There's a ton of stuff happening this weekend. Among them: RiverFest 2016 in Tampa, featuring the Mayor's Mac & Cheese Throwdown and a new brunch festival, Discover the Food Festival at the Florida State Fairgrounds, and Sarasota's first Food and Travel Festival. For those still undecided, here's a handful of other eating and drinking options.
At 6 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday, Cepas Wine & Tapas Bar will celebrate its four-year anniversary in a big way. The Tampa bar's Carrollwood Food & Wine Festival will showcase more than 50 beer and wine samples, plus grub from restaurants like La Casa Della Pasta, Terra Sur Cafe and Alex's Southern Style BBQ. Live music will be showcased as well. $40. 5350 W. Village Drive, Tampa, 813-269-9463.
St. Petersburg's Two Year Critical Mass Anniversary Ride and Party will kick off at Williams Park at 7 p.m. Friday for a medium-paced spin around town. Afterward, cyclists will head to Green Bench Brewing Co., where they'll receive 10 percent off their tabs and celebrate with cake and DJ tunes. Prizes for the best and worst bike will also be awarded. Free, money for beer. 1133 Baum Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-800-9836.
Check out the Church Lake Farms Blueberry Fest in Odessa between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday. Attendees will pick buckets of the antioxidant-rich fruit and jam out to live music. Still hungry? Keel & Curley Winery's 9th Annual Blueberry Festival is set to run for three days in Plant City, starting at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. Sunday. Expect 100-plus food and craft vendors, U-Pick blueberries, entertainment and more. Church Lake Farms: Free, money for U-Pick. 16321 McGlamery Road, Odessa, 727-379-4654. Keel & Curley Winery: Free, money for goodies. 5210 Thonotosassa Road, Plant City, 813-752-9100.
Enjoy all things local from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Clearwater’s Fun N' Sun Live Love Local Fest. The event, hosted by Pierce Street Market at Coachman Park, will feature more than 100 vendors, kids activities and a battle of the bands with area artists. Festgoers can nosh on food truck bites and grab a local brew on draft, too. Free, money for goodies. 301 Drew St., Clearwater, 727-562-4600.
At Station House, brunch and shop in downtown St. Pete through the returning Spring Pop Up Market. This seasonal spinoff of the St. Pete Indie Market, taking place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, will have Mother's Day items, sweet treats and other springtime offerings. Free, money for goodies. 260 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-895-8260.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2016.