Hillsborough County

  • Various Gasparilla Parties: There are numerous venues across the Bay Area that are celebrating the return of Gasparilla this Friday! For art lovers, check out the Bloom On Franklin Pre Gasparilla Bash- a ceremonial art walk and block party that features live art displays, a flute and viola duo, DJs, and plenty of tasty bites. Punk rockers will delight in the Riverwalk’s Pirate Party featuring Roxx Revolt and The Velvets. Local bars and restaurants are also feeling the Gasparilla spirit, with American Social Bar and Kitchen’s Silent Gasparilla Party, The Sail Plaza’s Pre-Invasion Party, and Ducky’s Sports Lounge’s Jolly Rager.

  •  Gasparilla Pirate Fest: Make way mateys! The 118-year-old Tampa tradition ( and the country’s 3rd largest parade) continues as an armada of floats, marching bands, and buccaneers descend on the Bay this Saturday. The day starts at 11:30 am, as the pirate ship José Gasparilla travels down the Hillsborough Bay to the Tampa Convention Center. The ship docks at 1:00 pm, with the pirates taking the key to the city and celebrating their plunder with a parade from Bayshore Boulevard to Downtown Tampa that will go from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. The event is free to attend but you can purchase a reserved seat. If you don’t want to go in person there will also be local coverage of the parade on WFLA. More information on the festivities can be accessed here!

  • Mystery Science Theater Live: Fan of cheesy movies? So are the minds behind the Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live Show! This Saturday at 7:30 pm, join the cast of the show including Tom Servo and Crow, to watch the 1985 sci-fi/horror film Making Contact. The show will be held at the Straz Center, with tickets starting at $39.50.

  • Lunar New Years Party at Armature Works: Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Armature Works this Sunday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm hosted by Zukku Sushi. Watch a dragon dance, listen to taiko drums, and grab a lucky red envelope for the chance to win a gift!

 

Pasco County

  • Kumquat Festival: Learn about the sweet little citrus that packs a punch at Dade City’s 25th Annual Kumquat Festival. In addition to all of the kumquat-based foods you can dream of, like the event’s signature kumquat pie, the event will feature over 200 vendors, a farmer’s market, and a kid’s corral.

  • Odessa Winter Fest: Have a blast at the Odessa Winter Fest, this Sunday from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. In addition to a food truck and craft vendors, the event will feature live music and a petting zoo!

  • Sertoma Family Fun: Enjoy a day of fun in the sun at Seratoma Family Fun Day! Family Fun Day will be highlighting arts and crafts, retail vendors, and a Beatles tribute band. Tickets are $10, with free admission for children 12 and under.

Pinellas County

  •  Picasso and the Allure of the South at the Dali: Friday, explore a new exclusive exhibition at The Dali featuring the works of Pablo Picasso. The collection, called Picasso and the Allure of the South, will feature 79 paintings from the cubist icon- half of which have never been displayed in the United States. Entry to the exhibit is included with general admission to the museum, with the exhibit staying until May this year.

  •  Pinellas TacoFest: Experience an entire weekend of delicious, taco-filled fun at Pinellas Taco Fest! This year, expect live music, a jalapeño eating contest, an amateur salsa competition, and a vote for the best taco vendor in addition to the numerous food trucks and local artisans that will be there. The festivities take place at the Largo event center, this Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

  • Mutts Gone Nuts: Ruth Eckerd Hall is going to the dogs this Sunday, as the canine comedy and stunt show Mutts Gone Nuts performs at 1:00 pm. The show highlights champion dogs, rescued dogs, and plenty of four-legged fun that the Washington Post has declared “a must-see”!

     

Sarasota/Manatee County

  •  Chaplin: The Musical: This weekend, see one of the world’s most prolific comedy actors like never before, as the life story of Charlie Chaplin is dramatically retold at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Relive moments from classic films like Modern Times in this Tony-nominated production, all while learning about the kind of person Chaplin was behind the scenes.

 

Polk County

  •  Lakeland Magic: Watch Lakeland’s own basketball team take on the Long Island Nets this Saturday at 7:00 pm at the RP Funding Center. Friday night is Orlando Magic night, which means that fans who attend the game can score a free Lakeland Magic shirt!

 

Citrus County

  •  Movie on the Square Inverness: Watch a classic at The Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, Friday at 6:30 pm. Elvis Presley’s Follow That Dream, a movie that was primarily filmed in Citrus County, will have a free screening on the lawn! Make sure to pay attention to the setting at the end of the film, as you’ll see The King himself in the Citrus County Courthouse!

 

Lee County

  •  Build a Robot: It’s alive! Come on down to the Learn Robotics Studio in Fort Meyers this Saturday for a workshop that teaches students how to build their own robot! The class will start at 10:00 am, goes for two hours, and will show how to code, wire, and assemble your own robot. The class has slots available for six teams comprised of one student (10+) and one adult. Laptops are necessary to code the robots, so if you aren’t able to bring your own you can rent one from the host.