Bead Free Bay Initiative

Join The Florida Aquarium in support of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s Bead Free Bay initiative to make a greener Gasparilla and keep beads out of the bay!

Starting Sunday, January 23, following the Gasparilla Children’s Parade through February 5, collect a five gallon bucket or more of discarded beads and redeem at The Florida Aquarium for one (1) half-price ticket for each bucket collected.

From the Aquarium, the beads will be donated to the MacDonald Training Center, an innovator in educational, vocational, residential and employment services to people with disabilities. The Center sorts the beads and resells them for next year’s Gasparilla. Gasparilla beads cannot be traditionally recycled, so the community’s best option for reducing waste at this event is the reduction and reuse of the beads.

Recycled beads will be collected from January 23- February 5!

And, don’t worry, even while The Florida Aquarium gets a jump on our spring cleaning during a scheduled closure from January 24 – 28), beads still can be recycled to receive a discounted ticket voucher. A drop-off location will be available at the Aquarium’s main entrance!