It's May, and here in Tampa Bay, we're ready to get outside for some fun in the sun. The city is buzzing with events as we gear up for summer, from waterfront festivals and live music to food-filled weekends and can't-miss cultural celebrations. Whether you're soaking up the vibes at Riverfest, cheering on Tampa Bay Sun FC, or catching a concert under the stars, there's something for everyone to enjoy this month.
March 7 - May 18, Friday - Sunday
The Busch Gardens® Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival offers a vibrant mix of delicious dishes, refreshing beverages, and live entertainment. Guests can explore a variety of flavors inspired by global cuisine while enjoying exciting weekend concert performances, all included with park admission.
Select dates in May
The Tampa Bay Rays historic 2025 season at George M. Steinbrenner Field continues, bringing games across the bay to Tampa for the first time. With a new home for the season, fans can expect a fresh atmosphere in an intimate outdoor setting while enjoying America’s pastime in Tampa’s perfect weather.
Select dates in May
Energize the Bay! Catch the excitement of Tampa Bay Sun FC at Riverfront Stadium, featuring fast-paced pro women’s soccer, $5 local beer happy hour, and tasty eats from top spots. Tickets start at just $12—don’t miss the final home game on May 24!
April 29 - May 4
Great Scott! BACK TO THE FUTURE, the beloved cinematic classic, is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Tampa in 2025. Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL is adapted for the stage! When Marty McFly is transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now, he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself... back to the future. When BACK TO THE FUTURE hits 88mph, it’ll change musical theatre history forever.
May 1 - May 31
Join Sunda New Asian all May long as the popular Midtown restaurant celebrates the rich cultures and diverse flavors of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community! Enjoy special dishes inspired by AAPI heritage, like savory baked oysters, bold and crispy sisig, and comforting short rib kare kare. Pair your meal with vibrant drinks like the refreshing Crimson Lotus or the Sunset, a mocktail crafted with tropical flavors and a hint of heat. Experience the traditions, tastes, and stories that make AAPI culture uniquely special!
May 1
Practically Pikasso is back by popular demand! Create a custom-painted margarita glass masterpiece—just in time for Cinco de Mayo! Celebrate your creativity with your favorite people, or join us to meet some new friends. Our instructor will provide step-by-step instructions on creating a seasonal-inspired margarita glass, the perfect addition to your weekend festivities! Guests 21+ are invited to enjoy a complimentary margarita provided by Bar AW! Grab a friend, sip some wine, and enjoy a fun DIY night!
May 1
Market season is back! Join us on the first Sunday each month at the famed Cuban Club in Ybor City. You’ll get to spend the day shopping, snacking, sipping, and dancing the day away, surrounded by all your favorite local artists and small businesses.
May 1
From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars stand-alone films: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves.
May 2 - May 3
Celebrate the first weekend of May at Riverfest, a free, two-day event along Tampa’s Riverwalk! Stretching through multiple parks, the festival features family-friendly fun, live music, local eats, and cultural showcases. Highlights include Taste of Riverwalk on Friday, Taco Fest on Saturday, a concert series at Curtis Hixon Park, and a hot air balloon glow at sunset on both nights. Enjoy unique events like the wiener dog derby, lantern parade, yoga, water ski show, and paddle invasion—plus, don’t miss Sister Hazel headlining Saturday night!
May 2 - May 4
Sunshine, southern vibes, and stellar performances await as Country Thunder makes its way to Florida! This three-day country music festival offers an unforgettable experience with a world-class lineup of artists and plenty of camping options for festival goers—whether bringing a tent or rolling in with your RV. Each day brings something special: Day 1 features Riley Green, Ella Langley, and Dillon Carmichael; Day 2 turns up the heat with Blake Shelton, Jake Owen, and Chayce Beckham; and Day 3 closes it out with Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde, and Clint Black. Get ready for a weekend of music, memories, and non-stop country fun under the Florida sky!
Every Saturday in May
Beacon, perched on the 27th floor of JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, invites you to experience an elevated afternoon tea with a modern twist. "Spill the Tea" redefines the traditional tea party, blending elegance and fun with a wide range of handcrafted tea-inspired cocktails, a curated selection of Tea Forté blends, and an array of sweet and savory delicacies. Guests can enjoy breathtaking 270-degree views of Tampa Bay while indulging in elevated light bites, live music, premium teas, and specialty cocktails. Beacon will transform into the ultimate tea party experience every Saturday, with delightful small bites, crafted tea-inspired cocktails, and a curated selection of extraordinary teas.
May 3
Calling all wiener dogs! A full day of doggone fun for the whole family awaits you at the Florida Wiener Dog Derby. Come celebrate our 15th anniversary with the world's biggest and best wiener dog race! No professional race experience is necessary. Every Wiener and wanna-be is invited to join us for this spectacular day of competition. All ages and all abilities can enter one of eight divisions, even wheelie pups, blind, deaf, and small breed pups. Specialty contests for all breeds include: The Costume Contest, Kissing Contest, Bad 2-Da BONE & more! All our race and contest winners receive medals/trophies and prizes! You must register online to race!
