Give into your sweet tooth and craft beer cravings, or learn to whip up soups and stews at these four weekend gatherings.
From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, unwind with a three-course beer dinner at Tampa's Maggiano's Little Italy. The family-style dinner will feature brews from Goose Island Beer Company and Blue Point Brewing Company, which will be paired with Italian cuisine and expert beer knowledge to create a memorable dining experience. The meal is set to include dishes like a pear and gorgonzola bruschetta and braised short ribs with a Goose Island Autumn Ale ragu, and its fall-focused menu will highlight flavors like pumpkin, squash and apple. Tickets are available online until 3 p.m. Friday. $40. 203 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, 813-288-9000.
Taste flavorful baked treats at the Pinellas County Pie Festival in Largo Central Park between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. Festgoers will explore an unlimited $10 pie buffet, featuring award-winning pies, ice cream and toppings. Expert bakers may submit a pie by noon to the community bake-off, and the pie-eating competition will begin at 3. Head to the beer garden afterward to wash down those sweets with a cold brew. $5 for ages 13 and up, free for children under 12; $5 for community bake-off, $10 for pie-eating contest. 101 Third St. SE, Largo.
Ybor City's annual Cupcake Festival gives dessert lovers another opportunity to chow down. Held at the Ybor City Saturday Market, the main event of the fest, happening 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, is the cupcake baking contest, showcasing submissions by local amateur bakers. Cupcakes — ranging from flavors like Peanut Butter S'mores to Fiery Bacon — will be critiqued on texture, taste and presentation, and the winners will be awarded bragging rights and a seat at the judges' table next year. Free, money for food and drink. 1800 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa, 813-241-2442.
At Nature's Food Patch in Clearwater, learn the art of throwing down in the kitchen with another free cooking lesson. The class, running 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, will teach you how to cook quintessential fall cuisine: hearty stews and soups. Recipes for classic Thai veggie soup and Crock-Pot beef stew will be featured. Mmm! Free. 1225 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-443-6703.
This article appears in Oct 15-21, 2015.