Downtown Tampa Florida Events

ON-GOING EVENTS

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING AT AMALIE ARENA
Come cheer on Tampa Bay's very own Tampa Bay Lightning! Don't miss the action when the Lightning take on NHL rivals on their home ice at Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

CHILDREN'S BOARD FREE TUESDAYS
Join the Children's Board of Hillsborough County with FREE museum admission the first Tuesday of every month. Stop by the museum to learn and play at the fun and education hands-on exhibits Glazer Museum offers. Registration is encouraged.  Glazer Children's Museum. 10-5pm.  813-443-3861  GlazerMuseum.org

BIG JOHN A COLOSSAL EXHIBIT
Go nose-to-nose with Big John, Tampa Bay's first-ever large, fossilized dinosaur skeleton on long-term display. Visit the World's Largest Triceratops in an immersive & playful exhibit at the Glazer Children's Museum in Downtown Tampa.  Glazer Children's Museum.  813-443-3861  BigJohnDino.com

TAMPA BAY MARKET
The Tampa Bay Market brings you tasty street food along with live music, cocktails, and local beer at this fun festival on the 3rd Thursday of every month.  The Grand Central at Kennedy.  6-10pm.  813-221-3686  TampaBayMarkets.com

MAYOR'S FOOD TRUCK FIESTA
On the first Wednesday of each month, a variety of local food truck vendors will be available each month. Grab lunch and enjoy lunch outdoors at one of the tables located in the park.  Lykes Gaslight Square Park.  Tampa.gov

HYDE PARK FRESH MARKET
Enjoy the fresh market at Hyde Park Village every first Sunday of the month from 10am-3pm. Featuring over 80 local vendors including produce, handcrafted goods, plants and more. While you shop and stroll, enjoy live music in Village Circle.  HydeParkVillage.com

UPSTAIRS/DOWNSTAIRS
Step back in time and enjoy the single-character performances that bring turn of the century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life. Each character is based wholly or in part on actual hotel staff and guests. Based on original research conducted by the Henry Plant Museum, these characters recreate the attitudes and mores of a bygone time, along with the sorrows and joys of their existence. Most Sundays at 2pm. The characters are performed in rotation-one each Sunday. All performances are open to the public with museum admission.  Henry B Plant Museum.  813-254-1891  PlantMuseum.com

3RD SUNDAY
Shop 50+ local food and wellness-focused vendors with an array of fresh, local, homemade, handcrafted, fair-trade, vintage or eco-friendly products. Also enjoy public art and live entertainment.  The Market At Water Street Tampa.  10am-3pm.  WaterStreetTampa.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sum 2024-Spr 2025  JENNIFER STEINKAMP: MADAME CURIE
Delight in a multi-channel video installation that nods to the achievements and life of scientist and Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie. In this room-sized installation, entangled and intertwined flora appear to swirl and sway as the branches and flowers move across the projection.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Mar 21-Jul 7  JOEL MEYEROWITZ: CONFLUENCE, 1964-1984
Confluence: a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering at one point. While most photographers of the 60s focused on black and white, Joel Meyerowitz used color to capture expressive, atmospheric images. His New York streetscapes are celebrated for their quirky characters and architectural detail, while his ethereal photos of Cape Cod focus on the singular light and seascapes of this unique peninsula.  Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.  813-221-2222  FMOPA.org

Jun 14-29  URINETOWN
A side-splitting sendup of greed, love, revolution, and musicals in a time when water is worth its weight and gold. URINETOWN is a hilarious, musical satire of the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, environmental collapse, and musical theatre itself! Hilariously funny and touchingly honest, URINETOWN provides a fresh perspective on one of America's greatest art forms.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Jun 22 - Mar 16, 2025  SUCHITRA MATTAI: BODIES AND SOULS
The exhibition explores migration, matriarchy, and materiality. Mattai uses found objects, such as vintage saris, to create colorful monumental installations. She wraps, braids, stitches, and weaves fabrics together as allegories for historical and personal narratives. For her first museum exhibition in Florida and the Southeast, Mattai will premier new installations highlighting the artist's ongoing investigations of the past and present.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Jun 26  SUNSHINE STATE MAFIA AUTHOR TALK
Visit the Centro Asturiano de Tampa for an evening with author Doug Kelly, and take a wild ride through Florida's Mafia lore. From bootlegging to drug running, his book unveils the hidden history of organized crime rings across the state. This compelling presentation includes images from family archives never before published, and a full bar serving drinks Prohibition Era style.  6-8pm.  813-229-2214  CentroAsturianoTampa.org

