#1 Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival and Competition
Head out to Vinoy Park in downtown St. Petersburg this Saturday & Sunday for the Tampa Bay Barbecue Festival & Competition. 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! $9 GA advance tickets. Kids 12 & under are free.
Get tickets at https://www.tampabaybarbecue.com/index.html.
#2 The Rocket Man Show
The Rocket Man is coming to The Mahaffey Theater this Friday, January 10th 7:30pm! Crash land into your seat with The Rocket Man Show, starring Scotsman Rus Anderson – Elton John’s official 70’s body double as featured in the ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ world tour promo videos and photos. Chosen by the man himself, Rus’ performance pilots a night of Elton’s greatest hits, gorgeous costumes & fierce piano playing. Tickets start at $36.
Get tickets at https://themahaffey.com/shows-and-events/.
#3 Aqua Lanterns at CMA
Dive into a sea of lights and wonder at Aqua Lanterns: A Chinese Festival of Lights at Clearwater Marine Aquarium this weekend. This luminous new after-hours experience will be open select evenings Wednesday through Sunday through February 2nd. As the sun sets, the aquarium transforms into a glowing seascape, filled with stunning illuminated sculptures, up to 13-feet tall, of whales, penguins, jellyfish and sparkling sea creatures. $55/person. Benefits CMA.
Learn more at https://www.cmaquarium.org/aqua-lanterns/.
#4 Dunedin International Film Fest
The 7th Annual Dunedin International Film Festival (DIFF) returns this weekend, January 8-12th! Head out to the heart of Downtown Dunedin, for an unforgettable weekend of independent cinema, local talent, and international creativity. From gripping thrillers to soul-stirring dramas, DIFF brings the very best in storytelling to the screen. Whether you’re a die-hard cinephile or new to the world of film, there’s something for everyone at this must-attend festival including Films Every Day, After Parties Every Night, Red Carpet & Awards Gala, Saturday After Party @ BLUR VIP Lounge and more!
Learn more at https://dunedinfilmfestival.org/.
#5 Birding on the Bay
Join the Museum of Fine Arts St. Pete & Tampa Bay Watch this Sunday for a unique experience inspired by the MFA’s special exhibition Audubon’s Birds of America. Enjoy a Docent-led tour of the exhibition, featuring over 40 of Audubon’s spectacular life-sized bird illustrations, and an eco-vessel birding experience out on Tampa Bay with the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center – all in one day! This event continues through February 9th.
Learn more at https://mfastpete.org/event/botb-1-12-25/.