New Storytelling for a 100-Year-Old Tale
The Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest and Ashley HomeStore Children’s Gasparilla Presented by Chick-fil-A returned in January 2020. Since 1904, Tampa’s longest-standing tradition has celebrated the invasion of Jose Gaspar and the revelry of his legion of pirates! The third-largest parade in the United States translates attended by roughly 300,000 pirate fans. It has a local $20 million economic impact — but it isn’t just the size of the events that make this annual festival extraordinary!
THE CHALLENGE
By its 105th year, Gasparilla had become synonymous with the plundering pirates that bore its historic roots. Founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG) and event organizers, EventFest, sought to help tell the story beyond each parade day to the guests from all over the United States. Crackerjack Media was retained to not only promote event festivities, but also the philanthropic, historic and socioeconomic impact on the local community. In doing so, they also sought to create a value story for its more than 50 sponsors.
THE OUTCOME
Crackerjack Media provided event marketing and public relations services, including media event scripting, publicity management, press release development, execution of social media influencer outreach, advertising management and more. The result was more than $9 million in earned publicity exposure through traditional mediums, reaching more than an estimated 19 million TV viewers and 24 million online users. From local officials and sponsors to media outlets and influencers, Gasparilla 2020 was hailed as quite the treasure!
“Our event would not have seen the success that it did without Crackerjack Media. From tying in the local charitable stories, to getting sponsors national coverage, having them lead our marketing & PR efforts was one of the best decisions we have ever made. It frees up our time and allows our team to concentrate on what we do best - and CJM knocked their components out of the park. We have since brought them on to multiple other projects as well. 10/10 highly recommend! ”