Jun 27  SLICE OF HISTORY: PIZZA AND TRIVIA
Mark your calendars because the History Center is daring to blend free pizza with, wait for it...history. Once you're stuffed, stagger over to the "ecade of Change" exhibit. You'll marvel at artifacts and trivia from the 1920s - as if pizza wasn't thrilling enough. Slice of History is for young adults 18-30 seeking enlightenment (or just free food).  6-9pm.  Tampa Bay History Center.  813-228-0097  TampaBayHistoryCenter.org

Jul 3  A.C.E.
Before K-Pop stars A.C.E. took their act on the road, they took it to the streets. The quintet caught the eyes of passerby around Seoul as they honed their vocals and choreography to ever-increasing acclaim. A.C.E.'s U.S. tour is a reunion of the original five - Lee Donghun, Wow, Park Junhee, Kim Byeongkwan and Kang Yuchan - as all A.C.E. members have completed their mandatory military service.  7:30pm.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Jul 4  STAR SPANGLED SPARKMAN
Sparkman Wharf is celebrating Independence Day with Star Spangled Sparkman - a staple community event with entertainment for all ages. Family-friendly activities will include live entertainment, a game zone on the wharf, roaming entertainment, food and beverage specials and more. In celebration of the City of Tampa's Boom by the Bay, guests will have a spectacular waterfront view of the fireworks show as one of Tampa Bay's prime viewing locations.  4-9:30pm.  SparkmanWharf.com

Jul 5-7  METROCON-ANNUAL CONVENTION
Florida's largest anime convention, METROCON boasts a number of exciting stage shows, unique vendors, exciting panelists, and interactive events throughout the weekend, including the world famous Anime Human Chess Match, where characters from your favorite anime and video games will battle it out for the fate of the world!  12pm Fri, Jul 5 Thru 7pm Sun, Jul 7.  MetroConventions.com

Jul 10 - Aug 4  THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Straightlaced Brad Majors and Janet Weiss discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter as they look for a phone to call for help with a flat tire. As their innocence (and more) is stripped away, they encounter a castle-full of wild characters while the not-so-good Dr. and his motley crew unveil his latest creation - a Charles Atlas-inspired beefcake named Rocky. Give yourself over to absolute pleasure at this iconic landmark of musical theater - we promise, it's ASTOUNDING.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Jul 18-21  SHREK THE MUSICAL, JR
Travel to the swamp with your favorite ogre as Shrek and his pack of unlikely friends venture to Duloc to save Princess Fiona and the fairytale creatures. This monstrously funny story of love and acceptance will lead you to a big, bright, beautiful world!  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Jul 20  CANDLELIGHT: A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN & MORE
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Tampa. Discover the music of Queen and more at Centro Asturiano de Tampa under the gentle glow of candlelight.  6:30pm.  FeverUp.com

Jul 24  MISSY ELLIOTT WITH BUSTA RHYMES, CIARA, AND TIMBALAND
One of the most significant female artists in the annals of contemporary music, Missy Elliott is making history once again in 2024 the OUT OF THIS WORLD - The Missy Elliott Experience - her first-ever headline tour, accompanied by her longtime co-stars Busta Rhymes, Ciara and special guest Timbaland.  7pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Jul 27   DANNY GO! LIVE!
A live-action educational children's show filled with music, movement and silliness. Created in 2019 by three childhood friends in Charlotte, North Carolina, the trio is producing some of the most engaging and educational children's content on the internet today. You can find DANNY GO! being shown in schools across the nation, and on tour across North America.  5pm.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Jul 27  FUERZA REGIDA
Fuerza Regida's upcoming nationwide tour, Pero No Te Enamores, is their latest step on the road to world domination, following a 2023 full of new commercial heights and well-deserved accolades. The group shared their biggest album to date, Pa Las Baby's Y Belikeada, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's Latin Albums chart and reached the Top 15 of the Billboard 200.  8pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Aug 2-4  2024 USA WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
Show up ready to cheer for your favorite team at the Wheelchair Football League's tournament for adults with disabilities! 9 USAWFL teams will be in attendance, including: the Arizona Cardinals, the Birmingham Hammers, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns, the Dallas Cowboys, the Las Vegas Raiders, the Los Angeles Rams, the New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  1pm Fri, Aug 2 thru 7pm Sun, Aug 4.  301-217-0960  MoveUnitedSport.org

