Events

This is not just your typical Wednesday night.

For the first time ever, Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg will transform from the home of the Tampa Bay Rays into the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze and Market featuring larger-than-life light sculptures that take guests on a journey to find Santa’s missing reindeer.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 19, for Tampa Pig Jig, a daylong festival in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park with good eats, an amateur barbecue competition, craft beers and games. This year, country star Jake Owen headlines the festival, and indie rockers Dr. Dog and country band Lanco will also take the stage.

Connecting and empowering women are themes of Working Women of Tampa Bay’s annual State Conference, Sept. 5-6.

Angela Bassett, an actress known for many performances including her portrayal of Tina Turner in “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” is returning to her native home of Pinellas County to support young girls.

October is coming up, which means Preserve the ‘Burg’s Movies in the Park is happening again. Bring friends and family to enjoy no-cost movies every Thursday night in October at North Straub Park.

Summer fun may be winding down, but there’s another reason to look forward to Labor Day weekend in Tampa Bay.

Participants in PARC’s Culinary Arts Program will get hands-on experience serving the public at PARC’s Top Chefs event at the Morean Arts Center for Clay in St. Petersburg on Aug. 22 from 6:30-10 p.m.

Summer feels like it just started, but school is right around the corner. Junior League of St. Petersburg is helping families prepare for it with a no-cost Back to School Care Fair.

Thrill Hill is a rite of passage for kids in St. Petersburg, but a lot of folks don’t seem to know about the sudden, sharp incline on Third Street South. A quick drive over it gives that roller-coaster, stomach-flipping feeling.

Something magical is coming to town for the first time this November.

Minor League Baseball has three teams throughout the Tampa Bay area, meaning you can get an affordable, family-friendly baseball experience close to home.

The St. Pete Pride festivities are a reunion of sorts for Miguel Fuller. Fuller, co-host of “Miguel and Holly Mornings” on Hot 101.5, has been involved with the parade since 2015 and is hosting for a third year.

Get a jump start on your summer at the Tampa Bay Margarita and Music Festival with refreshing beverages and music from rapper Nelly and indie rock band Cold War Kids.

The Temple Terrace Craft BrewFest returns to Woodmont Park for a beer-filled evening under the park’s tall, shady oaks.

The Mainsail Art Festival, ranked among the top 100 fine art and design shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine, returns to St. Petersburg April 20-21. The free festival showcases artworks in a number of mediums by more than 250 artists from across the country.

The annual Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival returns to the Keel Farms/Keel & Curley Winery property in Plant City the weekends of April 6-7 and 13-14. Joe Keel started the winery in 2003 to make use of end-of-crop blueberries.

Tampa Pride 2019, a festival and parade celebrating the LGBTQ community, returns Saturday, March 30. Here’s what you don’t want to miss:

The Chiselers Market is the original vintage flea market in Tampa, getting started long before Brocante and Indie Flea. It offers one-of-a-kind antique treasures, and this year’s sale includes notable items like a Victorian silver plate set, sterling silverware and a collectible mantle clock.

There are many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day throughout Tampa Bay. Our top picks:

The Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off its 11-day run of fun, food and music on Feb. 28, and the annual Plant City event offers something for almost everyone.

The Knight Parade returns on Saturday, Feb. 9, giving parade-goers a night to celebrate Tampa’s civic pride.

Architecture, like many professional fields, has a ways to go with diversity: Women represent only 24 percent of the industry, yet they have designed such landmark buildings as One World Trade Center.

This year’s Gasparilla Pirate Fest sets sail on Jan. 26. While locals gather at parade-day hot spots like Four Green Fields or Jackson’s Bistro, you don’t have to go with the flow.

According to a University of Scranton study, only 8 percent of people who make a New Year’s resolution actually follow through.

On Jan. 6, dozens of Greek teens will dive into Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs in search of a cross. It’s a coveted win, as the person who retrieves it is believed to have good luck during the following year.

Nothing says holiday spirit quite like music, and the Tampa Bay area has a variety of holiday performances throughout December.

Nothing says holiday spirit quite like music, and the Tampa Bay area has a variety of holiday performances throughout December.

On Jan. 6, dozens of Greek teens will dive into Spring Bayou in Tarpon Springs in search of a cross. It’s a coveted win, as the person who retrieves it is believed to have good luck during the following year.

This holiday season, skip the overcrowded malls and buy local and handmade gifts to support your community.