RECURRING EVENTS
First Fridays • 10am-2pm, Creative Clay Outdoor Art Market, 1846 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg • 5-9pm, First Friday Art Walk, Downtown Gulfport • 6-9pm, Concert in front of Studio Movie Grill, Seminole City Center, 11201 Park Blvd. N, Seminole
Last Friday • 6-9pm, live music at the John’s Pass Bell Tower, John’s Pass Boardwalk and Shopping Village, 12902 Village Blvd., Madeira Beach
1st Saturday • 8am Beach Cleanup, Archibald Park,15100 Gulf Blvd. Mad. Beach.
2nd Saturday • 8:30am, Beach Cleanup. Municipal Pavilion, 11260 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, 11185 Gulf Blvd. • 9am-2pm, Market on The Bluffs, 2747 Sunset Blvd, Belleair Bluffs. Farmers Market/craft event on the street in front of Belleair Bluffs City Hall. • The Market Marie,10am-3pm, Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater • 5-9pm, St. Pete Artwalk. Artists and gallery owners from 40 studios and galleries in five arts districts show off their latest works. Take the trolley, drive or park and walk. stpeteartsalliance.org/artwalk
3rd Saturday • 10am-2pm, Crossroads Market, Crossroads Christian Church, 1645 Seminole Blvd., Largo • 10am-5pm, Creative Pinellas at Pinewood, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo • 5-9pm, Indie Faire, Beach Blvd., Gulfport. Outdoor, socially distanced event in Gulfport features local art, handmade crafts, jewelry, and pottery to locally sourced botanicals.
4th Saturday • Pinellas Arts Walk 4-8pm, Pinellas Arts Village Walk, 5600-5800 Park Blvd. (north side), Pinellas Park. Pinellas Park Art Society, Donnelly COVE, Complete Sweet Shoppe, Pompei Factory, Studios @5663, Painting with a Twist, Bottles Pub, and Swartz Gallery.
ONGOING
Through 1/5 – Writers of Surrealism: Salvador Dali
$32 (adult museum admission),10am-6pm, Raymond James Community Room, Dali Museum, One Dali Blvd, St. Pete. Renowned primarily as a painter, Salvador Dalí also left an indelible mark as a writer. This special exhibition explores Dalí’s literary works across many genres, including novels, essays, poetry, and autobiographical writings
Through 1/5 – YuleTides
$30.45 (children 2 and under free), $35.70 (included in general admission), 9:30am-5pm daily, Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. This inaugural event aspires to become a coastal holiday tradition. Activities include a holiday tree made from upcycled beach materials and a tree trail featuring decorated trees nestled in boats. There will be carolers and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, as well as character appearances from Rocky and Tango. Sand sculptures will provide the background for photo opportunities that will catch the spirit of a Florida coastal holiday season. And, of course, the kids can meet Santa and leave with a one-of-a-kind photo! Advanced reservations are required: https://tinyurl.com/bdhh4cf4
UPCOMING
1/4-5 – 28th Annual Downtown Dunedin Art Festival
Free, 10am-5pm, 271 Main St., Dunedin.
1/7 – The Life of Herod the Great: Interview w/ Deborah G. Plant
Free, 6:30pm, The Woodson African American Museum of Florida, 2240 Ninth Ave. S, St. Pete. Scholar-Editor Dr. Deborah G. Plant and local author Sheree L. Greer will discuss a never-before-published historical novel by author Zora Neale Hurston: “The Life of Herod the Great.” In Hurston’s retelling, Herod is not the wicked ruler of the New Testament who is charged with the “slaughter of the innocents,” but a forerunner of Christ—a beloved king who enriched Jewish culture and brought prosperity and peace to Judea. The novel was written in the 1950s as a continuation of Hurston’s “Moses, Man of the Mountain.” Tombolo Books will have copies of “The Life of Herod the Great” for purchase.
1/11 – Run for the Beaches 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk
$40, 8am, Thunderbird Beach Resort, 10700 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island. A chip-timed, out and back 5K, as the early morning low tide exposes the wide, hard-packed shoreline of Treasure Island’s beautiful beaches. Starts and ends on the beach behind the Thunderbird, with turn around just south of the Caddy’s Water Station. Benefits sustainability and environmental initiatives specific to our Gulf beaches, marine and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation programs, beach clean-ups, and organizations that promote the interest and welfare of the Gulf beaches community. Rescheduled from 12/14. Registration and details at https://tinyurl.com/4jxsb6xm
1/11 – Uptown Funk Market
Free, 4-9pm, 615 23rd St. S, St. Pete, outside of Expectations Gallery. An eclectic bunch of vendors offering jewelry, handmade and vintage clothing, local art, food trucks, candles, and much more! Resident DJ @gingerpics will be bringing the groovy tunes, so wear your dancing shoes!
