About GMF
The Gasparilla Music Foundation is a Florida 501(c)-3 non-profit corporation that organizes an annual music festival in Tampa and supports music education through its Recycled Tunes program.
The 2026 festival takes place the weekend of April 10 – 12 at Meridian Fields located at 101 S Meridian Ave. situated between the Water Street Tampa District, the Channel District and Ybor City featuring musical acts from a wide variety of genres on several stages and cuisine from the region’s top restaurants. As part of its mission to support and promote music and education, the organization operates throughout the year providing musical instruments, repairs and equipment to local school music programs and paid performance opportunities for local musicians.
The Gasparilla Music Foundation was founded in 2011 with financial support from many Tampa Bay area based businesses and the organization’s founding members, The Ring of Fire.
The organizations goals include:
- Creating a long-term sustainable institution benefiting the Tampa bay area
- Support and Promote local musicians and bands
- Support and Promote local cuisine and beverages
- Provide support and financial assistance for music education
- Contribute to the economic development of the region
- Contribute to the neighborhood rejuvenation of the city’s urban core
- Promote the region’s cultural heritage
- Minimize the environmental impacts of festival production
- Promote public and alternative methods of transportation