May 3
Start your Riverfest Saturday with a unique yoga practice. Armature Works and Friends of the Riverwalk, in partnership with Free Yourself Yoga, are offering this class as part of the Riverfest Weekend. Push yourself to your edge and use that push to establish a completely uncharted space… physically and spiritually! This free event is open to the public, welcomes all skill levels, and is held on Armature Works’ South Lawn. Space is first come, first serve (early arrival suggested). Please remember to bring your yoga mat, towel, and water bottle.
May 3
Join J.C. Newman Cigar Company on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. for Founder’s Day, celebrating the company’s founding and the birthday of its founder. Enjoy free factory tours, explore the cigar museum, shop the factory store, and relax outside with live music, food trucks, lawn games, and more. The event is free and open to the public, with cigars available for purchase—just remember to smoke them in the designated outdoor lounge. Plus, snag a Sanchez y Haya cigar for just 5 cents (limit 2 with any $20+ purchase), a nod to Tampa’s cigar history!
May 4
Celebrate May the 4th in epic style at Tampa Theatre with special Star Wars screenings all day long! In 2025, the stars have truly aligned—Tatooine, Alderaan, and Dagobah included—as Star Wars Day falls on a Sunday, and Tampa Theatre is going all in with a celebration of the original trilogy. Catch A New Hope at 1:00pm, The Empire Strikes Back at 4:00 p.m., and Return of the Jedi at 7:00 p.m. Presented by SouthEast Personnel Leasing, each film is ticketed separately—so grab your lightsaber, pick your favorite, or settle in for the full trilogy experience!
May 9
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Tampa. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Fleetwood Mac at Centro Asturiano de Tampa under the gentle glow of candlelight.
May 9
Indulge in a fun, special candle experience at Keel & Curley Winery. Create your own scent and take home your unique candle. Each ticket includes one candle and one free drink.
May 9
Kick off your MOSI adventure with Science After Dark, the ultimate adults-only event! Enjoy an exciting night out while exploring the wonders of science in a fun and engaging environment. Enjoy light appetizer samples, beer and wine samples, liquid nitrogen ice cream, planetarium shows, and MORE! This event is for those 18+ and guests must be 21+ with valid ID to be served alcohol.
May 10
Tropical Heatwave (“THW”) is a locally-sponsored, annual music festival celebrating a multitude of musical styles during an exotic evening of eclectic entertainment, featuring independent artists and a variety of local musicians in Ybor City. This year's artists include Chuck Prophet and his Cumbia Shoes Band, Sue Foley, GA-20, Cheo, Skating Polly, Damon Fowler, Zach Person, Rocket 88, and many more.
May 16
Music icon and legendary survivor Tina Turner provided the soundtrack of a generation while her story inspired hearts and minds around the world. Celebrate her legacy with her biggest hits, including What’s Love Got to Do With It, Proud Mary, and more. Chelsea Gallo conducts.
May 16
Get ready to get thunderstruck, Tampa. After more than 15 years away from the area, Grammy Award-winning band AC/DC returns Friday, May 16 as it brings its Power Up Tour 2025 to Raymond James Stadium for an unforgettable night of classic rock.
May 24
Halsey is bringing her signature energy and powerhouse vocals to Tampa’s MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre May 24 with the For My Last Trick Tour. With a mix of fan favorites and fresh new tracks, this show will be a concert season highlight. Don’t miss your chance to see Halsey live under the stars!
May 30
Sam Hunt is a five-time GRAMMY-nominated, Diamond-selling, award-winning hitmaker. He scored his 10th No. 1 with two-week chart-topping, Platinum-selling hit, “Outskirts,” featured on his 2024 four-track EP, LOCKED UP. LOCKED UP is the follow-up to Hunt’s sophomore album SOUTHSIDE, which debuted to critical acclaim landing at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Named one of the Best Albums of the Year by The New York Times and US Weekly, the Platinum-selling project features 12 songs all written by Hunt including his No. 1 hits “Kinfolks,” “Breaking Up Was Easy in the 90’s,” one of NPR’s Best Songs of 2020 “Hard To Forget,” and his three-week No. 1, Diamond-selling, GRAMMY-nominated smash, “Body Like A Back Road.”
May 31
Calling all creatives! Gulf Coast MakerCon 2025 is your chance to showcase what you make, discover innovative creations, and celebrate the DIY spirit! Held on May 31 at the Yuengling Draft Haus and Kitchen, this outdoor event features a wide range of "maker" exhibits, including crafts, music, jewelry making, woodworking, metalwork, textiles, inventions, and interactive displays. You'll also find exciting competitions, including a Combat Robotics event for 3 lb. and under-class fighting robots. Exhibitor registration is open now, and free guest tickets are available on the event website.