Annual Knight Parade Through Ybor City Canceled For 2021

TAMPA, FL — On the heels of the cancellation of Tampa's Gasparilla Pirate Festival parades, the Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago announced Wednesday that it is calling off its 2021 Knight Parade.

Normally held each February, the Gasparilla Pirate Festival is Tampa's signature event, attracting visitors from around the country.

After conferring with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and health officials, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla announced Tuesday that it decided to cancel the event due to continued concerns about the public's safety during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Krewe of the Knights of Sant' Yago reached the same conclusion.

Since 1974, the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago has organized the annual night parade down 7th Avenue in historic Ybor City in conjunction with the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

“We’ve worked closely with the city of Tampa and the parade’s presenting sponsor MOR-TV to assess the potential health risks to the community,” said Ken Willis, Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago member and 2021 parade chairman. “Our board of directors has decided it’s best for our community to cancel this year’s parade and plan to celebrate safely in 2022.”

The parade is a celebration of Tampa’s Latin heritage and civic pride. It features illuminated floats, dozens of marching bands, local dignitaries and thousands of participants who throw beads to an estimated 100,000 spectators lining 7th Avenue.

“While hosting the parade is our most visible role, we’ve continued to support our community through our scholarships and a donation to food assistance efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Brian Erickson, El Baron XLVII of the Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago. “We plan to continue to lift up our community in 2021.”

The Krewe of the Knights of Sant’ Yago Education Foundation awarded scholarships to 74 students at Hillsborough Community College, the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa during the 2020-21 school year and plans to do the same in 2021-22.

Since starting the education foundation in 1994, the Krewe has provided nearly $3 million in higher education scholarships.

In addition, the Krewe made a donation to Feeding Tampa Bay, the region’s largest nonprofit providing hunger relief, which has tripled the number of people it serves during the pandemic. The donation provided about 50,000 meals to local families in need.

See related stories:

• Gasparilla Festival Of The Arts Goes Virtual For 51st Event
• Pirate Krewe Cancels Gasparilla Festivities As Pandemic Persists