Press Releases
McDONALD’S RETURNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF TAMPA’S
CHILDREN’S GASPARILLA EXTRAVAGANZA
December 28, 2011
FINAL
CONTACT: DARRELL STEFANY, EVENTFEST
(813) 251-3378
TAMPA, FL – EventFest, Inc. and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla are proud to announce McDonald’s® as title sponsor of the 2012 Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza.
This is the third year McDonald’s will sponsor the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza, the kick-off event to Tampa’s historic Gasparilla celebrations.
“Once again, we’re pleased to partner with event organizers to bring the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza to life,” said Stu Brown, co-op president for McDonald’s of Tampa Bay. “Like McDonald’s, this parade is a source of treasured memories for the families in our community, and we’re thrilled to play a role in its success.”
“The Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza has quickly become one of the premier family events in the country,” said Darrell Stefany, President of EventFest, Inc. “We are delighted that McDonald’s of Tampa Bay will return as title sponsor of this family event tradition in Tampa Bay.”
NEW THIS YEAR: Jose Gaspar comes to life on board the Jose Gasparilla (pirate ship) in Hillsborough Bay with a spectacular high tech message that will be heard from speakers along Bayshore Boulevard and is sure to be one of the most talked about elements of the Gasparilla season!
Special McDonald’s memories will be seen and heard during the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza broadcast live on FOX 13 at 7 p.m. on January 21, 2012.
The 2012 McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza has been scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 11a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The alcohol-free McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza focuses on family friendly activities along Bayshore Boulevard and will feature the Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll, the Gasparilla Air Invasion, the Children’s Gasparilla Parade, and the Gasparilla “Pirathecnic Extravaganza.
The Gasparilla Preschooler’s Stroll, presented by IKEA Tampa begins at Bay to Bay and ends at Rome Avenue, this half mile route is limited to Tampa’s “pint-sized” pirates, children 5 and under, (and their families), and provides families the opportunity to dress up and decorate their wagons and strollers, and stroll down Bayshore as they enjoy the afternoon, celebrating the return of the Gasparilla season. The 2011 Stroll registered over 1,000 participants, as Tampa’s next generation of pirates made their way up Bayshore Boulevard to the delight of thousands.
The Gasparilla Air Invasion will feature vintage aircraft prior to the Children’s Gasparilla Parade over Hillsborough Bay. The United States Special Operations Command Parachute Team will put on a special demonstration as they jump into the event just prior to the start of the Children’s Gasparilla Parade.
The Children’s Gasparilla Parade –part of Tampa’s Gasparilla celebration since 1947, moved to beautiful Bayshore Boulevard in 2002, allowing Tampa Bay’s children to “parade” on the same route as the Gasparilla Parade of the Pirates held on the following Saturday, January 28, 2012. Children ages 6 and up will dance, march and parade down Bayshore Boulevard, celebrating the return of Tampa’s Gasparilla season. Last year’s Children’s Gasparilla Parade featured 125 units, including 75 floats, four (4) marching bands, and 50 krewes.
The Children’s Gasparilla Parade is followed by the Gasparilla “Piratechnic” Extravaganza presented by McDonald’s, with Tampa Bay’s largest pyrotechnic display of the year launched over western Hillsborough Bay, re-creating the imaginary battle between the City of Tampa and the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Following another successful “attack” that the invading pirates have won since 1904, the City of Tampa is “defenseless” and the stage is set for a smooth and festive Gasparilla Invasion by the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla on the following Saturday (January 28, 2012). The musical soundtrack which accompanies the “Piratechnic” Extravaganza is played live over concert-quality speakers on Bayshore Boulevard from Bay to Bay to Rome for all to enjoy.
Reserved Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza bleacher seating tickets are $20, tax included. For additional information or to purchase McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza tickets and/or officially licensed Gasparilla merchandise, please log onto www.GasparillaTreasures.com. Tickets can also be ordered over the phone by calling EventFest’s Gasparilla Ticket Reservation Line at (813) 251-8844. A ticket representative will be available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
NEW in 2012, Our Extremely Limited First Mate reserved chair seating, located on the water side of Bayshore Boulevard, between Ardson and Carolina. This single row, chair seating provides guaranteed front-row fun at Tampa`s historic Children`s Gasparilla Parade in 2012. . First Mate Seating Tickets are $30 per person (tax included).
Reserved Seating for the McDonald’s Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza is limited for the 2012 event. All reserved tickets are assigned in the order they are received, therefore guests should order their reserved tickets early to best accommodate any seating preference they may request.
Sponsors under agreement as of the date of this release include:
Title Sponsor – McDonald’s
Presenting Sponsors – McDonald’s
Chobani Yogurt; Clear Channel Radio Stations including: WBTP-FM 95.7 The Beat, WFLZ-FM 93.3 FLZ, WFUS-FM US 103.5, WMTX-FM MIX 100.7, 620 WDAE The Sports Animal, 970 WFLA FOX Newsradio; City of Tampa, FOX 13, Hillsborough County, IKEA Tampa, MyFoxTampaBay.com, Radio Disney, The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla
Tampa’s Gasparilla events, including the Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza, Gasparilla Pirate Fest and Gasparilla Outbound Voyage are marketed, managed and produced annually by EventFest, Inc. of Tampa.
Ashley L. Derrick
Event Coordinator
Ashley@EventFest.com
Phone: (813) 251-FEST (3378)
Fax: (813) 251-3376
Ticket Line: (813) 251-8844
1200 West Cass Street
Suite 110
Tampa, FL 33606
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