Tampa, Fla. (January 21, 2025) –Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa, and EventFest are proud to announce Retired Army Ranger Staff Sergeant Travis Dunn as this year’s honorary Community Hero for the 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest on Saturday, January 25.

The 2025 Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, scheduled for Saturday, January 25, in Tampa, will feature the Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of the Pirates presented by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest Street Festival presented by Michelob ULTRA and NUTRL.

Beginning at 2 p.m., Dunn will join more than 115 parade floats, 53 krewes, seven marching bands, and the infamous Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla pirates down a four-and-a-half-mile parade route along Tampa’s famed Bayshore Boulevard.

2025 Community Hero, (Retired) Army Ranger Staff Sergeant Travis Dunn was presented with the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Purple Heart Medal after being critically wounded during a direct-action combat raid in December 2014 while on his seventh deployment to Afghanistan. On that day, SSG Dunn, deployed with Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, was on a joint operation mission with Afghan special operations soldiers in Nangarhar Province when the Rangers came under attack by hostile forces and endured six hours of heavy direct-fire engagement. Despite the assault, the unit cleared multiple insurgent-held compounds and killed more than twenty-five enemy fighters.

Unfortunately, during the course of the attack, SSG Dunn sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso, resulting in permanent paraplegia. During this close-combat engagement with the enemy, SSG Dunn showed great bravery in the exchange, closing with an armed enemy during the ambush, as well as bearing down on three barricaded shooters.

With the United States Special Operations Command headquarters in Tampa Bay, Travis is uniquely positioned to impact a vast network of residents positively. His deep connection to the Tampa and Special Operations communities has enabled him to build meaningful relationships across the city’s diverse population. By fostering a sense of camaraderie, he strengthens bonds with those who share his commitment to service and leadership.

“Staff Sergeant Travis Dunn embodies the true spirit of heroism and resilience, making him a shining example for the entire Tampa Bay community,” said Steve Bonner, President of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa. “His bravery in the face of adversity and unwavering commitment to service, even after sustaining life-altering injuries, inspire us all to strive for courage and selflessness. As a leader rooted in Tampa’s community and the Special Operations network, SSG Dunn exemplifies the strength of unity and the power of a hero’s legacy.”

The Seminole Hard Rock Pirate Fest will not feature a Grand Marshal in 2025. 

Reserved tickets are still available for the Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest. To purchase, visit GasparillaTreasures.com. You can also follow the Gasparilla revelry on social media @GasparillaTampa. 

Tampa’s signature community events, the Ashley Children’s Gasparilla presented by Chick-fil-A Tampa Bay and Seminole Hard Rock Gasparilla Pirate Fest, are marketed, managed, and produced annually by EventFest, Inc.