Tampa’s River Tower is finally getting washed, and there’s a festival to celebrate the local landmark

A full day of music, vendors and more is set for Saturday.

By Ray Roa on Wed, Nov 8, 2023 at 10:34 am

Tampa’s River Tower is finally getting washed, and there’s a festival to celebrate the local landmark

Hugo/Adobe

Last month, Debi Johnson, President of the River Tower Foundation, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the Sulphur Springs landmark was getting its first bath in three-and-a-half decades.

The pressure washing has started, and the full makeover—which includes a paint job—will take weeks. And if you’ve never spent a day in the shadow of the 214-foot icon, then clear your calendar this weekend.

River Tower Festival, one of the most fun and family-friendly ways to raise money for Sulphur Springs revitalization, takes over the surrounding park and includes vendors, food, adult drinks, kids activities and more. No pets allowed, but kids under 10 do get in free.

For this day-long celebration, a host of Tampa bands are pitching in to raise money for the tower's continued restoration. Always-smiling one-man Americana-rock band Lauris Vidal makes an appearance along with a matriarch of the Bay area songwriter scene (Rebekah Pulley), Tribal Style (a totem among reggae bands), plus party-starting Synergy In A Cup and bombastic rock and roll outfit Roxx Revolt & the Velvets. CL’s senior music contributor Gabe Echazabal mans the ones and twos in between sets.

Tickets to River Tower Festival—happening Saturday, Nov. 11 at 401 E Bird St.—run from $20-$25.
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About The Author

Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

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