10 Best Festivals in Tampa

Gasparilla Music Festival is a popular event held every year where you can listen to more than 40 artists, most of which are local acts. In addition to hearing the sounds of some of the Tampa area's own, you can often catch some nationally recognized artists here as well.

When you visit this festival, you can attend with peace of mind knowing that all the proceeds are going to fund local youth music and art programs. Additionally, children who are 12 or younger can get in for free. It's held in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa.

Gasparilla Pirate Festival celebrates Jose Gaspar in a fun, pirate-themed event where you'll find parades, live performances, food, and music. Generally, there are hundreds of participants in the invasion parade, all wearing pirate garb, while a lot of onlookers are similarly dressed.

The event is suitable for all ages, as it doesn't actually go into the brutality of historical piracy. After all, it's still up for debate whether or not Jose Gaspar was even real. The festival takes place throughout downtown.

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is a massive art festival in which artists from all over the world show off their incredible works in a single location. Downtown Tampa is effectively transformed into a massive outdoor art museum where artists, including some world-renowned artists, display paintings, sculptures, photos, and more.

When you visit, you'll find yourself among a mixed media of artworks, with some that only exist in the contemporary scene, like video and light-based art. Think of it as an imaginarium of the senses with enough variety on display to delight anyone. It takes place throughout the downtown area.

Tampa Riverfest is an annual event that combines some of the best aspects of the local culture, like entertainment and food, right by the river. Live music is held throughout the festival along with special events like wiener-dog races.

Food plays a major role in this event, with restaurants and chefs from all over the area coming to show off their best dishes. Tacos are especially popular. You'll find it all along the riverwalk that stretches from Curtis Hixon Park along the Hillsborough River in downtown.

The Tampa Bay Margarita Festival is an adults-only festival where you can taste a wide variety of margaritas and other mixed drinks. More than 50 varieties of the classic drink are available for tasting, and several big- and small-name margarita brands participate every year.

The festival closes out each year with a massive fireworks display that's sure to delight, especially if you're already a few margaritas into your night. You'll find it all held in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa.

Sunset Music Festival is an electronic music festival held in a massive stadium where you can dance to live performances by both local and big-name DJs and artists. The production quality here has always been a priority, so you can expect top-notch sound when you attend.

Unlike area street festivals, this one requires tickets since it takes place in a limited-space venue, and the tickets sell quickly. Book in advance and even reserve parking early to make sure you get a spot. It's all held in Raymond James Stadium, about a 15-drive northwest of the heart of downtown.

The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival is a popular event held every spring where you can enjoy flavorful dishes from top chefs in addition to delicious wine. The food is designed to be dynamic, and there are a lot of different flavors on offer, so you're sure to find something you like no matter what your tastes are.

In addition to the massive wine selection, you'll find a few other kinds of drinks at the festival. Craft beer and specialty cocktails are available, letting you diversify your experience even further. As the name suggests, it's all located within Busch Gardens, about 20 minutes northeast of downtown.

Tampa Bay Blues Festival is one of the most popular blues events in the country and lets you enjoy a variety of local and traveling artists singing the blues. For an entire weekend in April every year, you can see an array of different performers show off their talent and craft.

In addition to the live music, you'll also find several food vendors and craft displays set up throughout the festival. That means you don't have to leave the venue to grab a bite to eat, and you'll have plenty of options if you're looking for a souvenir. It's held in Vinoy Waterfront Park in nearby St. Petersburg, about 30 minutes southwest of Tampa.

The International Cuban Sandwich Festival is an unusual yet fascinating festival dedicated entirely to the Cuban sandwich and features both tastings and competitions. Travelers from all over the world attend this festival to see who can craft the most delicious Cuban-style sandwich.

Taste isn't the only factor being tested at this festival. You can also see who can make the longest Cuban sandwich. One of the more impressive sandwiches stretched 240 feet and took 9 seconds to walk the length of, and it was eventually used to feed 500 food-insecure people in town. The festival is held in Centennial Park, just 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Tampa.

Festa Italiana is an Italian culture festival where you can learn all about Italian traditions and heritage by way of live performances, crafts, and plenty of food. World-class entertainers often occupy the main stage at this event, offering live musical performances to enjoy.

The food is among the most alluring factors of this event. You'll find all sorts of pasta as you might expect, but desserts and wine play a major role as well. In fact, more than 70 different Italian wines are available throughout the festival. You'll find it all at the Italian Club of Tampa, just a couple of miles from the center of downtown.