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| Centro Ybor. |
Everything You Love About Tampa Bay and So Much More!
It is the ideal weather, where even an afternoon shower can’t dampen the day. It is the ample opportunities, where spending downtime with family and friends has never been so easy. And it is the variety of attractions that can satisfy anyone’s idea of fun.
There are countless reasons why we love Tampa Bay. But if you’re looking for that little something extra to kick off your weekend, start in your own backyard. Home to a host of culture, history and family fun, it’s no surprise that annual events, festivals and seasonal activities take place every week around Tampa Bay.
Regardless of your locale, taking advantage of these entertaining events has never been more convenient thanks to great AAA hotel rates.
Think you know everything there is to know about the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City? Sure, it has thrilling midway rides, fun contests and even racing pigs—but the major draw is its award-winning entertainment. From March 4-14, Julianne Hough, REO Speedwagon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are just a few of the big names scheduled to grace the stage.
Bike fans, start your engines, because the first Saturday of every month begins with a mecca of motorcycles. During Plant City Bike Fest on March 6 and April 3, vendors, food, music and entertainment fill the streets in downtown Plant City.
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| Historic Tampa Theatre |
Join the thousands of festival-goers who are lured to Apollo Beach each year for the annual Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts. On the weekend of March 13-14, works of various media will be on display, for sale and up for bragging rights in the juried art show.
It’s a delight for all your senses as music, entertainment, delicious food and much more fill the streets of Ybor City on March 28. Come eat to your heart’s content and enjoy everything Italian at the 13th Annual Festa Italiana. A meatball contest, homemade vino competition, grape stomp and more round out the fun.
Start with tapas, then enjoy a cigar, and finish with a café con leche. April 10-11, the 4th Annual Ybor Aficionado Days celebrates the anniversary of the first 1886 cigar manufactured in Ybor City.
The thought of Tampa Bay conjures up plenty of sunlit images—from playing with the kids at MOSI to taking a lesson in history at the Henry B. Plant Museum, and even climbing aboard an open-truck tour on the Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens. AAA offers discount tickets to these and many other Tampa attractions.
While Tampa Bay’s attractions run the gamut, with kid-friendly fun, outdoor excitement and even a pinch of historical places, it is the plethora of new sights and sounds with weekly events that truly make the difference.
This spring, explore Tampa Bay and enjoy so much more than you expected.
For exclusive AAA member discounts on hotels, packages and attraction tickets, visit AAA.com/Tampa.
Events in Tampa Bay
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13th Annual Festa Italiana
March 28
What comes to mind when you think of the perfect Italian experience? Perhaps it’s an evening of wine tasting, with a dash of delicious traditional cuisine, seasoned with a sprinkling of authentic music from Italy. Festa Italiana is the perfect recipe for a weekend of fun in Ybor City. The event celebrates everything Italian. Best of all, it’s for a good cause, benefiting the Italian Club Restoration Fund. - Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts
March 13-14
Where can you find culture, live entertainment, art showcases and fun for all ages all in one place? The Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts celebrates arts of all media, including fine arts and crafts, culinary arts, music and much more. The festival’s all-star is the West Indian manatee, as the event strives to promote awareness and preservation of the aquatic mammals.
- Florida Strawberry Festival
March 4-14
Have you always dreamed of winning a strawberry shortcake-eating contest? Then visit Plant City, the Winter Strawberry Capital of the world, as it hosts the much-anticipated annual Florida Strawberry Festival. Get your fill of carnival games, take a spin on the many midway rides, grab a bite to eat of strawberry treats galore, and enjoy the various headline entertainment, including Lynyrd Skynyrd. - Plant City Bike Fest
March 6, April 3
What’s the best thing about the Plant City Bike Fest? You can always return in a month’s time. The Bike Fest takes place the first Saturday evening of every month. The event is a surefire hit, featuring a bike show, motorcycle expo, food vendors, awards and much more. So bike fans and friends, join the thousands who ride into this Plant City monthly custom.
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- Ruskin Tomato & Heritage Festival
You say tomato, I say don’t miss out on a truly unique celebration of agricultural heritage. The event features an oldies car show, plant show and sale, children’s activities and much more, including the appointment of the Tomato Queen. - Tampa Bay Dragon Boat Races
Who will be this year’s #1 Dragon Boat Team in Tampa? Over 60 teams hit the waters of the Garrison Channel on May 1. Come enjoy the festivities, including an international food and beer festival, and see for yourself who will be crowned #1.