Most of the cold weather and spring breakers may have cleared out, but three events draw crowds in some of Tampa Bay's most scenic settings without the need for either one. In addition to the block parties of the Creative Loafing Festival anniversary celebrations and the long list of Earth Day happenings, other high-profile events compete for our attention.
In downtown St. Pete, the Mainsail Art Festival returns for its 38th year along the scenic bayfront at Vinoy Park, displaying 250 juried fine art and craft exhibitors in all media. Children can create masterpieces in their own activity tent, and a food court will feature items from favorite local eateries like Harvey’s 4th Street Grill, Evos and several others. Music headliners include Hip Abduction and Betty Fox on Sat. and Mud Flappers and the Lee Boys on Sun. Leave coolers and dogs at home.
The Sugar Sand Festival hits the beach in Clearwater on Fri., April 19, at noon, behind the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa. Shaded by a a 12,000-square-foot tent, more than 1,000 tons of Clearwater Beach’s famously sugary sand will be sculpted in mind-blowing displays for 10 days. Attendees can participate in interactive sand-sculpting experiences, nosh, drink, attend clinics and watch speed-sculpting demonstrations. Kids even get to play in the Camp Hyatt Sandbox, and fireworks light the sky April 27 as roving entertainers add carnival-like cheer at sunset.
If there are any popular Tampa restaurants who haven’t frequented, chances are they may be at the Straz Center’s 28th annual Best of Tampa Bay outdoor fundraiser. The yumtastic event, presented by Raymond James, typically attracts more than 1,700 attendees each year, and gets an extra nod of approval for its scenic locale along the downtown riverwalk. Attendees can expect to enjoy a sumptuous smorgasbord of entrée samplings, desserts and premium drinks from the Columbia, Oystercatchers, Datz, The Capital Grille, Wimauma, the Straz Center’s own Maestro’s Restaurant and more while wining and dining to live music by Lisa Casalino, Southern Train, Daniel B. Marshall and Beth McKee, 6-9 p.m., and the Vodkanauts rock the crowd 9-11 p.m.
Mainsail is Sat,, April 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun., April 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Bayshore Drive NE and Seventh Ave. NE, St. Petersburg; free, mainsailart.org. The Sugar Sand Festival is April 19-28 at 301 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater. $7, $5 for ages 13-18, military and seniors, 12 and younger get in free. Admission includes open bar, food tastings and entertainment. Sat., April 20, at 7 p.m. General admission tickets start at $65 ; 813-229-7827, strazcenter.org.
This article appears in Apr 11-17, 2013.