Aug 7  7TH ANNUAL BOLTS BREW FEST
Rapidly becoming one of Tampa Bay's biggest beer events, with a wide array of craft beer variety from local and national breweries available for individuals to choose from - Tampa Bay Lightning announced that they will be hosting the seventh-annual Bolts Brew Fest. The event will offer craft beers from a variety of different local craft breweries, oversized games, ThunderBug and more.  8pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Aug 10  FREESTYLE EXPLOSION THROWBACK JAM
Throw it back to the 80s and 90s with performances from the biggest names in freestyle music and throwbacks, "Iconic Ladies of the Eighties" Expose, "The King of Freestyle" Stevie B. and "The Queen of Freestyle" Lisa Lisa!  7:30pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Aug 11  $UICIDEBOY$
Since its inception in 2019, the Grey Day Tour has emerged as a standout and one of the "absolute coolest" summer tours, uniting rap and hardcore genres, while also serving as a launching pad for the first national tours for many critically acclaimed artists. Since forming, $uicideboy$ have shared their distinctive fusion of rap, punk, and trap with audiences worldwide.  7pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Aug 14-25  THRICE TO MINE
Wife. Mother. Witch. Murderer. Queen. Legend. Thrice to Mine opens a new door into who we know as Lady Macbeth. Based in historical fact about the woman and time she lived, this show presents a woman who learns - from the women in her life - how to fight. Told through magic, ancient lore, and echoes of Shakespeare, we learn how her life became, rich, fulfilled, and deliciously dark.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Aug 17-18  TAMPA BAY HOME SHOW
For one weekend, see wall-to-wall displays and exhibits of the latest trends in home improvement. You'll have the opportunity to speak directly with experts and receive the advice and inspiration you need to turn your dream home into a reality. For homeowners and exhibitors alike, this is a can't-miss event.  Tampa Convention Center.  Sat 10-5pm thru Sun 10-4pm.  877-730-7469  TampaHomeShow.com

Aug 17-18  MONSTER JAM
The most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels. At the event, you will witness world-class driver athletes and the most recognizable trucks tear up the dirt and compete in intense competitions of speed and skill.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Aug 23  ALONG THE WAY
One unlikely encounter can change the course of your life, forever. Written and directed by Rory Lawrence.  7:30pm.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Aug 28 - Feb 9, 2025   SKYWAY 2024: A CONTEMPORARY COLLABORATION
A delightful celebration of artistic practices in the Tampa Bay region, as well as a collaboration between five creative institutions. Working together, curators from each institution offer context for the diversity of art being made in various Florida counties.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Aug 23-25  TAMPA BAY COMIC CONVENTION
Tampa Bay's LEGENDARY comic convention has been in existence since 2000. Comic books, toys, cosplay, art...just a cornucopia of nerdy fun! As Florida's #1 family-friendly and fan owned comic book convention, this is the perfect place to let your inner-nerd run wild and free.  TampaBayComicConvention.com

Sep 3  INCUBUS WITH COHEED AND CAMBRIA
As a sonic and spiritual enigma, Incubus continue to stretch, shape, and shake the foundation of alternative music, embracing endless possibilities and eclipsing any and all boundaries in the process. Incubus is joined by another legendary indie rock band, Coheed and Cambria, to rock the arena in a night you'll never forget. So, are you in?  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Sep 6-8  SCG CON TAMPA 2024
The World's Premier Trading Card Games Convention. Mark your calendars, and make plans to join us for three fun-filled days of Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Lorcana and more!  813-274-8511  SCGCon.StarCityGames.com

Sep 10  4TH ANNUAL ON TO VICTORY
Join in thanking the valiant WWII and Korean War Veterans as they share their stories of valor and camaraderie. Of the 16,000,000 who served, these courageous veterans represent the fewer than 200,000 who remain. They paid a debt that our grateful nation can never truly repay.  Yacht Starship.  813-223-7999  YachtStarship.com

Sep 11  THE GUYS
Based on a true story. Days after 9/11, Joan, a New York City editor, is asking the same question Americans are asking everywhere: "what can I possibly do?" Then, she meets Nick, an FDNY captain who lost most of his men in the attack. Their meeting goes on as Nick and Joan recall these ordinary guys: their humor, their faults, their passions. They realize that the common thread that made these men extraordinary is the same merit that can help unite and heal us all: brotherhood. This performance benefits Tampa Firefighters Museum.  7pm.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Sep 11-14  2ND ANNUAL GREAT AMERICAN COIN AND COLLECTIBLES SHOW
Be a part of this historic event and revel in all things numismatic (AKA the study of coins)! This show is a collaboration between Coin World magazine and veteran tradeshow operator Shepherd Expos Management and is the event to attend if you're a collector, dealer, or even a curious member of the general public wanting to learn more about rare coins.  813-274-8511  GACC.Show

