Music festivals are events that bring the community together to enjoy loves we all have in common: music, food, and the arts. If you’ve been to a music festival, then you’ll know the feeling of thousands of people in their element emitting their pure happiness and excitement into the atmosphere as music booms.
And, let me tell you, there’s nothing like seeing your favorite artist perform in the place you call home.
Tampa Bay has a great reputation for music festivals of all different genres. We have Sunset Music Festival for the EDM lovers, and, up until Warped Tour ended last year, the punk rock and grunge crowd was lucky enough to welcome their favorites to the Bay as well.
Find your groove by checking out our list of all the annual music festivals in Tampa Bay for 2019, and stay up-to-date with the next music festival coming to town by checking back with us often.
February
February is the month for blues festivals in the Tampa Bay area! The Clearwater Sea Blues Festival is two days of the finest seafood and blues music that Clearwater has to offer. So if you’re looking for some fresh catch seafood and international recording acts, head to Coachman Park on February 23!
Related content: Clearwater Sea Blues Festival is Two Days of Music, Seafood, and Fun!
Calling all foodies and craft beer lovers! The Florida Food and Brews Festival features local restaurants and food trucks offering dishes available for $5 or less plus music performances, stand-up comedians, shopping, and a wide selection of craft beer February 23 and 24.
Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea V Music Festival
If you’re looking for a weekend getaway filled with good vibes and even better music, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea V is the perfect festival for you! I won’t lie to you, it isn’t cheap, but it's all-inclusive, so you won’t have to take your wallet out once on the ship! February 25 through March 1, this three-day cruise out of Tampa to the Cayman Islands gives you the chance to see famous blues artists play to your heart's content!
March
It’s the last Gasparilla event of the season, but that means Tampa’s Gasparilla pirates are in full swing at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park! The Gasparilla Music Festival returns March 9 and 10 and features over 40 bands across five stages along Tampa's waterfront. 2019 initial artists include The Avett Brothers, Gary Clark Jr., Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Tank & the Bangas, and more.
Related content: Enjoy Sun, Fun, and Awesome Music at the 2019 Gasparilla Music Festival
If you like Bob Marley and reggae music, head to Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg on March 13-17 for three full days of amazing music, food, merchandise, art, activities, and good vibes. With Reggae artists like Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution, and Stick Figure, this has become one of the top ten festivals to look out for in 2019.
Related content: Festivals Coming to St. Petersburg and Clearwater in 2019
April
The Tampa Bay Blues Festival is one of the world’s finest blues music events staged in the tropical setting of Vinoy Park on the shores of Tampa Bay. April 12-14, you’ll be able to hear some of the world’s best blues artists right in your own backyard! Check back at a later date for the lineup.
Tampa Bay Seafood & Music Festival
If you moved to Florida for the fresh catch-of-the-day seafood, then the Tampa Bay Seafood & Music Festival April 26-28 is one you can't miss! Stop by Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for freshly-cooked seafood, sides, desserts, and refreshments while watching live music by top Florida talents. This year, we welcome the Sarasota Steel Pan Band, Reverend Barry & The Funk, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio, RJ Howson, Kettle of Fish, the Greg Billings Band, the Black Honkeys Band, and Act 3.
May
EDM lovers and headbangers, rejoice! SMF is back for another year! Two full days (noon to midnight) of fun are back to take over the back lot of Raymond James Stadium with thousands of EDM fans May 26 and 26. This year, the lineup is on fire with Alison Wonderland, Flux Pavilion, and Kaskade, just to name a few. Keep an eye out for their phase two release scheduled for the end of March!
Related content: Festivals Coming to Tampa in 2019
Tequila is required for a great margarita, so if you're anything like me, then this is your favorite festival of the year! During Memorial Day Weekend each year, the Margarita Festival takes over Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for two days of live music and lots of tequila! In past years, they've had performances by Sugar Ray and The Wailers so stay tuned to see who they're inviting to perform this year on March 25 and 26!
June, July, and August
The summer months are difficult for music festivals because it’s just so darn hot in Tampa that the city likes to save the all-day outdoor events and festivals for our cooler months. But there’s still plenty of indoor fun in Tampa during the summer! And if you want to be outside, head to the beach for a few hours in the afternoon.
September
Summer of Rum (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
If you find yourself ordering Jack and Cokes or mojitos, then get excited for Labor Day weekend! Each summer, Tampa locals and visitors celebrate what a fabulous summer it has been at the Summer of Rum Festival in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. There's always an all-star lineup of artists like Sugar Ray and Shaggy! So be sure to stay up to date on who’s coming to Tampa by checking back on this article at a later date.
GeckoFest (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
Head to GeckoFest, Gulfport’s end-of-summer festival that's both the largest of the year and the locals' favorite! It celebrates the town’s unofficial mascot and favorite reptile, the Gecko! The festival has grown to become one of Tampa Bay’s most anticipated events of the year, so be on the lookout for tickets as they're coming soon!
October
Tampa Pig Jig (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
If you like pork in all of its many delectable shapes and forms, then you can't miss Tampa Pig Jig! Each October, pork lovers head to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for two days of endless barbecue and live music! Last October, they welcomed Chris Young, Riley Green, Deer Tick, and many other popular acts to the stage! If food and music make you happy, so will Tampa Pig Jig!
Clearwater Jazz Holiday
The Clearwater Jazz Festival returns to Coachman Park on October 17-20 with live jazz music, lots of local food vendors, and an atmosphere worth checking out! The Clearwater Jazz Holiday is a world-class live music festival enjoyed by over 35,000 people the third week of every October and now in its 40th year. The music festival has evolved from a series of concerts on the back of a flatbed truck and at venues around Clearwater into an annual international music festival that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to beautiful Clearwater.
November
Congo Caliente (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
Tampa’s premier cultural festival, Conga Caliente, celebrates all Hispanic Arts and Cultures from around the world. You can experience a variety of national and international performers all in your backyard at Al Lopez Park! Past acts include performances by Johnny Ventura, Aymee Nuviola, Braulio, and Stephanie Gerard, just to name a few! Tickets and dates for the event will be released soon, so check back for more info!
Ribfest (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
For 30 years, the foodies of Tampa Bay have been treated to a two three-day festival dedicated to their love of ribs. But not only do they celebrate their love of meat and everything that can be taken off the bone, they are also treated to live musical performances by artists that locals and visitors all enjoy. Past performances include The Barenaked Ladies, Fire & Ice, Josh Turner, and Runaway June, just to name a few.
St. Pete Beach Bikefest (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
For those of you who enjoy a long Sunday afternoon drive on your hog, St. Pete Beach Bikefest caters to all of your wants and needs as they put on quite the show. With three days of live music, local food, and your toes in the sand, come show off your bike and ride to your heart's content.
December
Winter Wonder Ride with OnBikes (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
Every child deserves a bike- it gives them their first sense of independence and responsibility. So Onbikes, a non-profit organization out of Tampa, has put on the Winter Wonder Ride each year to support this philosophy. Not only do they give to a worthy cause, but they also bring in hot musical performers to give riders and participants quite the treat! In past years, they've invited Tone Loc, C+C Music Factory, and Salt n Pepper. Stay tuned to find out who they plan to bring to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in 2019.
Next Big Thing Music Festival (2019 Dates Coming Soon)
Tampa Bay’s premier event for alternative music is back! Check out the 97X Next Big Thing tour date for a night full of music from your favorite alternative rock artists. At this festival, there are plenty of vendors as well as sponsored booths to potentially meet your favorite artists. Be sure to grab your tickets for the 97X Next Big Thing and return to this article to find out more info when it's released.
