Gasparilla

Heavy traffic is expected in and around downtown Tampa on Saturday with other events taking place along with the parade, which begins at 7 p.m.

The city's signature event started with a pirate invasion, followed by a parade up Bayshore Boulevard into downtown.

The Gasparilla pirates invaded Tampa again, meaning thousands of parade-goers dressed like pirates lined Bayshore Boulevard, parading with stuffed parrots and, yes, drinking lots of alcohol.

While some expressed concerns about safety, others who have previously attended say the security measures that city leaders have put in place are enough to ward off any potential threats.