Tampa is happening in March! Sunny skies, cool breezes and plenty of cool things to do make for a fun time of year in Tampa! Anticipation abounds as Spring Break things to do, parties and events are planned for Tampa Bay's breakers! Add St. Paddy's Day festivities, Beer Week, several great outdoor concerts and live music events, and March becomes one of the most fun months of the year in Tampa. If you haven't locked down plans for your Spring Break getaway Tampa is where you should be planning to stay and play! The party is on, the weather is fine, and we here in Tampa are all in the mood for a good time! Check out Things to Do in March in Tampa | Spring Break, Beer Week and More and at the end find more cool Spring Break ideas to keep the cash IN your wallet and things to do this March in Pinellas County.
Things to Do in March in Tampa | Spring Break, Beer Week and More
Film Buff? Like cinemas and the stars? Head out to the Gasparilla International Film Festival taking place at the Historic Tampa Theatre and in Historic Ybor City at Centro Ybor from March 2nd - the 9th. Centro is at the heart of Ybor's entertainment district. Catch a flick then head out to an after party, or pop into The Brass Tap | Centro Ybor for craft cocktails, cold brews and exceptional food! Want a nightclub experience? Be sure to check out Tampa's premier 5-level nightclub, Club Prana. for the Ultimate Spring Break Foam Party on March 5th and their calendar for fun Spring Break events all month.
Like role-playing, themed events, history? While you are visiting the Bay Area Renaissance Festival takes place on grounds not far from USF and MOSI, the Museum of Science & Industry. Time-travel into the 16th century and journey back as more than 100 merchants contribute to the atmosphere of a 16th-century village. Experience live armored jousting, 12 stages of entertainment, 7 theme weekends, fun and food for the whole crew! The Festival is open weekends from 10 am – 6 pm, Rain or Shine. Parking at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival is always free and discount tickets are available at participating Walgreens stores and at MOSI. In March Pirates & Pets is Mar. 4th - 5th, Time Travelers Mar. 11th - 12th, Shamrocks & Shenanigans Mar. 18th - 19th to celebrate St. Patrick, the Barbarian Brew Fest is Mar. 25th - 26th and High Seas Adventure takes place Apr. 1st - 2nd.
Are you Legal? Love craft beer? The Florida Brewers Guild Craft Beer Festival puts on a craft beer-centric party that runs the course of a week from March 4th through the 12th. An annual happening in Tampa during Spring Break, people travel from across the US to attend these events. Known as Tampa Bay Beer Week 2017 there are hundreds of events associated with this great big celebration of the craft beer industry in Florida including festivals, beer dinners and brunches, beer tastings, food truck events, special bottle releases, limited tap releases, educational events and meet the brewer gatherings. Check out their calendar, many events are free to attend!
Are you a musician? Love outdoor concerts? You are in luck, one of the largest Music Festivals takes place in Downtown Tampa March 11th and 12th! Part of our Gasparilla season, the Gasparilla Music Festival this year welcomes Ryan Adams, Cage The Elephant, Ghostface Killah, Moon Taxi, Chronixx, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Los Amigos Invisibles, The New Mastersounds, Michal Menert & The Pretty Fantastics, The Marcus King Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Lady Wray, Twin Peaks, Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs, Lawrence, Have Gun, Will Travel, Kelsey Waldon, Phoebe Bridgers, SECRET AGENT 23 SKIDOO, Grandpa's Cough Medecine, Come Back Alice, Bangarang, The Sh-Booms, Show Biz Kids, Bears and Lions, Inkblot, Veiny Hands, Jinx, Miroux, Parrotfish, Queenofex, Band of Sorrows, Rogerthomas, Pajamas, The Freecoasters, ARI CHI, Brown Bag Brass Band, Sugar Rush, Dubb Tenn Yoga ft. Badda Skat, Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, The Patel Conservatory Arts Chorale, Mt Zion Gospel Choir! Door open at 11:30 AM both days, all ages are welcome and tickets run from $30 - $100. If music is your thing, you do not want to miss two days in the Florida sun, dancing to the sounds of these great musicians!
Seriously, WHO does not like St. Patrick's Day! With totally too many Irish Pubs to choose from like the authentic Four Green Fields and James Joyce Irish Pub to the iconic weekend hot spot know as MacDinton's in the SoHo district of Tampa, we also have a huge parade the following day! This year, we get to celebrate St Patrick's Day TWICE on the same weekend the Rough Riders way with their annual Rough Riders St Patrick's Night Parade in Ybor City. Drink green beer, catch beads and have too much fun this St. Paddy's Day. In a bar district, many of the places lining 7th and 8th street will be offering St. Patrick's Day specials. Be sure to check out James Joyce if you can get in and Brass Tap!
