TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay area is gearing up for one of its busiest stretches of the year, with a massive lineup of festivals, professional sports, and high-energy entertainment.
From the start of the IndyCar season to the peak of strawberry season, here is what’s happening across the region this weekend.
Major Festivals & Outdoor Art
Florida Strawberry Festival (Plant City): The 91st annual celebration of the berry kicks off Thursday, Feb. 26, and runs through the weekend. This year’s “Still Growing” theme features a heavy-hitting concert lineup, including Alabama (Thursday night) and Jamey Johnson (Friday night), alongside the legendary strawberry shortcake and midway rides.
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park): This premier outdoor art show takes over downtown Tampa on Saturday (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.). The 56th annual event showcases hundreds of artists competing for one of the largest prize purses in the country.
Tampa Taco Fest (Al Lopez Park): Foodies should head to Al Lopez Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Tampa Bay’s largest taco celebration, featuring dozens of local vendors, tequila tastings, and live music.
Professional Sports & High-Octane Racing
Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg: The NTT IndyCar Series season officially begins on the waterfront street circuit. Practice and qualifying rounds run all day Friday and Saturday, featuring a new NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday afternoon (12:23 p.m.) before the main Grand Prix event on Sunday.
Monster Jam (Raymond James Stadium): The world’s best monster truck drivers return to Tampa for two days of high-flying stunts. The main event kicks off Saturday at 7 p.m., with a second occurrence on Sunday. Fans can also attend the “Pit Party” earlier in the afternoon to see the 12,000-pound trucks up close.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Buffalo Sabres: The Bolts take to the ice at the Benchmark International Arena (formerly Amalie Arena) on Saturday night at 7 p.m. for a critical late-season matchup.
Live Music & Comedy
Sam Morril (Tampa Theatre): The comedian returns to the historic downtown stage on Friday night for two separate shows (7 p.m. and 10 p.m.). Notably, these performances are being filmed for his latest live comedy special.
Barry Manilow (Benchmark International Arena): Following a previous rescheduling, the “Last Tampa Concert” is currently slated for Friday at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to check the venue website for the most current status, as recent updates have indicated potential shifts in the tour schedule.
Quick Reference: Weekend Highlights
| Event | Date | Location |
| Strawberry Festival | Feb 26 – March 8 | Plant City |
| Grand Prix Qualifying | Friday & Saturday | Downtown St. Pete |
| Sam Morril (Live Taping) | Friday (7 p.m. & 10 p.m.) | Tampa Theatre |
| Gasparilla Arts Fest | Sat (9 a.m.) & Sun (10 a.m.) | Julian B. Lane Park |
| Tampa Taco Fest | Saturday (10 a.m.) | Al Lopez Park |
| Monster Jam | Sat (7 p.m.) & Sun | Raymond James Stadium |
| Lightning vs. Sabres | Saturday (7 p.m.) | Benchmark Arena |
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
