FIND EVEN MORE SPRING EVENTS AT https://www.paradisenewsfl.com/spring-2024/.
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.• 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 3/29 – Born with Teeth
$29-$95, times vary by date, Asolo Rep, Sarasota. Get an inside peek at the tumultuous relationship of two of history’s greatest playwrights, William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, each harboring momentous secrets. Be among the first in the nation to watch this award- winning new play that offers an alternate perspective on the history we think we know. An Alley Theatre World Premiere production. Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/mux6c7ft
UPCOMING
3/2-3 – Gasparilla Festival of the Arts
Free, Sat. 9-6, Sun 10-5, Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, Tampa. One of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows in the U.S. The festival showcases artists and their work to include ceramic, digital, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood, as well as the works of local young artists. Artists vie for nearly $100,000 in prize money and scholarships.
3/2-3 – Pinellas Botanicals and Brunchfest
Free, 9am-4pm, 5010 81st Ave. N, Pinellas Park. Get your bloom on at this weekend bursting with a vibrant fusion of blooming beauty and mouthwatering brunch delights. Festivities will include live music, a best brunch competition, a selection of unique plants, garden accessories, talented local artisans, craftsmen, and kids’ activities.
3/8-10 – Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
$25-$165, times vary by event and date. A weekend of racing, running and rock n’ roll marks the 20th year of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary circuit on downtown waterfront streets. Runners and walkers will open the course 3/7 with a 5K run on the route. Multi-platinum rocker Bret Michaels will perform in a free concert 3/10. For the full schedule, visit https://www.gpstpete.com/festival/schedule. Race tickets: http://tinyurl.com/23cyhkwv; 5K registration: gpstpete5k.com
3/9 – Gulfport Tardi Gras
$20 donation, 7-9:30pm,Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S. Get out your Mardi Gras finery and your dancing shoes! We may be late but worth the wait. The evening features music by Gulfport Swamp Opera, a costume strut and contest with prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and more. No tickets required. Cash or check only.
3/9 – Reception for ‘Botanical Bouquet’ illustrations by June Bunch
5-9pm, Pinellas Ale Works, 1962 First Ave. S, St. Pete. Bunch’s drawings showcase botany with ballet, a hybrid of human nature and Mother Nature. She will be releasing her new series of birth month flowers just for the event. Prints will be available for purchase at the entrance and special promos the opening night. Meet the artist, sip a brew and tune into the live music in the Biergarten. Exhibition runs through 4/5.
3/9-10 – 49th Tarpon Springs Fine Art Festival
Free admission, 9am-5pm Sat./10am-5pm Sun., 100 Library Lane, Craig Park. The festival offers more than 150 exhibiting artists, selected by a jury of discriminating art professionals. Visitors can enjoy a full schedule of music, sample craft beers, and taste a variety of international foods. Only ADA compliant service animals allowed. No coolers.
3/14-17 – Spring Break Waterfront Festival and Battle of the Bands
Free (pay to park), 3-9pm (3/14), ROC Park, 200 Rex Place, Madeira Beach. The biggest community event of the year, BOTB kicks off the festival 3/14 and provides a platform for local artists and rock bands to showcase their talent. Bands will compete in elementary, middle school, high school, and young adult categories. A variety of food trucks and beverage vendors, along with favorite rides and games, will be on hand.
3/16 – Spring Market in the Bluffs
Free, 9am-2pm, 2747 Sunset Blvd., Belleair Bluffs. A nice variety of unique vendors of handmade items such as clothing, home goods, snacks, wood crafts, wreaths, jewelry and more!
3/22-24 – Super Retro Con 2024
Ticket price TBD ($10 parking), 5-9pm Fri/10am-6pm Sat/10am-4pm Sun, Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301, Tampa. Super Retro-Con mixes all ‘80s-‘90s pop culture into one live event! Toys, comics, clothing, music, BMX, TV. Featured guest will be Robbie Rist, who was in many beloved shows from the ‘80s and was the voice of Michael Angelo in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies. Info: http://tinyurl.com/4sf4ykb3
3/29-30– 2024 Tampa Bay AirFest
Free, 8am-4pm, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa. For the first time, the AirFest will be a Friday/Saturday show. Get up close and personal with military/civilian aircraft and pilots and watch an amazing variety of military and civilian flight performances (including The U.S. Air Force Air Thunderbirds). Witness heart-pounding air performances along with family-friendly activities.
3/29-4/14 – Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
$14/free for age 3 and under, 10am-9pm Sun.-Thurs/10am-10pm Fri.-Sat., One Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach. Sixteen professional sand sculptors from all corners of the globe work their magic to transform our world-famous sugar sand into breathtaking sculptures. The festival offers free sand sculpting classes, live music, fireworks, artisans, food vendors and more! www.sugarsandfestival.com
4/5 – Remembering John Prine
$10, 7pm, Noise Makers, 2616 Emerson Ave., St. Petersburg. Remembering the music of John Prine with live performances by local artists (TBA). Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/yax64dau
4/6 – The Greatest Show on Earth Gallery Opening
$25/ $5 ages 6-17 (museum admission), The Ringling, 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota. The newest exhibition space at the Circus Museum celebrates the era of the modern circus. The gallery space evokes the excitement of seeing a live show, while also representing the full spectrum of the production experience from both front- and back-of-house perspectives. Visitors can explore artifacts, costumes, and media footage in an engaging and multisensory experience throughout the exhibition area. Tickets: https://www.ringling.org/tickets-admission/