1/11-12 – Tampa Bay Barbeque Festival and Competition
$9/$49 VIP ($15/$60 day-of), Sat. noon-7pm/Sun. 1-7pm, Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Drive NE, St. Pete. The festival includes more than 100 barbecue dishes from Florida’s best competition barbecue teams, great craft beers and cocktails, mural artists and live bands. Cast your vote for Tampa Bay’s Best Barbecue Team! Kids 12 and under are free; leashed dogs permitted. Tickets at https://www.tampabaybarbecue.com/index.html
1/15 – In Conversation with Craig Lucas
Free, MFA members/$15 non-members; 17 and under free, 6-7pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete. Broadway playwright and screenwriter Craig Lucas is coming to Tampa Bay as part of research for his next play. Hear about his award-winning career, inspiration for his work, and how his own personal recovery plays a key part of his journey. Hosted by Sean Daniels. Program ticket includes Art After Dark admission from 5-8pm. Register: https://mfastpete.org/event/craig-lucas/
1/16 – Sandesh Kadur: Wild Cats Revealed
$25, 7pm, Straz Center, Tampa. Photographer and filmmaker Sandesh Kadur is on a mission to highlight his home country’s lesser-known felines to help protect their future. With landscapes spanning the towering Himalaya mountains, arid plains, and dense jungles, India is home to an unmatched diversity of wild cats. Discover the tiny, grumpy-faced Pallas’s cat, the fishing cat that jumps into water to catch its prey, and the elusive clouded leopard. https://tinyurl.com/jfb3mhsz
1/16-19 – St. Petersburg Power and Sailboat Show
$23,10am-6pm (10am-4pm Sunday), Mahaffey Theater Yacht Basin and Albert Whitted Park, 400 First St. S, St. Pete. The largest boat show on the Gulf Coast, it will feature a lineup of powerboats and sailboats in water and on land, including a 40,000-square-foot tent housing an extensive selection of marine gear, accessories, and equipment. Complimentary seminars on cruising, sailing, cooking aboard (and abroad!), common weather patterns, insurance tips, medicine at sea, and other marine-related topics. Captains and industry professionals will give presentations, perform demonstrations, and provide insights. Tickets sold online only: https://tinyurl.com/mur852zn
1/16-26 – Gulfport Community Players present “Four Old Broads”
$20 (online only), Thur-Sat 8pm, Sat/Sun 2pm. Back Door Theater, 1619 49th St. S, Gulfport. Things have not been very pleasant since Nurse Pat Jones began working at the Magnolia Place Assisted Living. A mystery unfolds with laughter as the gals try to outsmart the evil nurse and figure out why so many residents have been moved to “the dark side.” Tickets: https://gulfportcommunityplayers.org/up-next
1/17-20 – 38th Annual MLK Dream Big Celebration
Free (parade), events will occur in several locations around St. Pete. This annual event celebrates Dr. King’s vision of justice, equality, and progress in a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community. It begins Friday, 1/17, 7pm, with a banquet at the Hilton St. Petersburg Carillon Park. Sunday, 1/19, 4pm, is the band showcase at Gibbs High School, The weekend concludes 1/20 with a parade along First Ave. S beginning at 11am. Newly named Fire Chief Keith Watts, the city’s first Black Fire Chief, will be the parade’s Grand Marshall. Joining the parade will be the FAMU Marching Band. Tickets for the banquet and the Band Showcase are available daily from 10am to 7pm at Advantage Village Academy, 833 22nd St. S, or call 727-321-7919.
1/17-3/27 – Skinner + Skinner
Free, 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri, Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Ave., St. Pete. In their first ever joint exhibition, father and son artists Arthur Skinner and Joe Skinner present their separate and diverse bodies of work. Both educators at heart and with keen eyes for detail, Skinner and Skinner use traditional methods to create contemporary works of art that pay homage to the overlooked and the ephemeral. Both began their artistic careers as printmakers, but Arthur now focuses on drawing, while Joe has expanded into the experimental use of mixed media.
