesday morning, though, when the pirates came to them.
Members of Ye Mystic Krewe visited several local schools and children's hospital rooms to hand out beads and bring smiles to some deserving faces.
“I think it's fun, and like funny,” Rumpf said.
These pirates may look gruff, but there's definitely a softer side to this Krewe.
“I liked it. It cheered him up a little bit,” said William’s mom, Kimberly. “I think that's the first time I've seen him smile since he's been here.”
Krewe member L. B Sierra added: “We see a ton of smiles you know? No matter what these little ones are going through. But it's exciting. They love the beads. They love the parrots. They love the canon balls. So, it's just great to be able to bring some treasures to them."
The invasion is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, along Bayshore Boulevard. If the pirates get their way, it will be followed by a celebratory parade at 2 p.m. starting at Bay to Bay and Bayshore.
"I'm not gonna give our city up," Castor said. "So, I guess we're just going to have to have an invasion."
This year, the parade will be led by the grand marshal, comedian Bert Kreischer, and the community hero, 101-year-old World War II US Army “Buffalo Soldier” Roy J. Caldwood.
Kreischer and Caldwood will lead more than 115 parade floats, 53 krewes, seven marching bands, and the infamous Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates down a four-and-a-half-mile parade route.