Tampa Bay Margarita Festival 2017 Featuring Bare Naked Ladies, Cowboy Mouth, and more returns to Downtown Tampa Saturday, May 27th at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park for its fifth year from noon to 11 pm. The 2016 festival drew a crowd of over 13,000 and plenty of feedback from event party goers. This year, organizers are expecting a crowd of over 15,000 from across the country, and having listened to their loyal fest-goers they've implemented several new concepts including a Food Market, access to A/C, a new RFID Wristband Pay system, and a Charging Lounge while maintaining popular areas like Corona Beach and the Cabo Wabo Backyard. The entertainment will be epic as always ushering us into a firework's display to close Tampa's largest Memorial Day party.
What can you expect this year?
“The Margarita Festival is becoming a Tampa tradition…people from all over the country and the state attend, get a room, and spend money locally, creating economic impact for Downtown on a normally dead weekend,” says Monica Varner, Partner at Big City Events. Attendees can enjoy over 60 variety of Margaritas with countless flavors from classic to sweet or even spicy ones. Tequila brands represented include Cabo Wabo, Cuervo Tradicional, Sauza, Hornitos, Lunazul, Margaritaville, and more. For you non-tequila drinkers, look for Blue Chair Bay Rum-Ritas and Tito’s Handmade Vodka’s Tito-Ritas at this year's festival. The extremely popular 'Extreme Margarita Bar' will be back where a Rose Wine Rita and a Pineapple Sriracha Margarita are on the menu!
What’s New?
The Food Market
New this year is the addition of a food market curated with foods and snacks paired well with Margaritas. Fuzzy's Taco Shop, with two locations in the Tampa Bay Area, will pop up a 1600+ sq. ft. restaurant at the Margarita Festival, serving their signature tacos, chips, nachos, and more. Also look for Westshore Pizza, Big Ray's Fish Camp, Zukku Sushi, PDQ, Street Surfer, Empamamas, and Mini Doughnut Factory to round out the new food market.
AC Cool Tent
Also new is the addition of an air-conditioned cool-tent sponsored by Zignum Mezcal. Attendees can cool off from the heat by entering the cool tent and make their way through a fun maze as they cool down. Once through, a sample of Zignum Mezcal will be available if you want to give it a try!
New RFID Wristband System
A new RFID wristband system is in place due to overwhelming demand. This year’s RFID system will allow attendees to connect their wristband to a card and use the wristband to purchase margaritas and food throughout the festival. No more standing in line to top up or waiting for a refund!
Sprint Charging Lounge
The new phone charging lounge, obviously sponsored by Sprint, will allow attendees to charge their phones while enjoying Margaritas. A problem for many at past events, Tampa Bay Margarita Festival is a marathon, not a sprint, it's a long day where you are encouraged to drink responsibly and to keep your phone charged for that Uber ride to your hotel or home. The charging lounge will keep you connected, taking pictures, Snapchatting and uploading from morning till night!
What’s Returning?
The Beach and The Backyard
Celebrated special areas Corona Beach and the Cabo Wabo Backyard will be activated again this year. Guests can lay back on special hammocks and Adirondack chairs while enjoying a Corona-Rita at the Corona Beach while at the Cabo Wabo Backyard, guests can enjoy special backyard seating area. Also look for the Grand Tequila tasting at The Vault (611 N Franklin St.) from 2 pm to 6 pm, this extra ticket gets you into a spectacular tasting event featuring over 40 tequilas.
Entertainment Lineup
Grammy Award winners Barenaked Ladies will headline the 5th annual Festival on the 'Westshore Pizza Stage', showcasing songs “If I had a Million Dollar”, “Pinch Me” and more. Supporting them will be Cowboy Mouth and a lineup of local and regional bands, including RIPT, The Whole Damn Mess, Parrotfish, Ries Brothers, & The Getbye. DJ Fresh will return as emcee and host.
Also returning are fun outdoor games, a unique assortment of vendors and a fireworks display to light up the city skyline to close the festival.
Fun Trivia About the Margarita Festival
- 50,000 Margaritas to be served
- 50,000 Cups
- 30,000 Pounds of Ice
- 10,000 Limes
- 3500 Bottles of Tequila
Tickets are available for purchase online at TampaMargaritaFest.com
General Admission Tickets are available for $20 online until May 21st, then it is $25, increasing to $30at the door. VIP Tickets are limited this year and almost sold out.
About Tampa Bay Margarita Festival
The fifth annual Tampa Bay Margarita Festival is a production of Big City Events, LLC, a special event planning company based in Tampa, Florida specializing in unique, cutting-edge events. Big City Events also produces the popular Spring Beer Fling, Summer of Rum Festival, Tampa Bay Bloody Mary Festival, and the Bourbon & Brew Festival. For more information about Big City Events, visit Big City EventsTampa.com.
