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August 14, 2019
We say it every week and we’ll say it again…the weekend is here and the forecast for FUN is 100% with this list of our favorite family-friendly Tampa bay things to do this weekend with the kids!
Tater Tot Throwdown at Albert Whitted Park | Aug 16, 6-11 p.m.
Visit Albert Whitted Park, in Clearwater, for food trucks featuring dishes with one of America’s favorite breakfast foods: tater tots! Admission is free! There will be live music, craft vendors, and tons of food trucks. The throwdown is pet-friendly, so feel free to bring your adorable four-legged family members! gulftobayfta.org
Bolts Brew Fest | Aug 16, 7-10 p.m.
The Tampa Bay Lightning will be throwing the Bolts Brew Fest at Amalie Arena. The event will feature craft beers from local breweries, oversized games, Lightning Personalities and more! Tickets are available now. amaliearena.com
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom | Aug 16-Nov 1 at 7 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween and spooky times starting this August with Mickey and other members of the Disney gang. Events from years past will be returning, as well as a brand-new firework show specifically for Halloween! BOO-k your tickets now and wear your costume to help Mickey Celebrate! disneyworld.disney.go.com
Kids Ride FREE All Summer at Florid Railroad Museum in Parrish | Sat and Sun, 11am and 2pm
Kids younger than 12 ride for free with a paid adult admission! Board the train and go for a cool ride!
Farmers Market at BayCare HealthHub in Valrico | Aug 17, 9am-1pm
Every third Saturday, BayCare HeathHub hosts a fresh market featuring fresh produce, food trucks, free face painting and more! Located at 2470 Bloomingdale Ave in Valrico.
Cadillac 5K and Kid’s Pizza Dash | Aug. 17, 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
There is a race for every member of the family! The youngest ones can participate in a short pizza dash while the older ones can participate in a 5K along the beach in beautiful Treasure Island. The race is capped at 500 participants so sign up now! active.com
Florida Kids and Family Expo in Orlando | Aug. 17-18, Times Vary
Spend a fun day, or days, with the family at what is basically a family comic-con! Tickets are $6 online and $10 at the door. There will be 150+ interactive exhibits, including dozens of fun zones, arts and crafts, touch-a-truck and more! mycentralfloridafamily.com
Bier Fest at Busch Gardens | Aug. 17-Sept. 8, Weekends
Busch Gardens will host a Bier fest from August to September that will allow adults to try beers from around the world and beers from local Tampa Bay craft brewers. There will be live music and food as well. buschgardens.com
Royal Tea with Tinkerbell at Victorian Grace Tearoom | Aug. 18, 4 p.m.
Join Tinkerbell for a full English-style tea lunch at the Victorian Grace Tearoom! Every guest will get a meet and greet, and there will be an interactive story time, and a sing and dance along! RSVP now before it fills up! eventbrite.com
Annual Gourmet Festival at Armature Works in Tampa | Aug. 22, 6-8:30 p.m.
Enjoy some of the most mouthwatering foods from some of Tampa Bay’s finest restaurants and beverage purveyors at the Gourmet Festival at Armature Works. There will be a silent auction filled with unique items and lively entertainment. All the proceeds will go to The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women, a nonprofit that helps girls and women, in the Tampa Bay community, reach their potential! Check online for tickets! eventbrite.com
Fairy Festival in Orlando | Aug. 23, 6-9 p.m.
Walk through the Harry P Leu Gardens to find fairy doors and fairies and visit different spots to participate in different fairy activities. Activities include making a fairy garden, learning about plants and animals in the garden and more! Tickets are available online. leugardens.org
The Incredible Duck Race in Tampa | Aug. 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join the Kiwanis Club of Tampa and Center State as they present the Incredible Duc k Race at Curtis Hixon Park. 15,000+ rubber ducks will race down the Hillsborough River and the first ten ducks to cross the finish line will win amazing prizes! Proceeds of duck sales will benefit the Tampa Kiwanis Foundation and go towards helping kids in the local community. Visit TampaDuckRace.com for more details.
Monster Jam Triple Threat Series | Aug. 24, 1-7 p.m.
What’s better than seeing regular cars do tricks? Monster Trucks doing tricks! Have a family fun day, or night, watching Monster Trucks race, freestyle and do tricks while they compete for a chance to go to the Monster Jam World Final. amaliearena.com
Tea for Tots at Oxford Exchange | Aug. 25, 2 p.m.
