TAMPA, Fla. — Gasparilla season kicks off Saturday.

First up is the Gasparilla children’s parade on Bayshore Boulevard.

The city this past week has moved in big concrete barricades which crews are able to move around to block off the parade route.

The grandstands and seating areas are also up and ready to go.

There will be more than 100 parade floats, krewes, marching bands, dance units, school organizations and community groups down a one-and-a-half-mile route along Bayshore.

Gasparilla was canceled last year due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. So it has been a while since the city has celebrated its early pirate roots. 

With thousands expected, police are reminding people where to park, where the parade happens and, especially for the kids parade, how to keep track of the little ones and keep them safe in the crowd.

"We recommend they take pictures of their kids prior to going to the parade,” said Tampa Police Interim Chief Ruden Delgado. “That way, we have an accurate clothing description of what they are wearing.  

“A lot of times they'll put their parent’s phone number in their pocket. So in case they do get separated temporarily and an officer comes across a kid or parent and we broadcast that out we can send the picture out immediately so they can find them within minutes."

Children's Gasparilla gets underway with events at 11 a.m. Saturday with the parade happening at 3:30.