Gasparilla Music Festival making comeback <\/a><\/h4>\nThe Gasparilla Music Festival is making a comeback this weekend in Tampa after a one-year hiatus, relocating to Meridian Fields near Water Street and Channelside. FOX 13’s Ariel Plasencia reports.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla.<\/strong> – <\/span>The Gasparilla<\/a> Music Festival is making a comeback this weekend in Tampa<\/a> after a one-year hiatus, relocating to Meridian Fields near Water Street and Channelside.<\/p>\n“Right now, we’re getting ready to launch the biggest and best Gasparilla Music Festival to date,” said Grymes Cannon, a founding board member of the Gasparilla Music Foundation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The backstory:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the past, the festival was held at Curtis Hixon and Julian B. Lane parks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, a combination of bad weather, financial challenges and logistical hurdles<\/a> forced organizers to cancel last year\u2019s event.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Now, they are back and ready to kick off the three-day festival, which starts Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dig deeper:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The new home for the festival is Meridian Fields, nestled near the Selmon Expressway, the old flour mills, Water Street and Channelside.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.foxtv.com\/static.fox13news.com\/www.fox13news.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/932\/524\/vlcsnap-2026-04-08-18h51m35s854.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
Organizers want attendees to know exactly where the new venue is, especially since it looks nothing like what currently appears on internet maps.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“It still shows the railroad tracks and the gravel, but there is pure, lush grass everywhere on this festival site,” Cannon said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Big picture view:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To bring the space to life, organizers rolled in more than 100 yards of fresh turf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They actually first spotted the potential of the lot while randomly standing in a nearby parking garage while scouting for a new home.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What you can do:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
With 8,000 people expected to attend each day, organizers recommend planning your transportation ahead of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To accommodate the massive crowds, the festival will feature a bike valet and a designated ride-share drop-off area.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/images.foxtv.com\/static.fox13news.com\/www.fox13news.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/932\/524\/vlcsnap-2026-04-08-18h51m25s771.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/div>\n <\/p>\n
Cannon also told FOX 13 there will be parking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“From the company Car Park, they’re making a lot of parking spots available,” Cannon said. “You do have parking lots all around here. You have parking garages all around here.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What’s next:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The festival features multiple stages with more than 50 performers lined up across three days of fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“We really need the support of the local community to get behind us and all come out, have a great time, and enjoy what we built for the last 14 years,” Cannon said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The music officially kicks off on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nThe Source:<\/b> FOX 13’s Ariel Plasencia gathered this information from a founding board member of the Gasparilla Music Foundation as well as prior reporting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
“Right now, we’re getting ready to launch the biggest and best Gasparilla Music Festival to date,” said Grymes Cannon, a founding board member of the Gasparilla Music Foundation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The backstory:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the past, the festival was held at Curtis Hixon and Julian B. Lane parks.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, a combination of bad weather, financial challenges and logistical hurdles<\/a> forced organizers to cancel last year\u2019s event.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now, they are back and ready to kick off the three-day festival, which starts Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dig deeper:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The new home for the festival is Meridian Fields, nestled near the Selmon Expressway, the old flour mills, Water Street and Channelside.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Organizers want attendees to know exactly where the new venue is, especially since it looks nothing like what currently appears on internet maps.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It still shows the railroad tracks and the gravel, but there is pure, lush grass everywhere on this festival site,” Cannon said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Big picture view:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To bring the space to life, organizers rolled in more than 100 yards of fresh turf.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They actually first spotted the potential of the lot while randomly standing in a nearby parking garage while scouting for a new home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What you can do:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With 8,000 people expected to attend each day, organizers recommend planning your transportation ahead of time.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n To accommodate the massive crowds, the festival will feature a bike valet and a designated ride-share drop-off area.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cannon also told FOX 13 there will be parking.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “From the company Car Park, they’re making a lot of parking spots available,” Cannon said. “You do have parking lots all around here. You have parking garages all around here.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What’s next:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The festival features multiple stages with more than 50 performers lined up across three days of fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We really need the support of the local community to get behind us and all come out, have a great time, and enjoy what we built for the last 14 years,” Cannon said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The music officially kicks off on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For more information, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Source:<\/b> FOX 13’s Ariel Plasencia gathered this information from a founding board member of the Gasparilla Music Foundation as well as prior reporting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n