As a McKay resident, I have been granted easy access to the beach volleyball court, Riverwalk, and a beautiful view of the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. During the day, I will walk to a class and the sounds of loud music tell me something big is going on across the river, at night it’s the strobe (club- looking) lights that catch my attention. Sometimes I yell at the nearest person and ask what’s going on, but most of the time I grab a friend and walk over to check it out. You might have attended these events or stopped by and wondered what was happening.
Here are some of the activities that have happened so far:
Oktoberfest (October 7, 8, 9):
3 days of German celebration, music, dancing and of course BEER!
Hillary Clinton’s Early Vote Rally (October 26):
UT students made their way Downtown to hear speakers like: actress (and St. Petersburg native) Angela Bassett and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Tampa Veg Fest (November 12):
At the Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park (South of Amalie Arena). The event is presented by Florida Voices for Animals, and now is in its seventh year. Local vegan restaurants were present. There were guest speakers, live music and entertainment. They All promoted healthy living and an ecofriendly lifestyle. There was also an animal adoption tent for all pet lovers!
And here are some things to look out for:
ICE Skating!! (November 18 – January 1):
It’s $12 for 90 minutes and ice skates. So grab a couple of friends, put on your cutest fall outfit and enjoy the holiday vibes.
Tampa Tree Lighting Ceremony (December 2 at 6pm):
Now I am from NYC, so we know tree lighting is something we look out for. Late Night Brass, a 10 piece horn band will perform, so I suggest heading down and enjoying the holiday joys and the great view of UT from across the river. It may be no Rockefeller, but it’s sure a good reminder that in just 2 more weeks we will be sitting at home looking at our trees with the people we love.
Santa Fest (December 3):
It is Tampa’s annual holiday festival, which includes Tampa’s Downtown Holiday Parade. The parade ends at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park where the Santa Fest activities are taking place. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is transformed into a winter wonderland and the young and the young at heart can enjoy with visits with Santa Claus, continuous holiday entertainment, children’s make-n-take holiday crafts, inflatable bounces, and lot of other hands on activities.
Here Comes the Funny Tour (December 11):
Now although this is not at the park, I felt I must at least put it on the list because of the great list of comedians showing up. The show is sponsored by Netflix, and it will be featuring live performances by Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Nick Swardson. This is where I will have to be a responsible student and remind you that it’s happening during Finals week! And tickets start at $175. If this does not affect you, go check it out! See more at: https://shop.strazcenter.org/shop/PerformanceDetailEx.aspx?perfID=21399#sthash.nGiAon6n.dpuf
New Year’s Eve Celebration (January 1 at 12 AM): Now if you are staying here over winter session (or you’re a Tampa native), you will be able to enjoy some of the festivities, including: “a spectacular fireworks display launched from a barge in the channel adjacent to Channelside Bay Plaza and The Florida Aquarium.”
The Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival TBBHF (January 12-22):
“It is a 10-day event that benefits the Tampa Bay area by focusing attention on the local, national and international contributions of people of African Heritage. This event strives to increase diversity awareness and cultural sensitivity by presenting culturally significant and specific programs led by speakers, entertainers and unique artists. The festival is open to the entire community and provides an exciting and fun way for children and adults to learn about the contributions made by people of African descent in the fields of education, art, music and history.”
Gasparilla! (January 28):
“The Gasparilla Pirate Festival starts with a parade from Bayshore and ends downtown at Curtis Hixon Park. Pirates invade and capture the City of Tampa by boat in one of the largest and most unique celebrations in the country! Gasparilla has been Tampa’s community celebration since 1904. With approximately 200,000 attendees, the Gasparilla Pirate Fest provides the City of Tampa another quality, free community event.”
Gasparilla Music Festival! (March 11):
Performances by Cage the Elephant, Moon Taxi, The New Mastersounds and much more. Tickets start around $40 for general admission and go up to $150 for VIP.
Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Racing (May 1):
An annual event held near Cotanchobbee/Fort Brooke Park. Each year, teams from across Tampa Bay compete to win. Dragon Boat racing has become so popular that in August 2011, downtown Tampa will host the world championship! Pull up to the Riverwalk and watch the captivating boats row along.
Pops in the Park (May 7 at 7:30 PM):
Grab a picnic basket and enjoy a free concert under the stars with a program of pop tunes, film scores, Broadway hits and more. Bring plenty of canned goods for Tampa Bay Harvest’s annual food drive! Collection points will be available throughout the parks.
Now of course these are only some of the multiple events happening downtown. There’s always new exhibits at the art museum (they display new artist every month), along with weekly Zumba, yoga classes, and group runs in the park (all complimentary to help locals stay fit and active), sports events at the Amalie Arena, and concerts at the Straz Center. For more information on these events you can always check the Tampa partnership website: http://www.tampasdowntown.com/tampa-events.aspx .