Drag performer wearing a long nose sticks their face through a hole in a patterned board outside Sun-Ray Cinema in Tampa.

Drag performers debut campy film series in Tampa next week

‘I have a right to show my colors, darling.’

by Selene San Felice July 21, 2026July 21, 2026

A photograph of two young male lions, Hugo and Henri, who are coming to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay from the Oklahoma City Zoo. The two lions stand side-by-side atop a rounded, sandy brown rock hill under a bright blue sky with light, wispy clouds. Hugo stands on the left, looking slightly off-camera to the left, while Henri stands on the right, looking directly forward. Both lions feature early stages of short, developing manes around their necks. In the background behind the hill, sparse, leafless winter trees stretch upwards, and a tall wooden post is partially visible on the far left.

Arts & Entertainment

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s improved lion and hyena exhibit opens this week

The 35,000 square-foot-space features lions from the Oklahoma City Zoo.

by Ray Roa July 20, 2026July 20, 2026

Wrexham AFC players on the field in red jerseys

Arts & Entertainment

A British soccer showdown comes to Tampa next weekend

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny-owned Wrexham AFC take on recently promoted Leeds at Raymond James Stadium.

by Liam Oliver July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

Two people wearing 727 shirts make hand signs forming a 7 2 and 7

Arts & Entertainment

Pinellas County celebrates 727 Day with deals and events all next week

Pinellas businesses offer more than 100 exclusive deals over three days.

by Leif Helland July 17, 2026July 17, 2026

A photograph of Manny Leto speaking at Shuffle in Tampa, Florida, on July 15, 2026. The image is captured in low light, featuring the dark silhouette of the individual wearing a baseball cap and holding a microphone in one hand. They are standing directly in front of a brightly lit projection screen that displays a close-up photograph of dozens of numbered wooden spheres, resembling vintage bingo or lottery balls—but used for the city's infamous gambling game, Bolita. A strip of printed paper tickets rests in the foreground of the projected image.

Arts & Entertainment

Photos: Everyone we saw getting loaded and lectured at the third annual Drunk Tampa History party

Can we please do a halfway to Tampa’s birthday celebration this winter?

by Ray Roa and Dave Decker July 16, 2026July 16, 2026

Two actors embrace in front of a dark American flag with smoke where the stars should be

Arts & Entertainment

Jobsite Theater puts on ‘American Idiot’ through Aug. 9 [photos]

Green Day fans can “sing along to the age of paranoia” at the Straz Center

by Leif Helland July 16, 2026July 17, 2026

Mia Starr surrounded by dancers wearing plague masks

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including Shark Con, an ice cream fest and more

Plus, Mia Starr and Mandy Mango at ‘Drag Race All Stars’ finale watch parties in Tampa and St. Pete.

by Selene San Felice July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

A screenprinter at Tempus Projects' Oh, Cuore Mia exhibit

Arts & Entertainment

Tempus Projects’ new multimedia exhibit is a love letter to Ybor City [Photos]

‘Oh, Cuore Mia’ opens Thursday, July 16 and runs through Sept. 17.

by Selene San Felice and Dave Decker July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

A sports photograph of soccer player Lamine Yamal celebrating a goal during the UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinal game between Spain and France at MHPArena in Stuttgart, Germany, on June 5, 2025. The athlete is framed from the waist up against a deeply blurred, dark stadium background, smiling widely and looking forward with both hands raised, giving a double thumbs-up gesture. They have short, textured dark hair with frosted blonde tips and are wearing a bright red Spain national team jersey featuring yellow shoulder stripes, the team crest, a UEFA patch, and the number 19 printed in yellow on the center of the chest.

Arts & Entertainment

Ybor City’s historic Centro Asturiano hosts a World Cup final watch party on Sunday

The club was founded by Spanish immigrants.

by Ray Roa July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

A promotional portrait of comedian Kevin Fredericks, aka KevOnStage, smiling warmly directly at the camera. Framed from the chest up, the individual is bald with a full, dark beard and mustache. They are wearing a black bomber-style jacket with a grey ribbed collar, layered over a plain black t-shirt. The background features a mottled, textured dark grey-blue backdrop.

Arts & Entertainment

Comedian KevOnStage brings tour honoring his dead brother and manager to Tampa this fall

The gig is one of the first inside Tampa Theatre’s Duncan Auditorium, which reopens after renovations in October.

by Leif Helland July 15, 2026July 15, 2026

bookshelves accented in pink at Steamy Lit in Tampa

Arts & Entertainment

Steamy Lit hosts a free Romantasy fest in Palm Harbor this weekend

Authors L.L. Campbell, Ligia N. Cushman, Luna Laurier and Allie Shante will speak at East Lake Library.

by Selene San Felice July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

A black and white photo of a historic home in Tampa's Hyde Park neighborhood

Arts & Entertainment

Mark E. Leib hosts a free reading and talkback of his new play at Stageworks this weekend

The award-winning playwright explores Ybor’s Jewish businesses in the 1920s with ‘The House in Hyde Park.’

by David Warner July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa hosts the country’s biggest shark convention this weekend

The Florida State Fairgrounds is “gonna need a bigger boat.”

by Leif Helland July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Deviant Libation hosts a free science fiction double-feature horror movie night this weekend

You won’t see androids fighting, Brad or Janet, but there will be a crypt keeper.

by Leif Helland July 14, 2026July 14, 2026

A photograph by Kyle Flubacker displaying a triptych of three rare color variations of Banksy's iconic "Girl with Balloon" artwork, presented against a stark black background. The image features three identical white rectangular frames hung side-by-side. Each frame contains the famous black stenciled silhouette of a young child reaching upward toward a heart-shaped balloon blowing away in the wind. The balloon in the left frame is a pale pink, the center frame features a traditional bright red balloon, and the right frame displays a bright blue balloon.

