Hillsborough County

  •  Carnivorous Plant Pop Up: Plant parents will be sure to find a new friend at the USF Botanical Gardens as part of a Carnivorous Plant Sale hosted by Kenny Coogan! Kenny is an expert on Florida wildlife as well as the education director for the International Carnivorous Plant Society, so it’s certain he will have some lovely and unique species up for grabs. Choose from Drosera Sundews, Cobra Lilies, Sarracenia Pitcher Plants, or even the infamous Venus Flytrap! The sale takes place on Saturday and offers admission to the gardens from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

  •  Founder’s Day At J.C. Newman: Experience the rich history of Cigar City by taking an exclusive tour of America’s oldest premium cigar manufacturer, J.C. Newman Cigar Company. Help celebrate the birthday of their founder J.C. Newman with local food trucks, games, and discounts on the items in their gift shops! They are offering expert tours of their newly remodeled site as part of the event. Six tours of 12 guests each take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, so book your tickets ASAP!

  •  Riverfest: What’s better than one festival? Two festivals in one all-encompassing Riverfest 2022 at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park! On Friday, enjoy the Taste of the Riverwalk event where food vendors line up to dole out samples while patrons jam to live music and watch the Hot Air Balloon Glow spectacle. On Saturday, come out for the mouthwatering Taco Festival, the adorable Wiener Dog Derby, Yoga In The Park, and much more!

  •  XOXO Carnival: There are few things quite as thrilling as amusement park rides and live music. XOXO Carnival by Pied Piper Productions is bringing the best of both all weekend long! Ride over 300,000 square feet of rides as Lil John, DJ Snake, Shaggy, Deadmau5, and more provide the perfect background beats. Grab your tickets here!

  • The Band’s Visit: The hit Broadway musical that has won an astounding 10 Tony Awards, The Band’s Visit, is coming to the Straz Center this weekend! Get swept up in a heartfelt story of music and community set to a moving Grammy-winning score that will make you laugh and cry. Tickets are available for showing through Sunday; ASL interpreted and Audio Descriptive showings are available!

 

Pasco County

  • Hats & Horses: Derby day is at Waller Ranch in Dade City! This Saturday, put on your fanciest hat and grab a mint julep at the Hats and Horses Kentucky Derby Fundraiser for Metropolitan Ministries. In addition to some mouthwatering southern cuisine and drinks, the event will have a live band, casino games, a best-dressed contest, and more! The festivities will start at 4:30 PM.

  •  Mamas and Mimosas: Give Mom a break this Saturday and take her to the Mamas and Mimosas: Mother’s Day Brunch! Taking place at Rising Star Events and Planning in Zephyrhills, the brunch will start at noon and feature a brunch buffet, mimosa bar, DJ, and a photo booth.

  •  Boots at The Beach: A hoot and a half are in store for you at the Boots @ The Beach event in New Port Richey all day Saturday. Five Nashville country acts will be performing acoustic sets along with local performers like Mallory Moyer and Frank Calafiura. The event will also feature a feast of BBQ favorites with ribs and chicken, cornbread, baked beans, and pie! Boots at the Beach will go from 2:00 to 8:00 pm, with tickets priced at $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under.

Pinellas County

  •  Hats on to The Arts: Hats on to The Arts, a cocktail party that benefits the Museum of Fine Arts Collector’s Circle, will be taking place on Saturday at 6:30 pm. Enjoy a fun night of signature cocktails, tasty hors d’oeuvres, live music, and gallery access to see the museum. Just make sure to wear your favorite hat, as there will be prizes awarded for best hat of the night!

  •   Mother’s Day Market: Looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift? Your friends at 3 Daughters Brewing Company have you covered, with Saturday’s Mother’s Day Market. Peruse the different plants, candles, jewelry, artwork, and other goods that would make great gifts for the moms in your life! The market will operate from 12:00 to 5:00 pm and host over 30 different vendors with unique wares.

  •  Mother’s Day Cruise: Why not celebrate Mother’s Day with a cruise? One option is Yacht StarShips this Sunday for a luxurious Mother’s Day brunch or dinner cruise, with a delicious meal, live DJ entertainment, and bottomless mimosas. For the more adventurous moms, the Lost Pearl pirate cruise will also be hosting a Mother’s Day Cruise, with swashbuckling, pirate entertainment, and free champagne and boarding photos.

 

Sarasota/Manatee County

  •  Downtown Sarasota Spring Craft Fair: The Downtown Sarasota Spring Craft Fair is coming to scenic 5 Points Park this Saturday and Sunday! Beautiful handmade art will be on display from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with pottery, jewelry, paintings, photography, and more available for purchase. The festival will also be hosting their Green Market with a wide variety of exotic plants, as well as gourmet spices, handmade soaps, and freshly made kettle corn.

 

Polk County

  • Ciro’s Sweet Tooth Dessert Tour: Indulge your sweet tooth at Ciro’s Sweet Tooth Dessert Tour this weekend, going between different family-owned and operated sweet shops. Some of the tastings include fried key lime pie, Thai custard with sticky rice, flan, infused olive oil ice cream, and chocolate samples from around the world! Tours start at 10:30 am.

 

Citrus County

  •  Jason Petty: Jason Petty is coming to the Valerie Theater in Inverness this Saturday at 8:00 pm to perform some classic country tunes and pay tribute to the legendary Hank Williams. Jason Petty is no stranger to the stage, performing at the Grand Ol Opry, portraying Williams at Opryland, and later performing as Hank Williams in Lost Highway Off-Broadway. General admission starts at $30.

 

Lee County

  •  Free Movie In the Park: Witness the most recent movie installment in the Star Wars universe under the stars as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker plays this Saturday, at Jaycee Park. Admission to this event is free with the film starting at approximately 8:00 pm. There will also be food and concessions sold at a food truck on site. Make sure to bring your own chairs and blankets!