A popular foodie fest returns to Tampa next spring, and organizers promise that it will be even bigger and better than 2023’s inaugural event.

Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival happens from April 9-13, 2024 at various local venues in neighborhoods like Water Street Tampa, Hyde Park Village and downtown Tampa.

The five day-long run of “unforgettable foodie events” features a variety of programming from live music, interactive sponsor experiences and culinary demonstrations to its “Grand Tasting” event with samples from dozens of Tampa Bay restaurants and “Chef Showdown” competition featuring celebrity chef Robert Irvine.

Irvine, most known for his roles on reality shows like “Restaurant: Impossible” and “Worst Cooks in America,” will host the festival’s Chef Showdown event where 14 participants will “battle head-to-head in seven unique showdowns.”

TBWFF 2024 kicks off on Tuesday, April 9 with a private, invite-only ticketed experience and continues with Wednesday’s inaugural “Experience Water Street” and Thursday’s “Experience Hyde Park,” where diners can indulge in exclusive, coursed meals and celebrity chef collaborations from participating restaurants in those neighborhoods.

The foodie festival’s Chef Showdown happens on Friday, while its Grand Tasting final—which features unlimited food and drink samples from 40+ restaurants at the scenic Curtis Hixon Park (600 N Ashley Dr.)—wraps things up on Saturday.

Tickets for each one of the festival’s events can be purchased directly on its Eventbrite page. They range from a $75 pre-sale ticket for TBWFF’s Grand Tasting to weekend passes that run for $175. Prices may increase as the annual food festival nears closer.

Events company CI Management, which also produces the annual South Beach Seafood Festival, hosted the inaugural Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival earlier this year.

The 2024 festival is sponsored by Breakthru Beverage Florida, Publix, GOYA Foods and a variety of other companies.

For the latest updates on the second annual Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival happening in April, head to its Facebook or Instagram at @tampabaywff. Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.