Arts & Entertainment

Visitors at Tampa’s ‘Art of Banksy’ show will enter and exit through the Straz Center backstage loading bay

by Avery Anderson and Tampa Bay Arts Passport July 10, 2026July 10, 2026

A photograph of fourth-generation J.C. Newman Cigar Co. owner Drew Newman leading an Archives Awareness Week tour inside the Sanchez y Haya building in Tampa, Florida, on July 15, 2025. In the foreground, the guide, wearing a red, white, and blue checkered button-down shirt and khaki pants, gestures outward with one hand while holding a dark tumbler in the other. In the background, two attendees stand listening closely. One individual wears glasses, a patterned blue short-sleeve shirt, and light grey shorts while holding a smartphone. Beside them, another person wears glasses and a light blue button-down shirt while holding a dark overcoat. The unfinished interior of the building appears to be under renovation, featuring a rugged exposed brick wall on the far left and raw plywood panels in the background.

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa’s Archives Awareness Week 2026 is here

The celebration of history and public records runs July 12-18.

by Ray Roa July 8, 2026July 8, 2026

A man smiles holding up a beer next to someone speaking onstage at Tampa's Drunk History 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including Chippendales, Drunk Tampa History and more

Plus, a Dunedin ghost tour, the Shriners Parade, the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Craft Festival and more in this week’s round-up.

by CL Staff July 8, 2026July 8, 2026

Andrews Memorial Chapel as seen from a shadowy angle under a tree.

Arts & Entertainment

Ghost hunters host investigation of historic Dunedin chapel this weekend

They’ll spend five hours in ‘one of Florida’s most active paranormal locations.’

by Liam Oliver July 7, 2026July 7, 2026

A photograph of speaker Manny Leto giving a presentation at the venue Shuffle in Tampa, Florida, on July 15, 2025. The image is shot with a shallow depth of field, featuring a heavily blurred foreground filled with the silhouettes of audience members, glass bottles, and bar items illuminated by warm bokeh lights. In the sharp midground, the individual stands holding a microphone, wearing a dark short-sleeved t-shirt and a dark baseball cap. Behind them, a bright projector screen displays a black-and-white historical photograph of a storefront and a group of people. The background is dimly lit with pinkish hues, highlighting a wall with a white geometric textured pattern and a framed piece of artwork hanging to the right.

Arts & Entertainment

Shuffle’s infamous Drunk Tampa History talk returns on July 15

This year’s birthday party will follow the Hillsborough River, telling a story about how the city grew up on its spine.

by Ray Roa July 4, 2026July 4, 2026

Women wearing pajamas and hair curlers pose with shopping bags in downtown St. Petersburg for Sunrise Sale

Arts & Entertainment

Sunrise Sale, St. Pete’s ‘largest pajama party,’ returns this month

Trade sleep for savings at Book +and Bottle, Zazoo’d, MFA’s gift shop and more

by Liam Oliver July 2, 2026July 2, 2026

Best of the bay 2026 is here. Check out the Winners And FinalistS!

Events & Film

Drag performers debut campy film series in Tampa next week

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s improved lion and hyena exhibit opens this week

A British soccer showdown comes to Tampa next weekend

Pinellas County celebrates 727 Day with deals and events all next week

Photos: Everyone we saw getting loaded and lectured at the third annual Drunk Tampa History party

Jobsite Theater puts on ‘American Idiot’ through Aug. 9 [photos]

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including Shark Con, an ice cream fest and more

Tempus Projects’ new multimedia exhibit is a love letter to Ybor City [Photos]

Ybor City’s historic Centro Asturiano hosts a World Cup final watch party on Sunday

Comedian KevOnStage brings tour honoring his dead brother and manager to Tampa this fall

Steamy Lit hosts a free Romantasy fest in Palm Harbor this weekend

Mark E. Leib hosts a free reading and talkback of his new play at Stageworks this weekend

Tampa hosts the country’s biggest shark convention this weekend

Deviant Libation hosts a free science fiction double-feature horror movie night this weekend

Visitors at Tampa’s ‘Art of Banksy’ show will enter and exit through the Straz Center backstage loading bay

Tampa’s Archives Awareness Week 2026 is here

Tampa Bay’s best things to do this week, including Chippendales, Drunk Tampa History and more

Ghost hunters host investigation of historic Dunedin chapel this weekend

Shuffle’s infamous Drunk Tampa History talk returns on July 15

Sunrise Sale, St. Pete’s ‘largest pajama party,’ returns this month

Photos: Tampa Theatre brings time travel to Franklin Street in grand finale for centennial restoration

[Photos] Everyone who stepped into Creative Loafing’s Best of the Bay 2026 photo booth

[Photos] Everyone we saw at Creative Loafing’s 2026 Best of The Bay party

New photography exhibit frames University of Tampa in stunning new light

Do you have the best burger in Tampa Bay?