Get ready for the Big Rig! Pat Maroon is set to lead the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest in Tampa on January 31, 2026, as the Grand Marshal. The city is gearing up for this big celebration with high excitement. Pat has gained a lot of new roles this year on the broadcast and Lightning alumni team, but we think this will be his most fitting role.
The Gasparilla Pirate Fest includes a legendary parade and invasion that features over 120 units, like 109 parade floats, six bands, and 68 krewes. The procession kicks off around 2 p.m. on Bayshore Boulevard.
Besides Maroon, Tampa officers Jason Sikoski and Kaleb Girard will be celebrated as honorary heroes. Sikoski joined in 2022, and Girard became part of the team in 2024. They have both been honored for acts of bravery.
YMKG Captain Drew Pittman shared his enthusiasm with WFLA, “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Pat Maroon as our Grand Marshal and to honor Officers Jason Sikoski and Kaleb Girard as true community heroes.”
Seminole Hard Rock Tampa remains a strong partner with EventFest and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla. Joseph Wagner, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, remarked to WFLA, “Gasparilla is more than a parade. It is a tradition that unites our community, honors local heroes, and showcases the spirit of Tampa Bay.”
Maroon’s stint with the Lightning lasted from 2019 to 2023. During this time, he tallied 27 points in the 2021-22 season and topped the NHL in penalty minutes the following year. He played a crucial role in the Lightning’s playoff run, including a Finals appearance in 2022.
The parade stands out as a major event in Tampa’s annual schedule. Participants include dignitaries and members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates. Excitement builds as the festival approaches.
The excitement will continue, and we will likely see more of Pat at the NHL Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium, taking place the day after Gasparilla on Feb. 1