Arts & Entertainment Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

Close up of a pink hibiscus flower

Arts & Entertainment

Hibiscus show promises big blooms in St. Pete this weekend

Blooming season is most of the year in Tampa Bay and southern Florida.

by Selene San Felice May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Hibiscus only bloom for one day, but luckily for us, blooming season is most of the year in Tampa Bay and southern Florida.

A photo of a blonde woman posing next to a pole with "Impulse Pole Dance" written on the wall behind her; collaged next to an outdoor display of books including "Whipping Girl" from Pages and Perks

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete pole dancers collab with local bookseller for ‘Booty, Books + Bubbles Party’

Pages & Perks will be at Impulse Studios for this very sexy Saturday.

by Selene San Felice May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Black and white photo of a table tipping seance circa 1898

Arts & Entertainment

Paranormal investigators will teach table tipping in St. Pete this weekend

How the tables will turn at VFW 39.

by Selene San Felice May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa lawyer and songwriter James Shaw will talk about the meaning of existence this weekend

His talk comes after an extended period of study, meditation and fasting—which means if you listen you might not have to do all that nonsense.

by Ray Roa May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

An indoor portrait photograph of Tampa artist and Tempus Projects founder Tracy Midulla. They have shoulder-length, curly reddish-brown hair with bangs and are wearing a solid black, long-sleeve boat-neck top. They are leaning casually against a white wall on the right and looking directly at the camera with a gentle, neutral expression. The softly blurred background features a bright, naturally lit hallway and a section of an exposed brick or wood pillar.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa art scene lifer, leader, Tracy Midulla, will speak to Creative Mornings on Thursday

by Ray Roa May 19, 2026May 19, 2026

An indoor portrait photograph of author Vanessa Frances standing and leaning casually against a large white pillar. They have long reddish-brown hair with bangs and are wearing a white, sleeveless button-down v-neck top and light-colored pants with thin vertical stripes. They are holding a dark-colored book with both hands in front of them and looking directly at the camera with a gentle expression. Small tattoos are visible on their right arm. The background features the interior of a grand building with white walls, a dark wood handrail, and decorative geometric black metal railings bordering an open balcony area.

Arts & Entertainment

Interview: Before St. Pete talk, ‘Orange Island’ author Vanessa Frances talks about being a professional yearner, love for Florida and more

She’s at Tombolo Books on May 21.

by Arielle Stevenson May 18, 2026May 18, 2026

screenprint of a house on stilts above a wavy blue-green sea and a bright pink sky

Arts & Entertainment

USF’s printmaking studio sells rare art at big discounts in Tampa this weekend

Graphicstudio’s open house and benefit sale is slop free.

by Selene San Felice May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Three people smiling and posing at an outdoor market

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete’s New Moon Makers’ Market is an accidental queer bastion

Sunday is the last spring market before a four-month hiatus.

by Valerie Smith and The Sapphic Sun May 14, 2026May 14, 2026

Lucky Starzzz in her All Stars S11 premiere look as a yellow star with boobs.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ watch party, New Moon Makers’ Market and more

Plus, the Tampa Bay Toy and Comic Expo, Dalí In America, Palm Harbor Craft Festival and more.

by CL Staff May 14, 2026May 15, 2026

A tattoo flash sheet by Harley Babst featuring ten different colorful Florida bird illustrations drawn in a traditional American tattoo style against a white background.

Arts & Entertainment

A St. Pete artist is tattooing every Florida bird to make a field guide

Harley Babst, AKA Grouchy Goblin Ink, wants to tattoo 300 birds regularly seen in the Florida wilderness.

by Valerie Smith and The Sapphic Sun May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A shot from 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 17 of Lucky Starzzz in a purple soapy sponge costume with dishes and utensils.

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’ competetor Lucky Starzzz comes to St. Pete this Friday

She’s the lucky guest at The Wet Spot’s watch party.

by Selene San Felice May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A daytime photograph taken from behind of Tampa artist Jay Giroux standing outdoors in front of a white corrugated metal roll-up door. They are holding a large, yellow rectangular screen-printing frame with both hands, facing away from the camera. Giroux is wearing a backward gray baseball cap and a bright, multi-colored tie-dye t-shirt with the phrase 'JUST HAPPY LITTLE ACCIDENTS' printed in large, stacked black letters on the back. Tattoos are visible on their left forearm. To the right of the metal door is a gray painted cinderblock wall.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa art scene staples open new ‘General Admission’ gallery on Thursday

General Admission opens holds a stacked collaborative show for its Ybor City opening.

by Ray Roa May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

A bright daytime exterior photograph of the historic Mirror Lake Community Library in St. Petersburg, Florida. The classic Beaux-Arts style building features a prominent light-colored masonry facade adorned with grand arched windows, decorative columns, and intricate classical molding. Wide concrete steps lead up to the main entrance in the center. The building is framed by lush green palm trees and a clear blue sky in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

St. Pete ‘Restoration & Design Expo’ includes free guided tours of the Mirror Lake neighborhood

by Ray Roa May 11, 2026May 11, 2026

A collage of comedian headshots for Mark Gregory, Rahn Hortman, Johnny B and Jenn Weeks

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best comedy gigs this week, including Healing with Humor fundraiser, Kill Tony and more

Plus, big name shows like Kill Tony and Nene Leakes & Carlos King.

by Michael Murillo May 7, 2026May 13, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

The best events in Tampa Bay this week, including WWE, ‘Heated Rivalry’ and more

Plus, an East Coast documentary premiere, a hurricane expo and more of the best events May 7-13.

by CL Staff May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

Shane and Ilya embrace in a scene from 'Heated Rivalry'

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay has two viral ‘Heated Rivalry’ dance parties this month

The St. Pete and Tampa parties are a week apart, Hollander.

by Selene San Felice May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

A field of sunflowers

Arts & Entertainment

Sunflower season is back at Tampa Bay’s Sweetfield Farms

The farm celebrates moms this Mother’s Day weekend.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

A hardback and a paperback of "Liberating Abortion" posed against a lush green background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay Abortion Fund hosts book talk in Tampa next week

The co-author of ‘Liberating Abortion’ will be at Black English Bookstore on Monday.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Cast of "Until Love Makes Us" wearing modern Mexican fashion.

Arts & Entertainment

USF professor tells queer migration stories in new Tampa play

“Que el amor nos haga (Until Love Makes Us)” opens Friday, May 16 at Stageworks Theatre.

by Selene San Felice May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

A horizontal, behind-the-scenes photograph of four individuals wearing dark green hard hats standing beneath metal scaffolding during a tour of the Tampa Theatre. In the foreground, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay co-owner James Howard, wearing a black t-shirt, glasses, and a beard, smiles at the camera. Behind them stand co-owner Anthony Carbone in a white button-down shirt, and spring 2026 interns Kailey Aiken and Jasmin Parrado. The group is standing on an elevated platform surrounded by grey metal construction poles. In the background, the theatre's historic, ornate gold-and-red painted walls are visible to the left, alongside a uniquely textured ceiling structure to the right.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Theatre hard hat tours allow members to touch the sky inside the historic venue

May tours are sold-out, with June dates to be announced soon.

by Ray Roa May 4, 2026May 4, 2026