Kicking off Music Festivals with GMF

Festival season is underway across the country. Grab your flower crowns and sunscreen folks.

We in Tampa kick off the season with the Gasparilla Music Festival.

The weekend-long event draws acts from across the country and spreads them out across multiple stages on the two-leveled Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa. Organizers of such events must prepare everything at least a few months in advance to ensure their success and the security of all the guests. Security companies that offer event security services can be found on the web so event organizers and planners can contact them ahead of time.

Not a bad little location, with plenty of corners and stages of all shapes and sizes. Some are more open, while others are tucked away through skinny passages…

The more intimate venues giving perfect up-close access to musicians while also being great for inspiring spontaneous dancing.

Or just taking in the sights.

Games and entertainment of all sorts are plentiful, whether you’re looking to challenge friends to a game of corn hole…

Or maybe watch others hanging around…

Complete confession though. My favorite bit isn’t actually the music, but rather the FOOD.

Festival food has proven to be some of the most interesting and varied. GMF takes it to new levels, however, hand-selecting local restaurant all-stars who bring custom creations to “Calle Cocina.”

Though, the drinks really aren’t too bad either.

(I swear the double drinks was purely a happy accident from a nice bartender who just misheard my order!)

Full bellies make for some very relaxing lounging (which is why it always pays off to bring your own chair/s)…

Spending a full day immersed in good tunes, delicious bites and warm sunshine is definitely enough to have you going with the flow. Reminiscing and goofing around in front of landmarks is pretty much required.