February is an amazing time to be in Tampa with fabulous weather and lots of fun things to do. From outdoor festivals to red carpet parties, there is something fun for everyone to do in Tampa this month.
Bay Area Renaissance Festival
Take a leisurely stroll or do pub crawl back in time at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. Enjoy this unique outdoor festival filled with seven stages of live entertainment, live jousting, giant turkey legs, craft beer tastings, 100 merchants, and a lots of merriment fit for a Queen or King! With seven themed weekends, you are sure to find a fun-filled day with family, friends, or even your furry loved one!
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival runs from February 18th to April 2nd on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Parking is free, and discount tickets available at all Walgreen stores. On February 18th and 19th, you can get a FREE admission ticket when you donate blood at the onsite Blood Drive and help save a life! You can also buy one ticket and get an additional one for FREE when you bring four cans of food to the festival box office.
Located at MOSI off of Fowler Avenue in Tampa, the Bay Area Renaissance Festival is easy to find with plenty of signage.
Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival
Enjoy sampling 40 bourbons and 60 beers at the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival at the beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Saturday, February 18th from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. There will also be many vendors selling their best BBQ dishes and sides with big portions at low prices. With live music, games, contests, seminars, and more, this is one festival you don't want to miss!
Mardi Gras Cookout at Beach Bar & Restaurant
Can't make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras? Come out to Beach Bar & Restaurant for their Mardi Gras Cookout where they'll be serving up New Orleans classics such as broiled crawfish, jamabalya, and sugar-coated beignets as well as drinks specials. With a live Mardi Gras band, you'll feel like you're in the French Quarter itself.
Gasparilla Distance Classic 2017
The annual Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic will be held February 25th and 26th along Bayshore Boulevard, South Tampa, and Davis Islands. There will be a health and fitness expo along with a 5K, 8K, 15K, and half marathon. Established in 1978, The Gasparilla Distance Classic Association is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for youth organizations and running programs.
Sports Photography Exhibit at Tampa Museum of Art
From February 4th through April 30th, The Tampa Museum of Art will have a special exhibit titled, "Who Shot Sports: A Photographic History, 1843 to the Present." One of the first exhibits of its kind, it encompasses approximately 230 works ranging from daguerreotypes of the late 19th century to today's digital images. Any sports or photography enthusiast will enjoy perusing these sports pictures from the last 175 years.
Florida State Fair
Come out to the Florida State Fair for a fun-filled day of rides, games, food, contests, music, and more! This year's fair will run February 9th through February 20th. Be sure to check out their official website for more information and events.
Hollywood Awards Night at Tampa Theatre
Get the Oscars experience and join the Tampa Theatre in Downtown for their 18th annual Hollywood Awards Night on Sunday, February 26th starting at 7:00 PM under the historic marquee.
