The Gasparilla season in Tampa has grown to include three parades, an arts festival, an international film festival and a distance classic for runners.
This year, it will add a music festival.
The inaugural Gasparilla Music Festival will be held March 10 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and adjacent Kiley Gardens in downtown Tampa.
The bands confirmed to appear include American alt-country band, Deer Tick; funk and gospel band, The Lee Boys; Grammy-winning singer, Alvin Youngblood Hart; alternative folk-rock band Have Gun Will Travel and jazz singer Kaleigh Baker. More bands are expected to be added in the coming weeks.
The festival will be held 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and also will include local food and beer vendors, and family activities. Tickets will cost $15; children under 12 will be admitted free.
David Cox, president of the Gasparilla Music Festival board, said the festival will feature a main stage and two smaller stages. He said the musical acts are varied to ensure there is something for everyone, and ticket prices are low enough so that families will attend.
The hope is that the festival will attract around 5,000 music lovers to the area and provide a welcome boost for the economy.
Organizers hope to grow the music festival to include more locations in downtown Tampa, said Cox.
The Music Festival has been in the works for about a year. Board member Jamie Zinober said they have support from private donors but still need sponsors to reach their $200,000 goal.
"We want this to become a destination music event, and we expect to draw people from around the region," Zinober said.
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