For the fourth consecutive year, the Gasparilla Music Festival brought together some of the best musical acts, vendors and exhibitions of art and culture from not only the Bay area, but around the world.

  The two-day festival once again made its home in downtown Tampa at Curtis Hixon Park, on the banks of the Hillsborough River. The backdrop of the river and the University of Tampa was a constant reminder of the beauty of Florida in March.

  Close to 60 bands and musicians performed at this yearís GMF, with acts appearing on five different stages only mere feet from the new Tampa Riverwalk.

  Hip-hop and reggae innovators Erykah Badu and Stephen “Ragga” Marley, son of Bob Marley, headlined the eclectic musical lineup. The diverse sounds of the weekend had something for every musical palate, with folk groups like Greensky Bluegrass and Boxcar Hollow, new wave music featuring MR MS, and lyrical poet Talib Kweli, who is known as a true storyteller through his poetic and expressive performances.

  “It’s great to have so much different music in such a great spot,” said Ryan Temple, who was attending the festival for the second consecutive year. “It’s a great weekend to discover new music.”

  Diversity was not exclusive to the musical lineup. Food vendors span the spectrum, ranging from Malioís famous prime rib sandwich to Ella’s chicken and waffle cone. GMF hosts an eclectic group of some of the Bayís finest.

  Corporate sponsor Sweetwater Brewery, along with Tampa’s most well-known craft brewery, Cigar City Brewing, provided the adult hydration, offering a majority of the sales that are offered nationwide.

  Throughout the weekend, volunteers working these booths were working for tips, but not for themselves. All tips and donations collected from beer tents were donated to Bay area Boys & Girls Clubs.

  Along with nonstop music and terrific local eats, GMF was a platform for the many different cultures represented in the Bay area. Local Brazilian martial artists from Tampa Bay Campoeira, along with the incredible athleticism of the Ariel Dragons, were there to excite those looking for something more than live music and cold beer.

  The Areal Dragons, based in Tampa, is a group of performers that use their bodies to perform not only routines, but performance art in it’s truest form with the use of silks, lira, trapeze and hand balancing.

  After another successful year, the Gasparilla Music Festival has cemented itself as a premier entertainment event here in the Tampa Bay area.