Hillsborough County

  •  Florida Strawberry Festival: Strawberry season is upon us as Florida’s Strawberry Festival hosts its opening weekend in Plant City. A local tradition since 1930, this festival has ranked in the top 40 festivals in America due in no small part to showstopping concerts, thrilling rides, and delectable strawberry-based treats. This year, headliners include Boyz II Men, The Beach Boys, Sammy Hagar, Nelly, and Sam Hunt. General admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 6-12.

  •  Gasparilla Festival of Arts: One of the country’s most prestigious art festivals, the Gasparilla Festival of Arts, is returning to Tampa this weekend. Hundreds of artists will be displaying their works throughout Downtown Tampa, turning the city into one giant outdoor museum. $80,000 in prize money will be awarded by a juried panel of critics to the best artists and art students of the show. In addition, there will be numerous live shows, food and drink vendors, and numerous interactive experiences like a mobile glass blowing class, and a collaborative mural on the side of a bus.

  •  World’s Largest Cocktail Shaker: What’s 13 feet tall, hooked up to a cement mixer, and can hold 2400 gallons of beverage? If you guessed the Monkey Mixer, the world’s largest cocktail shaker that’s coming to Armature Works this Sunday, you would be correct! From 2:00 to 5:00 pm this liquid-dispensing leviathan will be on display mixing up complimentary samples of its signature whisky cocktail, the Tropic Like It’s Hot.

  •  JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M Tour: Iconic young entertainer and one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2020, JoJo Siwa will be performing this Sunday at Amelie Arena. Starting at 6:55 pm, JoJo will be performing songs from her two EPs, D.R.E.A.M The Music and Celebrate. Tickets are available here.

 

Pasco County

  •  Pets In The Park Pet Expo: Have some fun in the sun with your furry friends this Saturday at Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes. Pets in the Park will feature a DJ playing live music, food and drinks, pet supplies and treat vendors, and a kids’ area with face painting. The event will go from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and helps benefit Corsos for Heroes, a nonprofit that pairs Cane Corso dogs with veterans and first responders in need.

  •  The Market Elaine: Visit the Grove in Wesley Chapel as they host their monthly open-air market, The Market Elaine, this Friday evening. Come see over 60 local small businesses, enjoy delicious food from local restaurants, and imbibe in a nice drink to kick off your weekend the right way. The market will be held from 5:00 to 9:00 pm and is free to attend.

  • Cindy’s Pets Strawberry Festival: Pasco County is having a strawberry festival of their own this Sunday with Cindy’s Pets Strawberry Festival taking place at Sims Park in New Port Richey. Expect plenty of tasty treats that feature locally grown strawberries, a dog show, and plenty of local vendors and food trucks.

 

Pinellas County

  •  Tea Party at The Museum: Palm Harbor Museum’s 22nd Annual Tea Party will be taking place on Saturday, outside of the museum from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm. Enjoy an elegant tea service while snacking on finger foods and taking in the beautiful scenery. There will also be a contest taking place for the best hat in attendance. Tickets start at $35 per person.

  •  Beach Bash: Hang loose at the Beach Bash this Saturday at the Spa Beach Park Pier Saturday from 12:00 to 7:00 pm. Great local seafood, craft beer and cocktails, and great live music will all be available at this event, in addition to plenty of fun beach games and prizes. General admission to the event is $9 in advance and $12 at the door.

  •  Masters of Illusion: Prepare to be astounded this Saturday as the Masters of Illusion perform their award-winning magic act at Ruth Eckherd hall this Saturday at 7:00 pm. Watch closely as the surreal becomes reality at this family-friendly show which features modern takes on classic illusions and arts of deception.

 

Sarasota/Manatee County

  •  Beyond Van Gogh: Immerse yourself in art at Beyond Van Gogh this weekend, a multimedia experience in Sarasota that projects the works of Vincent Van Gogh in a dark space to create beautiful, moving landscapes inspired by the impressionist’s most beloved pieces. Tickets and more information are available here.

 

Polk County

  •  Big Chef-Teen Chef: Enjoy a fun cooking lesson that focuses on teaching groups of adults and their teenagers and facilitating bonds by making food together. The theme for this Big Chef-Teen Chef session is “Is it a Sandwich?” which teaches students how to make a four-course menu of cheeseburger sliders, pollo asado tacos, Chicago-style hotdogs, and peanut butter cup ice cream sandwiches. The lesson will take place on Saturday, at 10:00 am at the Publix Aprons Cooking School at Lake Miriam.

 

Citrus County

  •  Floral City Strawberry Festival: Want to celebrate strawberry season in scenic Citrus County? Floral City is hosting its 35th Annual Strawberry Festival this Saturday and Sunday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Floral City’s festival has plenty of strawberries, food, and vendors, as well as rock climbing walls, aqua tumble bubbles, and a pie-eating contest. Adults admission is $5 and children 12 and under have free admission.

 

Lee County

  • Shell Festival: The 85th annual Shell Festival will be continuing this Friday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Sanibel Island. This milestone celebration will highlight shells and shell art, traditional cakes and pies, and exhibits that highlight the art and science behind seashells.