The call "Play Ball!" get to you too? If you've not been to a Spring training game nothing beats it. Laid back, it's easier to see the stars, get autographs and selfies you will neve forget. Your favorite Yankee retired? No worries, you will be amazed at who comes to Tampa for Spring ball. Look for Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter and more as you sit in the warmth of the sun or under one of the new cabanas as you eat peanuts, and popcorn while enjoying America's Favorite Pastime, baseball! Be sure to tour the new digs too, the New York Yankees recently debuted the newly renovated George M. Steinbrenner Field with all its cool new upgrades, read more in, New Look Steinbrenner Field Opens To Rave Review.
Traveling with little ones? If so Tampa has you covered, with plenty of family-friendly venues like the Glazer Children's Museum and lazy rides us the Hillsborough to Lowry Park Zoo on Tampa's renowned Pirate Water Taxi to many family-friendly things to do and events we highly recommend taking in the Hillsborough County Fair while visiting. Known as 2017 Florida Strawberry Festival gates open March 2nd - the 12th with a big parade on the 4th. The Florida Strawberry Festival is a piece of Americana, a time in American history when fairs and festivals brought people together through the celebration of harvest. In this case, it's Strawberries among other things! Celebrate the strawberry at this fest designed to preserve and enhance the agricultural and historical legacy of the Florida strawberry. Enjoy live concerts from Willie Nelson, Cab Calloway, Brenda Lee and more at this year's event!
Are you a Disney Princess? (Aren't we all?) Disney on Ice: World of Enchantment comes to Tampa for (7) performance at Amalie Arena from March 24th - 26th. Read all about Disney's fun new show in Disney on Ice's Exciting New Show Dazzles | Tampa Tickets on Sale and grab your seats today!
Interested in discovering the Arts in Tampa? The 47th annual Gasparilla Festival of the Arts 2017 will be held at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa featuring all forms of art overlooking the Hillsborough River and is FREE to attend. Also family-friendly you can enjoy all mediums of art and Tampa's beautiful waterfront at the same time! Amazing artists that live in and around Tampa compete for cash prizes, best of show and other prizes. Some artwork is for sale but not all at this highly rated Art show! Bring the whole family, this event offers live entertainment, food, drinks, art, and so much more while theTampa Museum of Art hosts events for children. Event Dates are March 4th and 5th.
Are you a Spring Break Foodie looking for the #Yum in Tampa? Besides hundreds of foodie-centric Restaurants you can visit, we also have several James Beard nominated chef/eateries you should check out like Rooster & the Till in Seminole Heights and chef Chris Ponte of Cafe Ponte across the Bay in Pinellas. Local restauranteur Richard Gonzmart is up for an award this year, local restaurants conceived and launched by Gonzmart include Ulele for upscale dining and Goody Goody Burgers in Hyde Park Village where you can Find the BEST Milkshakes in Tampa. Richard's family founded the famous Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. If you are a foodie you might enjoy learning about more local fare in these posts:
- Restaurants on the Water in Tampa | Waterfront Dining
- 20 Best Date-Night Tampa Restaurants You Need to Try
- Guide to the Best Mexican Restaurants in Tampa
- Follow the Smoke | 12 of the Best BBQ Joints in Tampa
- Where to Find the Best Burgers in Tampa Bay
- Where to Find the Best Deli's Dishing Up Delicious in Tampa
- Best Breakfast Restaurants in Tampa
- Wake Up to Tampa's Best Brunch Spots
Love Foodie Fests? Join hundreds of Tampa Bay residents and tourists in the historic Ybor City district for the only trip that takes taste buds on a culinary journey to explore spicy, savory, sweet, succulent cuisine at the Gasparilla International Food Festival Hosted by many of Tampa's most venerated restaurants and artisan food experts dishes at this year's Fest will include American, Caribbean, Hispanic, Mediterranean, French Cuisine, Italian, African, and Asian Cuisine, the Gasparilla International Food Festival is FREE and family-friendly. Taking place from 5 pm to 9 pm Sunday, March 26th in Centennial Park, this always proves to be a lively celebration of inventive creations from across the globe!
Theme Park Foodie? If so, Busch Gardens Wine & Food Festival is a must do! Experience the thrill of riding the rides with gourmet fare. Beginning March 4th for 9 weekends the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival takes place through Sunday, April 30. The event is included with any Annual Pass, Fun Card or daily admission to Busch Gardens. Food and beverages are not included with park admission and are available for purchase. Winner of several awards, a day at Busch is one you will remember always!
Enjoy Pride events? Tampa has one of the largest Pride Events in the country taking place March 25th from 10 am to 9 pm in Ybor City. Be sure to catch the Tampa Pride 2017 Parade & Festival this year. It is always spectacular and you end in a place full of great places to go following the event, Ybor City.
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Bookmark this post so you and check back often and be sure to follow up by visiting our EVENTS, SPRING BREAKand ST. PATRICK"S DAY pages as they update with new, fun, unique and interesting things to do in Tampa this March!
