While the legends of José Gaspar are full of alleged adventure and swashbuckling, history tells a different story.

Gasparilla Parade, also known as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, is a Tampa-based yearly event with more than a century-long history.

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.

Those pesky pirates are invading Tampa again. For more than 100 years, Tampa city leaders have held the signature Gasparilla event to draw visitors with a day of pirates and a parade of buccaneers. It borrows heavily from Mardi Gras,