There’s not a shortage of things to do across the Tampa Bay area this weekend, from Skatepark of Tampa’s Tampa Am happening right now, to the Angie Nixon-Bernie Sanders rally in Ybor City on Saturday, and tons of music, theater, and more.
Hell, the Fortune Taylor Bridge is calling your name on Monday, too.
Have a look at more of the best things to do in Tampa Bay happening Oct. 16-22 below.
A&E
Art Fair Tampa: VIP Collectors Night Wednesday, Oct. 15. 5 p.m. $50. Tampa Convention Center, Tampa. artfairtampa.com
Ceramic Workshop with Kind Studio Thursday, Oct. 15. 5 p.m. $75; $60 for members. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.com
The Vampire Circus Thursday, Oct. 15. 8 p.m. $43.25 & up. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Writer’s Workshop: Black-Out Poetry Thursday, Oct. 15. 5:30–7:30 p.m. $20; $10 for members. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.com
Art Fair Tampa Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 16-18. 10 a.m. No cover. Tampa Convention Center, Tampa. artfairtampa.com
Art in Action: Gouache Techniques with Janie Haskins Friday, Oct. 16. 1 p.m. $10 suggested donation. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com
Jim Dine: Swaying in the Florida Night (Reception) Friday, Oct. 16. 5-8 p.m. No cover. USF Graphicstudio, Tampa
Pattern and Pause: Meet the Exhibiting Artists Friday, Oct. 16. 6 p.m. $25; no cover for members. Chihuly Collection at Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Push Art // Skateboard Deck Art Show (Opening night) Friday, Oct. 16. 7:30 p.m. No cover. The Bricks, Ybor City. push-art-tampabay.com
Coastal Ballet of Florida: Dracula Saturday, Oct. 17. 7 p.m. $42 & up. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo. coastalballetofflorida.org
Debra Vivi Steinfeld (Artist talk) Saturday, Oct. 17. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Gallery, Gulfport. brendamcmahongallery.com
Don and Cristina Williams: A Change of Seasons (Opening reception) Saturday, Oct. 17. 5 p.m. No cover. Morean Center for Clay, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Experience the Evolution of Nelson Fisher Gallery Saturday, Oct. 17. 5 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Nelson Fisher Studio and Gallery, St. Petersburg. nelsonfishergallery.com
Tampa City Ballet: ‘La Séptima: The Salon’ Saturday, Oct. 17. 6 p.m. $50. Theatre Center at University of South Florida, Tampa. tampacityballet.com
Laurie Edwards: Solo Watercolor Exhibition (Opening) Saturday, Oct. 17. 5:30 p.m. No cover. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com
OBSCURA: Pole Dance Theatre Saturday, Oct. 17. 9 p.m. $60 & up. Zubrick Magic Theatre, St. Petersburg. studionightshadeonline.com
Watercolor Portraits by Laurie Edwards (Opening reception) Saturday, Oct. 17. 5:30 p.m. No cover. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com
Introduction to Oil Painting Sunday, Oct. 18. 1 p.m. $85. The Centre, Palm Harbor. phparksandrec.org
Everything is Fragile: An Exploration in Cyanotype (Artist talk with Becca McCoy) Tuesday, Oct. 20. 7 p.m. No cover. Studio Grand Central & The Off-Central Players, St. Petersburg. theoffcentralplayers.org
Goth Floral Workshop Wednesday, Oct. 21. 6:30 p.m. $45. 3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg. ijaiflorals.com
MonoPrint Workshop – Abstract Painting with Brayers Wednesday, Oct. 21. 6 p.m. $80. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Art After Dark: T-Shirt Screen Printing Pop-Up Thursday, Oct. 22. 5 p.m. $16; no cover for members (T-shirts $25; $20 for members). Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.com
Encoding: Fall Dance Concert Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 22-25. 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sunday. No cover. USF Theatre 1, Tampa
Photography Social & Networking Event Thursday, Oct. 22. 6 p.m. No cover. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org
BOOKISH
Book Club: “Brawler” by Lauren Groff Thursday, Oct. 15. 10:30 a.m. No cover with registration. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org
The Spoonbill Reading Series (USF MFA) Friday, Oct. 16. 7 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Tampa
E.G Young (author signing) Saturday, Oct. 17. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Meet Me at the Seahorse: A Traveler’s Notebook Experience Saturday, Oct. 17. 2 p.m. $50. The Paper Seahorse, Tampa. paperseahorse.com
