Weekend Date at Gasparilla Music Festival 2021
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The Gasparilla Music Festival is sadly postponed and will no longer take place in February 2025.

This music festival usually caps off Gasparilla season in Tampa Bay. And if you’re looking for a list of updated happenings and things to do in the Bay area – Tampa, St. Pete and Clearwater – look no further than our constantly updated Things to Do post!

What is Gasparilla Music Festival?

The annual music fest is put on by the Gasparilla Music Foundation, a Florida 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation that supports music education through its Recycled Tunes program. The mission of Recycled Tunes is to enrich the lives of underserved and impoverished children in Tampa Bay by ensuring access to musical instruments. They also give students performance opportunities on the festival stages in front of large crowds.

GMF kicked off in 2012 in Downtown Tampa. This year’s festival would have taken place at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park from February 14-16, 2025 featuring musical acts from a wide variety of genres on several stages and cuisine from the region’s top restaurants, along with a Soundcheck Party.

Image Credit: Gasparilla Music Festival

The festival’s primary stages include the Riverfront Stage, Fortune Stage, Robert’s City Stage, and Row House stage. NEW last year saw the debut of Robert’s City Village, which will feature a marketplace, libations, and live art installations with an expanded Bike Valet service near the main entrance.

What Can Kids Do at GMF?

Bringing kids along? While GMF may be geared more toward adults at night, kids can also enjoy the festival – especially during the GMF Kids’ Fest on Sunday, more info coming soon.

Featured activities in the Kids Fest in years past included:

  • Kids Fest Stage with children-focused DJ entertainment (DJ Kitty is confirmed!)
  • Kids t-shirt tie-dying
  • Instrument Petting Zoo staffed by Hillsborough County Music Teachers
  • Kumba Drummers hands-on tent
  • Kids’ Arts & Crafts featuring music-related items to take home
  • Face painters
  • Hula hoops
  • Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (performing on Riverside Stage)
  • Hillsborough County Schools Drumline and Flag Corp

Across from Kids Fest will be the Recycled Tunes area where you can check out a sculpture using old musical instruments created by a local artist.

Parking at Gasparilla Music Festival

Hourly parking for GMF is available in the areas:

  • Poe Garage
  • Madison Garage
  • Fort Brooke Garage

Please see the Parking and Transportation page for more information.

Where to enter Gasparilla Music Festival

If you’re wondering where to enter the event, here is a list of gates for each type of admission:

  • General Admission Gate 1: located at the intersection of N. Boulevard and W. Cypress Street
  • General Admission Gate 2: on Laurel Street just west of the Laurel Street Bridge
  • VIP Ticket Holder Entrance: dedicated VIP Entry Lanes are located at the General Admission Gates.

GMF 2025 Food Lineup

In addition to amazing musical acts, GMF will also have a fantastic lineup of some of Tampa’s best restaurants to keep you going throughout the day at their Calle Cocina.

Last year offered…

  • Big Ray’s Fish Camp
  • Big Red BBQ
  • Cafe Hey
  • Cena
  • Coppertail Brewing Co. 
  • Inside the Box
  • Kona Ice
  • Loli’s Mexican Cravings
  • Nebraska Mini Mart
  • Shadrach’s Firey Furnace
  • Stuft Gourmet Empanadas 
  • Whatever Pops

Tickets + Details

The 2025 GMF is cancelled/postponed this year.

You can also purchase GMF merchandise here. Produced by the non-profit Gasparilla Music Foundation, GMF proceeds support music education in Bay area schools.

  • Re-entry is allowed once you received your wristband.
  • Wristbands are required to be worn at all times.
  • Ticket and entry are voided if wristband is removed.
  • Rain or Shine.
  • No Refunds.
  • All artists and times subject to change or cancellation.

Visiting from Out of Town?

Guests coming from out of town can book a room at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street for a special festival room rate.

Other nearby hotels include:

  • Tampa Marriott Water Street
  • JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
  • Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown
  • The Westin Tampa Waterside
  • Le Meridien Tampa
  • The Floridan Palace Hotel
  • The Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
  • Aloft Tampa Downtown
  • Hilton Tampa Downtown

Visit gasparillamusic.com for the full lineup plus all of the Gasparilla Music Festival information you need to plan a music-filled weekend.