Sep 13  ART & ACES 2024
Art & Aces is an unforgettable night of entertainment, games, and philanthropy supporting the Tampa Museum of Art. Immerse yourself in the thrill of a casino night like no other, all while supporting the mission to make art accessible to the community.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Sep 13  ERIC D'ALESSANDRO
New York native Eric D'Alessandro has always found his place in the spotlight. His passion for comedy is equally credited to his creative mindset, as well as his big Italian American family which inspires his raw comedic sketches and uncensored, relatable rhetoric. D'Alessandro returns with his collection of characters, celebrity impressions and parody songs.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Sep 18-21  17TH ANNUAL TAMPA BAY FASHION WEEK 2024
Tampa Bay Fashion Week epitomizes the fashion scene in The Bay Area with an annual event that celebrates Tampa Bay's unique style! This event brings talented fashion and accessories designers to The Bay Area to showcase their work for buyers, boutique owners and consumers...and is a joy for all carriers of positive, high-fashion and artistic energy!  9am-10pm.  FashionWeekTampaBay.com

Sep 20 - May 2025  THE ART OF COPTIC EGYPT
The Art of Coptic Egypt showcases over fifty artifacts from a local private collection dating from early centuries of the Roman Imperial to the Middle Ages, although special attention is given to objects specifically associated with the Coptic church. Today, there is still a thriving, vibrant Coptic community in Egypt and beyond, including in Tampa.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Sep 20  BASSEM YOUSSEF: THE MIDDLE BEAST TOUR
In Youssef's one-of-a-kind comedy performance, the audience is taken on a journey from his career as a heart surgeon in Egypt to finding himself in the middle of the Arab Spring and becoming the host of the largest political satire show in the Arab World. His jokes earned him worldwide recognition, but also got him arrested and interrogated, and ultimately lead to his escape to America.  7:30pm.  813-274-8981  TampaTheatre.org

Sep 21  TUXES AND TAILS 2024
The signature black-tie gala features live and silent auctions, a cocktail hour with complimentary wine and beer, dinner and dessert, live entertainment featuring adoptable pets, after-party and cigar bar on the waterfront, and more! Gather with more than 1000 animal lovers and community leaders for a beautiful evening to help raise funds for homeless animals.  5:30-12am.  813-876-7138  TuxesTailsTampa.com

Sep 28  VIVA TAMPA BAY
Viva Tampa Bay is an exciting cultural festival celebrating the beauty of Tampa Bay's Hispanic Communities! Guests will enjoy delicious Latin foods, festivities, local bands, cultural dance performances, and recognition of Tampa's most influential Hispanic leaders.  11am.  VivaTampaBayFestival.com

Oct 3  AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER IN CONCERT
A unique opportunity for fans and music enthusiasts to fully immerse themselves in the mesmerizing world of Aang, Katara, Toph, Sokka, Zuko, and more. Composed and arranged by Jeremy Zuckerman, the mastermind behind the show's original music, this spectacular concert features a specially curated live orchestra that breathes life into the show's iconic score, perfectly synchronized with the series' most unforgettable moments on a full-size cinema screen.  7:30pm.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Oct 10-Nov 10  THE BOY WHO LOVED BATMAN
An inspirational comedy about one man's vision that became a national phenomenon. It's a crazy journey that goes from New Jersey to Hollywood, comic books to the silver screen. Every hero needs a hero, even Batman.  The Straz Center for Performing Arts.  813-229-7827  StrazCenter.org

Oct 11  THE UNSUNG HERO 2024 TOUR
For KING & COUNTRY is one of the music industry's most respected and decorated duos and was recently nominated for a GRAMMY Award with Platinum recording artist Jordin Sparks for "Love Me Like I am," marking the eighth GRAMMY nomination of the duo's career. The live show has been hailed as a must-see concert event that continues to wow sold-out crowds around the world.  7pm.  Amalie Arena.  813-301-2500  AmalieArena.com

Oct 11-13  2024 WARHAMMER OPEN
Warhammer is the most widely played tabletop wargame in the world, produced by Games Workshop. The US Open Series is a tournament of players designed to test the skill and endurance of players over three days of intense gaming.  Warhammer.com

Oct 11 - Apr 13, 2025  ANCIENT ATHENS: BIRTHPLACE OF DEMOCRACY
The U.S. democratic constitution was in large part inspired by the popular government of Classical Athens, as well as the Roman Republic and the French Enlightenment. During the 2024 Presidential Elections, the Tampa Museum of Art will highlight the ancient Greek city-state Athens, and allow the visitor to contemplate the ideals of the society that gave birth to democracy.  Tampa Museum of Art.  813-274-8130  TampaMuseum.org

Oct 13  INSHORE SLAM FISHING TOURNAMENT
The Gasparilla Bowl and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper team up for its first annual Inshore Slam. This is a catch and release event captured through iAngler focused on catching the largest snook, redfish and trout. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, including the captain and three anglers.  8am-4pm.  GasparillaBowl.com