Howard K. Pollack (Author signing) Sunday, Oct. 18. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Backwards Travelers Book Club: “Hour of the Witch” by Chris Bohjalian Tuesday, Oct. 20. 2 p.m. No cover. Seminole Community Library, Seminole
Book Discussion: “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus Tuesday, Oct. 20. 1 p.m. No cover. Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, Tampa
The Library Book Club: “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe Tuesday, Oct. 20. 6 p.m. $39.23. The Library, St. Petersburg. oxfordexchange.com
Mystery Thriller Book Club: “Wild Dark Shore” by Charlotte McConaghy Tuesday, Oct. 20. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Whodunit Mystery Book Club: “The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia” by Juliet Grames Tuesday, Oct. 20. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Dunedin Public Library, Dunedin
Andrew T. Huse’s Tampa Theatre: A Century of Stories Wednesday, Oct. 21. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
The Booklovers Book Club: “We Live Here Now” by Sarah Pinborough Wednesday, Oct. 21. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City
Dark Romance Book Club: “House of Rayne” by Harley Laroux Wednesday, Oct. 21. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Book Discussion: “Killers of a Certain Age” by Deanna Raybourn Wednesday, Oct. 21. 6 p.m. No cover. Brandon Regional Library, Brandon
Everyday Clearwater: Behind the Scenes Tour of the Main Library Wednesday, Oct. 21. 5:30 p.m. No cover with registration. Clearwater Main Library, Clearwater. myclearwaterlibrary.com
Book Discussion: “Babel” by R.F. Kuang Thursday, Oct. 22. 3 p.m. No cover with registration recommended. Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library, Tampa
Book Discussion: “Cursed Daughters” by Oyinkan Braithwaite Thursday, Oct. 22. 10:30 a.m. No cover with registration. North Tampa Branch Library, Tampa
Book Discussion: “Not Quite Dead Yet” by Holly Jackson Thursday, Oct. 22. 4 p.m. No cover with registration. Ruskin Branch Library, Ruskin
Book Discussion: “Pineapple Street” by Jenny Jackson Thursday, Oct. 22. 6:30 p.m. No cover. Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, Tampa
COMEDY
Tee Sanders Thursday, Oct. 15. 7 p.m. $32. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Bassem Youssef Friday, Oct. 16. 6:30 p.m. $49.50 & up. Tampa Theatre, Tampa
Earthquake Select times Friday-Saturday, Oct. 16-17. $42. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Ybor City
Traumedy – Comedy for the Spiritually Unwell: Ace Anderson w/Lindsay Dorio/Angela Hutchinson/Charlotte Jolley/Shellie Bejar/Uma Lanzillotta Saturday, Oct. 17. 6:30 p.m. $44 & up. The Playground, St. Petersburg
Zoltan Kaszas: Worldwide(ish) Tour Saturday, Oct. 17. 7 p.m. $35 & up. Tampa Theatre, Tampa
‘Grief Sucks’ A One Man Show By KevOnStage Sunday, Oct. 18. 7:30 p.m. $45.50 & up. Tampa Theatre, Tampa
Urban Myth Comedy Storytelling: D.C. Benny w/Kerry McNally/Matt Fernandez/Lauren Dufault/GR Goodwin Thursday, Oct. 22. 7 p.m. $20. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg
NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
City of Bartow: FY2026-2027 Budget & Amendment 3 Community Meeting Thursday, Oct. 15. 6 p.m. No cover. Carver Recreation Center, Bartow. cityofbartow.net
Celebrate the Life of Bill Edwards Sunday, Oct. 18. 5 p.m. No cover. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Urban Expansion Area Study — I-4 Corridor, Round #4, Community Meeting #1 Tuesday, Oct. 20. 6 p.m. Virtual (registration required). planhillsborough.org
Hillsborough County LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus: Social & General Membership Meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP required. Casa Jolly, Tampa. floridadems.org
SPORTS
Habitat for Humanity of Tampa Bay Hillsborough’s Veterans Fishing Tournament Saturday, Oct. 17. 7 a.m. $50 & up. Finns Dockside Bar and Grill, Apollo Beach. habitathillsborough.org
South Florida Bulls Football vs. Kent State University Golden Flashes Football Saturday, Oct. 17. 7 p.m. $20 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks Saturday, Oct. 17. 4 p.m. $47.20 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Oct. 18. 1 p.m. $189.10 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Tampa Bay Sun Foundation Free Youth Soccer Clinics Various dates Aug. 7-Spring 2027. Free. Select locations across Tampa Bay
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This article appears in Oct. 15 – 21, 2026.
