WWE Wrestling Champ Ric Flair To Lead Gasparilla Pirate Fest Parade

TAMPA, FL — Sixteen-time professional wrestling heavyweight champion and two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair will serve as grand marshal for the 2023 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest on Saturday, Jan. 28.

The announcement, made Monday by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, organizer of the pirate fest, and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, pirate fest sponsor, also announced Sgt. Maj. Matt Parrish as this year’s honorary community hero.

The 2023 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28 in downtown Tampa, will feature the Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival presented by Bud Light.

“When it comes to this year’s Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest Grand Marshal, all I can say is ‘wooooo,’ what an addition to our krewe,” said Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla Capt. Truett Gardner. “We look forward to having Ric’s larger-than-life personality lead this year’s festivities for an excited crowd along Bayshore Boulevard.”

Beginning at 2 p.m., Flair and Parrish will lead more than 95 parade floats, 50 krewes, seven marching bands and the infamous Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates down a 4 1/2-mile parade route along Tampa’s famed Bayshore Boulevard.

Known as “The Nature Boy” throughout his nearly five-decade-long wrestling career, Flair is regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the sport, winning world titles and headlining arenas and stadium shows throughout his career. His over-the-top character, extravagant lifestyle, braggadocious demeanor and captivating presence in the ring made Flair an international crossover star whose influence is evident today.

Whether it’s the “Ric Flair Drip,” his signature “Wooooo” or a proclamation to be “stylin’ and profilin’,” the Rolex-wearing, kiss stealing, wheeling and dealing, limousine riding, jet flying, son of a gun’s impact on pop culture cannot be denied.

Parrish, the senior enlisted leader for the USSOCOM Preservation of the Force and Family Program, will join Flair. He is a Green Beret who spent his entire career within Special Operations, including 13 years on the Special Forces operational teams. He has completed multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as most countries in Central and South America.

Among the accolades he has received, Parrish is the recipient of three Bronze Stars, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, an Army Meritorious Service Medal, two Joint Commendation Medals and two Army Commendation Medals. Parrish is married with three children and enjoys performing with the SOCOM Para-Commandos parachute team. He also hosts SOCOM’s first official podcast, SOFcast.

“Sgt. Maj. Matt Parrish exemplifies what it means to be a community hero,” said Steve Bonner, president of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “His selfless dedication to our country and his fellow service members deserves to be commended, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to recognize his efforts both on the front lines and leading the day-to-day welfare, discipline, security and training of more than 3,500 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, government civilians, and contractors assigned to USSOCOM headquarters.”

Reserved tickets are still available for the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest. To purchase them, visit GasparillaTreasures.com.