Loud, Lit, and Unapologetically Ybor: The Sant’ Yago Knight Parade
Revelers scream for beads outside of Bradley's on 7th Ave
It was another zany, neon-soaked night on the bricks of Ybor City as the 2026 Krewe of Sant’ Yago Illuminated Knight Parade thundered down 7th Avenue. Thousands packed the sidewalks shoulder-to-shoulder while glowing floats, marching bands, dance troupes, local dignitaries, and krewe members from across Tampa Bay tossed beads and stirred up the kind of ruckus only Ybor can deliver.
This parade always feels different from the daytime madness on Bayshore. It’s tighter. Louder. Closer to the action. The old architecture with its wrought-iron balconies frames the spectacle in a way that feels distinctly Tampa—historic brick meets LED glow sticks and the smell of cigars.
Leading the charge this year was Grand Marshal Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr., a fitting choice in the heart of Cigar City. The Arturo Fuente legacy dates back to 1912, when his grandfather began rolling cigars—helping define the very identity of Ybor City. Having Carlito at the front of the parade was a nod to the generations that built this neighborhood one cigar at a time.
The Illuminated Knight Parade caps Tampa’s “triple play” kickoff to Gasparilla season, following the Gasparilla Children's Parade and the pirate invasion spectacle of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest along Bayshore Boulevard. Three parades. Three very different vibes. All classic Tampa.
And the season isn’t over yet.
Still ahead:
Gasparilla isn’t just a day. It’s a season-long civic personality test. And Ybor City passed again—loud, lit, and gloriously over the top.
If you were there, you know. If you missed it, there’s still time to catch the rest of the season.
