World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales to Appear in Tampa for Gasparilla Pirate Fest

By Alfred Goldberg | January 16, 2020

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Deliver Beer to a Lucky Consumer on Gasparilla Eve – Now a Tampa Tradition

Tampa, Florida – January 16, 2020 – The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the Bay area through January 27th, including one at the Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Additionally, the Clydesdales will also deliver beer to a lucky consumer’s home on Gasparilla eve.

The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon and will be part of the traditional Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa, on Saturday, January 25th, from 2 pm to 5 pm. Tampa Bay consumers will have the chance to view the Clydesdales wagon ride down historic Bayshore Boulevard – amidst piratic costumes and festive music.

On Gasparilla eve, 2 pm, Friday the 24th, the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often referred to, will crash a house party and deliver cases of Budweiser. Consumers are invited to watch the beer delivery in person, which will be announced on Pepin Distributing Company’s Facebook page at least a couple days prior.

Other stops by the Clydesdales include;

  • Saturday, January 18 – 2 pm to 4 pm at Walmart Supercenter (and Beef o’ Brady’s in the same plaza) – 7631 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills 33541
  • Monday, January 20 – Noon to 2 pm at the MLK Parade on MLK Blvd and 15th Street in Tampa
  • Tuesday, January 21 – 3 pm till 5 pm at Circle K – 1295 Kingsway Rd., Brandon 33510
  • Thursday, January 23 – 2 pm till 4 pm at Winn Dixie (and Beef o’ Brady’s at the same plaza) – 27300 SR 54, Wesley Chapel 33543
  • Friday, January 24 – 1.30 pm till 2.30 pm surprise home delivery (4100 Brentwood Park Circle) in Tampa. Open to public. Staging will take place at 1 pm at the Winn-Dixie on the corner of North Dale and Dale Mabry. Viewers are encouraged to park there, as the community parking will be limited at the home delivery address.
  • Saturday, January 25 – 2 pm till 4 pm Gasparilla Pirate Fest on Bayshore Blvd in Tampa

“As in many previous years, we are honored to have the Clydesdales in Tampa to celebrate the capture of the City of Tampa, once again. Our tradition of surprising a lucky consumer on Gasparilla Eve with a home delivery by these giants will continue this year as well”, said Bill Gieseking, Director of Marketing at Pepin Distributing Company.

Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s. Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail.  A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day. Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian.  In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

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