Tampa Bay’s Margarita Wars cocktail competition and tasting party returns this summer

Next to Best of the Bay, Margarita Wars might be Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s most-lit event.

The cocktail showdown, now in its 10th year, moves over to St. Petersburg in 2024 for a night at the museum. Next month, The James Museum of Wildlife and Western Art hosts two dozen competitors all hoping that ticket holders crown their creation “Tampa Bay's Ultimate Margarita.”

Ghost Tequila won’t be the only spirit flowing either, since PRP wine and Big Sipz canned cocktails will also be on-site along with Mother Kombucha for the N/A partygoers.

Early bird tickets to Margarita Wars happening Friday, May 17 at St. Petersburg’s James Museum of Wildlife and Western Art are on sale now and start at $65. Admission includes lite Mexican bites from Saucin’ Wings, unlimited margarita samples, dessert samples from Chef Stef's Boozy Bakes, margarita-inspired Sunshine City Popcorn, and access to the museum galleries. Live music and a DJ will also keep the party going.

GA plus tickets allow for early access to the party (7 p.m.) while VIP admission gets you in even earlier (6 p.m.), access to passed appetizers for VIP only, and entry into a VIP raffle.

Designated driver tickets are available for $30, and anyone who purchases two tickets gets a free designated driver ticket, too (sorry you can’t bring your teenager, admission is 21-and-up).

Participants in this year’s competition include:

• Council Oak
• Crafty Squirrel
• Coyote Ugly
• The Dan
• Doodle Noodle Bar
• Flor Fina
• Fresco's
• The Helm Coastal Provisions
• Hi-Fi Rooftop Bar at the Fenway Hotel
• Hotel Tampa Riverwalk
• Jotoro
• Oak & Ola
• Pier Teaki
• Riveters
• Shaker & Peel
• St. Pete Distillery
• Tequila Daisy
• Velvet Gypsy

Past winners returning in 2024 include Jotoro, which created a “Cloud 9” margarita to take home the crown last year.
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