Hillsborough County
Florida Toy Extravaganza: Feel like a kid again this Saturday and Sunday as the Florida State Fairgrounds hosts Florida’s largest toy show, Florida Extravaganza! While the tables include toys from every era, there’s a heavy presence of your favorites from the 80s and 90s, with retro GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars, Barbie, and Hot Wheels being featured. In addition to toys, the two-day event will also have tables that feature comics and comic artists doing live demonstrations, as well as retro Nintendo, PlayStation, and Sega games. The show will be taking place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days, with ticket prices starting at $10 and parking at $8 per vehicle.
Little Shop of Horrors: Witness this classic, campy dark comedy that sees florist Seymour in the care of a peculiar plant with a killer appetite at the Straz this weekend. This sing-along production of Little Shop of Horrors is bound to be a blast, with danger, doo-wop, and deranged dentists lurking around every corner. For tickets, showtimes, and more information click here.
Easter Eggstravaganza At the Humane Society: Spring has sprung at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay as the nonprofit hosts its annual Easter celebration! This Saturday starting at 11:00 am, bring your family and friends (even furry friends) for plenty of good food, fun games, prizes, and photos with the Easter Bunny for you or a four-legged buddy. There will also be a scheduled egg hunt that your pup can participate in!
Pesto Festo: Are you a connoisseur of pasta, an enthusiast of Italian cuisine, or even just a fan of farm-fresh ingredients? Pesto-Festo is SweetwaterFarm’s celebration of all things pesto, with plenty of pesto pasta and basil-themed activities and games happening this Saturday starting at 5:00 pm. The event will also feature live music, a silent auction and raffle, and kids’ activities.
Sip N’ Shop Market: With over 75 different vendors and food trucks available to shop at, the Sip N’ Shop Market this Saturday is the place to be for local handmade goods and great food. The market will be taking place at 81Bay Brewing Co, where you can sip on a beer, mimosa, or bellini, as you shop from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition, there will be face painting, silent auctions, and live music.
Pasco County
Pasco Beer and Burger Festival: Behold a bounty of beautiful burgers at the second annual Pasco Beer and Burger Festival, this Saturday from 12:00 to 6:00 pm at Heritage Park in Land O’ Lakes. With 10 different burger artisans, 10 different breweries, a local market, giveaways, and live music, the Beer and Burger Festival will be sure to impress any burger aficionado. Guests will also be able to vote for which food truck should win the People’s Choice Burger, and determine once and for all who holds the title for best burger.
Spring Scavenger Hunt: This free scavenger hunt taking place at the Land O Lakes Recreation Center will have your family looking all over the park for a number of hidden items this Saturday from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. After checking in at the front desk, kids will receive a treasure map, with stickers to mark off each item they find on their journey. Every kid who registers for this event will get a free goody bag.
Pinellas County
Tampa Bay Blues Festival: Tampa’s biggest celebration of the blues will be returning for its 26th year all this weekend at scenic Vinoy Park. Over the course of three days, fifteen different blues acts will be taking the stage at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival including JJ Grey and Mofro, Jimmie Vaghan, and Larkin Poe.
Tampa Bay Rays Home Opener: Baseball fans should make sure to welcome the Rays home this Friday as the team plays their first game at Tropicana Field this season. Their home opener sees the Rays squaring up against the Baltimore Orioles , with the game starting at 3:10 pm. If you miss Friday’s game though, you can also catch the Rays playing the Orioles again Saturday and Sunday, starting at 1:10 at the Trop, with fans under 14 able to get a free promotional Pop-It at Sunday’s game while supplies last.
Pinellas Pepper Fest: Get ready to bring the heat this Saturday and Sunday at England Brothers Park as Pinellas Pepper Fest celebrates its 15 year anniversary at Pinellas Park. In addition to the countless spicy sauces and foods to choose from, there will also be plenty of contests to see if you can hold up to the extreme heat of hot sauces, peppers, and the world’s hottest lollipop. The event will also feature ax throwing, live music, and specialty vendors with a wide array of culinary gadgets and innovations. The festivities will go from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday, and from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday.
Sarasota/Manatee County
Spring Arts & Crafts Festival: Looking for the perfect piece of art to spruce up your home or office space? The Sarasota Spring Arts and Crafts Festival is the place! Painters, sculptors, glass-blowers, and wood-workers from across the U.S. all gather here to showcase their creations and many take commissions if you can’t find exactly what suits your taste. The festival is located at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park and will run all weekend long from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
School of Glass Family Funday: Study a master class in glass at Sarasota School of Glass this Sunday! The art of glass blowing makes it easy to create a beautiful vase, lovely garden scape, or unique dinnerware. Sunday Fundays are reserved for groups and families of all ages and offer a variety of projects that guarantee dazzling results! This two-hour instruction taking place at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm starts at $35 per person. Visit the Sarasota School of Glass for information on how to register.
Polk County
50,000 Egg Hunt: The egg-citement is building for the Free Life Chapel 50,000 Egg Hunt in Lakeland this Saturday. Bring the kids out to hunt from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm to get candy and win prizes! There is a field dedicated to special needs children and their families too, so anyone can participate. There is no shortage of activities to choose from: bounce houses, games, rides, and even a petting zoo. Kids can even get pictures taken with the Easter bunny! Best of all: this event is completely free!
Citrus County
Rock N’ Roll Easter Train: Take part in a multitude of festivities at the Kirby Farm Rock N’ Roll Easter Train all weekend long! The hallmark of the event is a full-size historic train that runs along Florida’s biggest privately owned railroad, but there are plenty of other exciting rides, free games, and activities to choose from. Whether it’s watching a magic show, winning prizes at the carnival, or having a dance party with the Easter bunny, it is sure to be a hit for each member of the family. Basic admission is $15.99 for 11 and up and $10.99 for ages 3-10.
Lee County
Bonita Springs Shrimp & Music Festival: Enjoy a laid-back weekend of live performances, great seafood, and fun at the Bonita Springs Shrimp and Music Festival. In addition, there will be plenty of local vendors selling artisan goods, crafts, handmade goods, and much more!
