Whether by land or by sea, thousands of people crowded Tampa’s waterfront along Bayshore Boulevard on Saturday for the annual Gasparilla Parade of Pirates. It started with the usual invasion at the Tampa Convention Center, where Mayor Jane Castor gave up the key to the city.

Known as the city's "signature event," Gasparilla was named after famed Florida pirate José Gaspar from the 18th century, who went by Gasparilla. It brings, for one day only, "the spirit of pirates past and glittering treasures for visitors and locals to plunder.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest has live music at stages located along the Tampa Riverwalk that run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (at Ashley Drive and Twiggs Street) and MacDill Park (at Ashley Drive and Whiting Street).