Things To Do In Tampa This Weekend: Best Festivals & Events Going On

Rock the Park
Thursday, February 5, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park once again becomes Tampa’s most civilized way to accidentally discover a new band you’ll swear you loved “before they were big,” pairing free live music with riverfront views and zero pressure to spend money. The long-running monthly series delivers a rotating lineup of local and regional talent, proving that sometimes the best concerts come with fresh air, food trucks nearby, and absolutely no ticket fees.

Florida State Fair
All Weekend, February 5–8, Various Times
The Florida State Fair returns to Tampa with its annual reminder that deep-fried creativity knows no legal limits, pairing towering midway rides with foods that absolutely did not exist when nutrition labels were invented. Somewhere between the livestock barns, live entertainment, and one item on a stick that will haunt your dreams, the fair once again proves it can be wholesome, chaotic, and wildly impressive all at the same time.

Science After Dark: The Science of Love
Friday, February 6, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
MOSI turns romance into a controlled experiment with an adults-only night featuring cocktails, hands-on science, and liquid nitrogen ice cream because nothing says love like frozen dairy and lab-grade curiosity. Add interactive exhibits and a planetarium finale, and suddenly your Friday night sounds smarter than whatever you were going to do instead.

Winter Games at Sparkman Wharf
Friday, February 6, 6 p.m.–9 p.m.
Sparkman Wharf celebrates the Winter Olympics by letting Tampa pretend it understands cold-weather sports through curling lanes, air hockey, Wii competitions, and aggressively festive photo ops. The Opening Ceremony streams live on the big screen at 8 p.m., offering the rare joy of Olympic pageantry without frostbite or international travel.

2026 BungalowFest Home Tour*
Saturday, February 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Historic Kenwood opens its lovingly restored bungalows for a full day of architectural snooping, Craftsman admiration, and polite jealousy directed at 100-year-old homes aging far better than any of us. The self-guided tour doubles as a neighborhood love letter, with trolley rides, design inspiration, and proceeds fueling community projects that keep St. Pete charming on purpose.

Love Letter Printing
Saturday, February 7, 2 p.m.–5 p.m.
Carve, ink, and print your own heartfelt message because nothing says romance or friendship quite like a handmade block print you labored over with tiny carving tools. The class walks you through designing and creating custom stamps for cards and postcards, delivering equal parts creative satisfaction and the dangerous realization that rubber stamps are, in fact, a slippery slope.

The Choir of Man*
Saturday, February 7, 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
British pub culture collides with singalong chaos as this rowdy, beer-soaked crowd favorite turns the theater into “The Jungle,” where songs, stories, and camaraderie flow freely. Think foot-stomping vocals, heartfelt moments, and the comforting realization that community feels even better when it comes with harmonies and the spirit of a very good pint.

Cars & Couture – 15th Annual
Saturday, February 7, 6 p.m.–10 p.m.
Luxury cars and high fashion collide for one very shiny, very photogenic night that proves philanthropy pairs nicely with horsepower and couture. The evening mixes exotic vehicles, runway-worthy looks, and social sparkle, all while raising money and awareness for Autism, because nothing says doing good quite like looking fabulous next to something with an engine that costs more than your house.

Hello Friend Night Market
Saturday & Sunday, February 7–8, 2 p.m.–11 p.m.
Pinellas Park turns England Brothers Park into a glowing, lantern-filled chaos of food, fire shows, lion dances, and more vendors than your self-control can reasonably handle. Pho contests, moon cake bravado, live performances, and free lanterns for kids make this feel like a cultural festival that politely dares you to stay way past your bedtime.

Sweetheart of the Season Scones Workshop
Sunday, February 8, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Channel your inner Bridgerton extra with a delightfully over-the-top morning of scone-making, sourdough education, and genteel tea sipping that feels like a period drama but with better carbs. Guests mix dough, feed a living sourdough starter, snack on warm scones with clotted cream, and leave feeling refined, accomplished, and mildly superior to everyone who spent their Sunday scrolling instead.

Indie Flea
Sunday, February 8, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.
Armature Works turns into a beautifully curated chaos of local makers, vintage gems, and objects you absolutely do not need but will emotionally require within five minutes of arrival. Wander, browse, impulse-buy something handmade, and leave feeling smugly superior about “supporting local” while carrying a tote bag full of excellent decisions.

USF Men’s Basketball vs. Tulsa
Sunday, January 25, 1 p.m.–3 p.m.
Head to the Yuengling Center to watch the USF Bulls take on Tulsa in a display of collegiate athleticism that will remind you exactly how long it’s been since you could run a full sprint without making a sound like a haunted floorboard. It’s the perfect opportunity to scream at a mahogany floor with thousands of other people while collectively pretending that your vocal support is the only thing keeping those shots from hitting the rim.