The second annual Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival arrives this month at various local venues in neighborhoods like Water Street Tampa, Hyde Park Village and downtown Tampa.

As previously reported, the five-day run of “unforgettable foodie events” features a variety of programming from live music, interactive sponsor experiences and culinary demonstrations to its “Grand Tasting” event with samples from dozens of Tampa Bay restaurants and a “Chef Showdown” competition featuring celebrity chef Robert Irvine.

Irvine, most known for his roles on reality shows like “Restaurant: Impossible” and “Worst Cooks in America,” will host the festival’s Chef Showdown event where 14 participants will “battle head-to-head in seven unique showdowns.”

TBWFF 2024 kicks off on Tuesday, April 9 with a private, invite-only ticketed experience and continues with Wednesday’s inaugural “Experience Water Street” and Thursday’s “Experience Hyde Park,” where diners can indulge in exclusive, coursed meals and celebrity chef collaborations from participating restaurants in those neighborhoods.

The foodie festival’s Chef Showdown happens on Friday, while its Grand Tasting final—which features unlimited food and drink samples from 40-plus restaurants at the scenic Curtis Hixon Park (600 N Ashley Dr.)—wraps things up next Saturday.

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival runs Tuesday-Saturday, April 9-13, and tickets to the various events start at $50.

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