While I cherish the sunny weather, beautiful beaches and vibrant cultural scene, my favorite part of living in Tampa, Florida, is the several festivals, and held throughout the year, they showcase the city’s diversity and rich heritage.
Music, food, art and culture are represented with a variety of festivals that draw in locals and visitors alike, however the first festival of the year is the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, it’s one of Tampa’s most iconic and beloved events. Held in December, it commemorates the legendary pirate Jose Gaspar with a parade featuring colorful pirate ships and Maying bands. There’s also the Gasparilla Children’s Parade and the Gasparilla Music Festival, but one that I look forward to every year is the Tampa Bay Blues Festival in May. It’s a three afternoon event that draws in premier oranges artists from around the country. The arena in Vinoy Park offers stunning views of the waterfront, delicious food and amazing music, and while I’m not a large fan of EDM, I usually set aside a few hours for the annual Sunset Music Festival in May. Hearing and seeing the top DJs and performers in the EDM scene is typically interesting. The Tampa Bay Margarita Festival is more my style. The Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park is the perfect spot for mixologists to show off their skills. My friends and I search out the perfect margarita while sampling amazing food and listening to fantastic music, but ybor City hosts an annual Wine Bar Crawl that is typically something to look forward to. The section offers a lot of historic charm and the event features particular wine bars in the area.