Marquette plays South Florida this year on Friday Febraury 6th and on the 7th, is a huge festival in Tampa called Gasparilla.
If you are the outdoor drinkin' and pirate lovin' type, try to make it down there. From everything I have heard, it is just pure debauchery.
Check out Gasparilla here: http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com/
Would the pure debauchery be happening before the Preschooler's Stroll or after the Children's Parade?
There are two different events. Make sure you're looking at the right one.
This may have made up my mind to attend.
One of the unoffical events is a drunkfest. I have seen many a picture fro co-workers in our Tampa location of the unoffical events, people crusie around in their boats and drink and the ladies show off the assets, kind of a Mardi Gras on the water. I would guess the festivites spill over into some bars that are adjacent to the water. I am sure it would be easy to pin down which weekend that is if you have an interest.