This month’s afternoon Tea for Tots at the Oxford Exchange will feature a read-along of Shel Silverstein stories. Tickets are available online now and will include the read-along, tea and light snacks. oxfordexchange.com
Flow with the Fishes at Florida Aquarium | Aug. 25, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Enjoy a relaxing morning with the family while doing yoga at the Florida Aquarium before it opens! All levels are welcome. Do yoga in front of the Coral Reef or Heart of the Sea. Sign up online now. Tickets include all-day admission into the Aquarium! flaquarium.org
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Grand Opening | Aug. 29
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open the new Star Wars section this summer! Guests will be transported to Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu. The new shops, rides, restaurants and more are sure to be out of this world! disneyworld.disney.go.com
Florida Georgia Line: Can’t Say I Ain’t Country Tour | Aug. 30, 7 p.m.
Jam out to award-winning band Florida Georgia Line, along with Dan + Shay and Morgan Wallen, as they perform many of their hit songs at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Cruise online and buy tickets now! livenation.com
MommyCon and DaddyCon Orlando | Aug. 30-31, Times Vary
Join other new, expectant, or experienced parents for a day or two of fun, interactive ways to learn and practice parenting skills and learn more about parenting! It’s like Comic-Con for parents! General and VIP tickets are available. mommycon.com
Hope Fun Run and 5K | Aug. 31, 8 a.m.
Run either the one-mile Fun Run with water balloons, color and sprays or race in the 5K, either way you’ll be helping the children and educators in the Tampa Bay public schools! Sign up online now! The sooner you sign up, the cheaper it is! raceroster.com
GeckoFest | Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Head over to Gulfport for their annual GeckoFest. Pursue art, listen to live music and watch exciting street performers! Admission is free! Celebrate Labor Day at this unique festival that’s sure to be a fun time! visitstpeteclearwater.com
Special Needs Events:
Sensory-Friendly Saturdays at Altitude Trampoline Park in Tampa
Aug. 17, 9-10 a.m.
Children with sensory needs are invited to come out to Altitude Trampoline Park in Tampa and jump in a safe, sensory-friendly environment with low music and no crowded parties. One accompanying parent to a sensory-friendly child jumps for free. All others can jump for a lowered cost of $11.95 per person. altitudetampa.com
AMC Sensory-Friendly Movie
Aug. 24, Times Vary
On the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, AMC offers family-friendly sensory movies. The lights will be turned up and the sound down so everyone can talk and get up to walk. Check your local AMC for times. amctheatres.com
Sunshine Sunday at Glazer Children’s Museum
Aug. 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The last Sunday of every month, Glazer Children’s Museum hosts a special morning with lowered sensory activities. This Sunday is geared towards children with special needs and their caregivers. Explore the museum with reduced light and sound. Admission is $5; free for GCM members. glazermuseum.org
Bier Fest at Busch Gardens: Weekends through September 8
*Our partners at Tampa Bay Date Night Guide are sharing some of their favorite things to do around Tampa Bay too!
NEW EXHIBIT AT MOSI: One Small Step, The Exhibition
MOSI is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing with a new interactive exhibit this summer! This will be a hands on way for you and the kids to learn and explore and maybe even inspire a future generation of astronauts! mosi.org
For those who dare…and who happen to be 54 inches or taller…ride TIGRIS, the new rollercoaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Read all about it.
Dinovations Lab is NOW OPEN at MOSI!!
Be among the first to go back in time at our favorite science museum to learn about our planet Earth and the creatures and plants that lived here millions of years ago! The Dinovations Lab key feature is the Diplodocus dinosaur skeleton, a cast molding made from real dinosaur bones discovered in the USA! There’s also a Paleo Lab where you can examine fossils under a microscope! mosi.org
COOL OFF AT OUR FAVORITE WATER PARKS! Local water parks are now OPEN for the season like Adventure Island in Tampa and Buccaneer Bay at Weeki Wachee Springs! Here are our favorite water parks in Tampa Bay!
Go check out the newly renovated David A. Straz, Jr. Manatee Critical Care Center at ZooTampa where four rescued manatees are being cared for. Just like before, you’ll be able to view the beautiful sea cows from the underwater observation window. zootampa.org
Discover one of 7 Local Museums Kids Love in Tampa Bay!
If the temps are a bit too cold for outdoor fun, why not go and play at one of our favorite 7 museums for kiddos in Tampa Bay!
Discover a NEW Place to Play | All weekend, all day, everyday
Why not discover a new park or playground in the Tampa Bay Area? There are so many great parks for families which is why we’ve put together a list of our favorites with the help of our Family Fun contributor Heather DeManche! Check it out here!
Go to the beach!
We’ve put together a list of our favorite family-friendly Tampa Bay beaches that are not huge tourist spots, but equally as beautiful!
