Whether you’re touching up your summer tan during the day or staying cool once the sun goes down, the Tampa area offers a variety of summer events to keep your schedule busy and fun! While some events only occur on certain weekends, many events last all summer long to fit any agenda. Check out the list and see which you’ll want to attend before summer ends!
Specialty Events & Festivals
On July 29, enjoy a free night of music and entertainment at Hyde Park Village, starting at 6 p.m. Hyde Park Jazz provides live jazz performances for you to enjoy while lounging in the park underneath a bright sunset or a blanket of stars. Another Hyde Park Jazz night is provided on Aug. 26.
Every Saturday year-round, Centennial Park in Ybor City supplies a Farmer’s Market full of fresh produce and fun! Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and you can go home with anything from fresh bread, eggs, sauces and herbs, to unique gifts, photography, jewelry and more! Even pet treats are available for your welcomed pets.
During the month of August, participate in WaZoo at Lowry Park Zoo. While helping support zoo animals, you can enjoy a wide variety of brew samples, a serene wine garden, live entertainment, gourmet food and more!
Through Aug. 2, head to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to view a production of Respect: A Musical Journey of Women. From Aug. 6 to Aug. 23, enjoy a contemporary performance called Pericles: A New Rock Musical. For more upcoming shows, click here.
Through Aug. 17, head to Busch Gardens late at night! Summer Nights at Busch Gardens allow you more time to explore the exotic tigers and orangutans up-close, while feeling right at home with DJ-hosted music, stilt walkers, and food and drink vendors!
Through Sept. 7, head the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Tampa for Animation. Learn more than you’ve ever known about the process of animation by surrounding yourself with larger-than-life graphics of famous cartoon characters from Cartoon Network. View all of the steps it takes to make these characters come to life in your favorite movies and shows.
On Sept. 12 and 13, test your spicy food skills by attending the ‘I Like it Hot!’ Food Festival & BBQ at Minnreg Hall in Largo. Here you can sample hundreds of hot sauces, spices and salsas, and you can even try your luck in hot pepper, hot sauce or hot salsa competitions!
The Taste of Clearwater is hosted on Sept. 15 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sample foods from over 50 of the most renowned restaurants, and drinks from five local beverage suppliers in Clearwater. A judge will announce this year’s top food and beverage choices so that you’ll know where to take visiting guests!
Concerts at the Ford Amphitheater
Rascal Flatts on July 25 at 8 p.m.
Kenny Chesney on Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Dave Matthews Band on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.
Incubus on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m.
Crue Fest 2 on Aug. 28 at 5 p.m., featuring Motley Crue, Godsmack and more
Sporting Events
Summer is baseball season! Head over to a Tampa Bay Rays game and cheer on your home team. For a schedule and ticket information, you can visit their website here.
Football season is right around the corner. Keep updated with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training sessions by visiting their website here.
________________________________________________________________________
For more information on specialty events and festivals, visit www.tampavisitorinformation.com, or www.visittampabay.com
For a list of permanent, year-round attractions, you can go to http://tampa.creativeloafing.com.