1/22-2/9 – This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing
$33-$53, times vary by date, American Stage, 163 Third St. N, St. Pete. In this modern fairytale, three sisters, left abandoned, take charge of their own destinies. The eldest, Albienne, heads East to show the world what she’s made of. Beatrix, the middle sister, heads West in search of adventure. Then there’s Carmen, the youngest, who finds comfort in staying put. As the years roll by, each new experience comes with a new lesson, a new perspective, and maybe even a little bit of magic. Tickets: https://www.americanstage.org
1/25-26 – Fourth Annual Pinellas Taco Fest
Free admission, 11am-7pm Sat./11am-5pm Sun, England Brothers Park, 5010 Dave McKay Way, Pinellas Park. The best local food trucks will create the ultimate taco experience featuring rich, enchanting combinations of flavor, color and texture. Chefs will compete for the Best Taco in Tampa Bay in chicken, beef, pork, seafood and other categories. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Get Rescued, Inc., a Florida nonprofit organization benefitting animal rescue groups throughout the state. The event is pet and family friendly. For more information, and to register for the competition, text the Saucy Queen at 813-299-3600.
1/25 – Empty Bowls for Harbor Dish
$20 advance/$25 at door, $15 student, 11am-2pm, SPC Clearwater Campus, 2465 Drew St., ES Building, Room 104, Clearwater. Guests choose a bowl handmade and donated by local potters and enjoy a meal of soup and bread with friends and guests. All proceeds benefit Harbor Dish, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to helping their community one meal at a time. Tickets at Eventbrite.
1/25-26, 2/1-2 – Third Annual Pinellas Medieval Fair
$16 advance/ $22 day of, 10am-5pm, DK Farms & Gardens, 1750 Lake Ave. SE, Largo. Your fairytale comes to life at the third annual Medieval Fair. Be entertained with archery, tournament reenactments and tomato throwing. Over 30 performances all day! Enjoy a stroll through the farm to see the many animals that live there. Pony rides, miniature golf, animal feeding, wine tastings and more! Enjoy the artisan market and live blacksmith demonstrations. Timed tickets at https://tinyurl.com/5n6e3axr
1/31 – Love & Luck Casino Night Fundraiser supporting Gulfport Senior Center
$75, 6pm, The Maria Center, 5800 15th Ave. S, Gulfport. This Jimmy Buffett-themed event will overflow with fun, games, and exciting prizes, all while supporting a great cause. Highlights of the night will be casino games, live music, tropical drinks and delicious bites, prizes, and of course beach vibes! Dress in your best tropical attire. Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/y2c8a2vd
2/1 – Raptor Fest
Free, 10am-4pm, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S, St. Pete. Watch trained raptors in free flight, learn about Florida’s native raptor species, get a photo with live birds of prey, learn from local environmental exhibitors, enjoy activities for children and families, take a bird walk and much more! Flight shows: 10:30, 12:30, 2:30; bird walks 11 and 1. Free parking and shuttle service at Lakewood High School and Lake Vista Recreation Center.
2/8 – Special Delivery Auction
Free admission, 5-6pm reception, 6pm auction begins, Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S, Gulfport. Ten talented local artists have transformed ordinary mailboxes into extraordinary works of art, complete with matching posts, blending artistry with functionality. These one-of-a-kind creations will be auctioned live, with proceeds supporting the Gulfport Senior Center Foundation’s Building Commitment Fund. The 2025 contributing artists are Kiersty Long, Stacey Purcell, Eric Folsom, Jason Durocher, CreaSirene Egan Romanelli, Jane Van Der Voordt, Doug D’souza, David Feldman, Scott Linde, and Leslie Gilchrist.
2/8 – Seafood Festival
Free admission, noon-6pm, SPC Clearwater Campus, 2465 Drew St., Clearwater. A seafood shell-ebration of flavors! At the Saturday Shoppes, an outdoor event catering to small businesses with a focus on their growth in individual cities.
2/15 – SPZF25: St. Pete Zine Fest 2025
Free, 11am-3pm, West Community Library at SPC Gibbs, 6700 Eighth Ave. N, St. Pete. For tabling information, email Kaitlin at info@printstpete.org or Crockett.kaitlin@spcollege.edu. Sponsored by Print St. Pete Community Letterpress and St. Petersburg Library System.
2/15-16 – 60th Annual Art Harvest
Free, 10am-5pm, Highlander Park, 903 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin. This fundraiser by the Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin has evolved into a highly respected juried show of high-quality art in balanced media involving over 200 artists. More than 30,000 attend this event annually.