The Fourth Annual Tampa Riverfest will be held on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5 in Downtown Tampa. In years past, this event brings crowds including families and their pets to downtown in celebration The Riverwalk's progress in the past four years. Tampa's 2018 Riverfest is presented by the Friends of the Riverwalk in conjunction with the City of Tampa and will span the entirety of the Riverwalk with activities and events for all throughout. Each of these events are designed to showcase Tampa’s culture, including local music and restaurants.
Tampa Riverfest 2018
In Curtis Hixon Park, there will be the main concerts and food sampling events for both days of Riverfest 2018. On Friday, May 4, the festival will begin at 4:00 p.m. and go until 10:00 p.m. with live music and their new Taste of the Riverwalk event. During the Taste of the Riverwalk, festival goers will be able to try samples from local restaurants that define the palette of Downtown Tampa with the purchase of a wristband. The Tampa Museum of Art is also hosting free museum tours at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. that night and giving 50% off of admission the rest of the evening. The live music on Friday includes headliner The Black Honkeys, a feel-good Motown soul band that gets everyone up on their feet and dancing!
On Saturday, the Weiner Dog Derby begins at 10:00 a.m., so be sure to bring your furry friends to cheer on their pals during the derby! The Taco Festival starts at 11:00 a.m., and it just so happens to fall on Cinco de Mayo with over 15 vendors giving out samples of tacos to the guests that purchase wristbands. Later that evening, there will be a hot air balloon glow at 8:30 p.m. where hot air balloons will light up the night sky. While the balloons are being lit, be sure to stop by the main stage for The Spazmatics performance that will close the show! The Spazmatics play unique covers of popular songs from the 80s.
Other locations along the Riverwalk are also celebrating! MacDill Park will have a stage set up for Hillsborough County school bands to perform for their families and friends from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Sail Pavilion and Straz Center of Performing Arts will also have live music throughout the day on Saturday. The Paddle Board Invasion will be at Water Works Park bright and early on Saturday morning starting at 7:30 a.m. At the same park, there will also be a Pride Band concert from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. At Ulele, there will be a band playing from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Then there will be Asiafest from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Cotanchobee Park.
Mark your calendars for the first weekend in May and come to Tampa Riverfest 2018 to enjoy all the fun Downtown Tampa has to offer. Try some of the taste’s of Tampa or hop on a paddle board and invade the river!
Find more events in Downtown Tampa like Riverfest 2018 by registering on 813area, your free guide to all things Tampa!
Cover image courtesy of Jill Conway
