Today (Jan. 26): 2013 Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Parade and Invasion

The Gasparilla Pirate Festival and parade kicks off 2 p.m. today, Saturday, Jan. 26, along Bayshore Boulevard in south Tampa.

The free annual celebration features fireworks, floats and food. The parade starts at Bayshore and Bay-to-Bay Boulevards.

Here are some things to keep in mind from the Gasparilla Pirate Fest's website:

• Beer and other liquor can be purchased along the parade route, which is a wet zone. Only cash is accepted, and ID's must be shown. Proceeds go to Tampa Bay charities.
• Mobile ATM's are available along the route.
• While food and drinks are on sale along the parade route, glass containers are not permitted.
• Bicycles are allowed along the route, but bikers can't ride them once inside event closure zones. Bikes must be walked along the route.
• For more information, call (813) 251-8844.

Here's a South Tampa-Hyde Park Patch photo gallery of last year's parade. For more information, click here for a City of Tampa link.

If you go, upload your pics and clips here, and take our poll below.

Do you plan to go to Gasparilla? Tell us in the comments.