Aerial drone view of downtown Tampa skyline featuring skyscrapers, the Hillsborough River, and the Selmon Expressway interchange under a blue sky — City of Tampa Credit: Gianfranco Vivi/Shutterstock

Tampa traffic is normally pretty awful, but with multiple giant events all happening downtown at roughly the same time, it will likely be an absolute carmageddon this weekend.

Sensing the incoming road rage, the City of Tampa issued a traffic advisory Wednesday afternoon, warning potential drivers to “plan accordingly for heavier traffic, more pedestrians, and a crowded downtown” beginning Friday, April 10 through Sunday, April 12.

As a reminder, downtown does have a multiple cheap (and even free) ways to get around, like the free-to-use TECO Line Streetcar, the $2 per-person DASH service, HART buses, e-scooters and more. The City of Tampa also offers free shaded bicycle parking at all downtown garages, and Benchmark International Arena has a free bike valet.

Here’s what to expect in downtown Tampa this weekend:

Friday, April 10

• Tampa Bay Poker Run @ Tampa Convention Center – 7 a.m.

• Tampa Bay Condo & HOA Expo @ Tampa Convention Center – 7:30 a.m.

• Gasparilla Music Festival @ Meridian Fields – 3 p.m.

• Tampa Wine & Food Festival @ Curtis Hixon Park – 6:30 p.m.

• Straz shows @ 7:30 PM & 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 11

• Tampa Bay Poker Run @ Tampa Convention Center – 7 a.m.

• Breakthrough T1D Walk @ Benchmark International Arena / Bayshore – 9 a.m.

• African Arts in the Park Festival @ Perry Harvey Park – 11 a.m.

• Tampa Wine & Food Festival @ Curtis Hixon Park – 1 p.m.

• Gasparilla Music Festival @ Meridian Fields – 3 p.m

• Straz shows @ 4 PM & 8 p.m.

• Tampa Bay Sun game @ Suncoast Credit Union Field – 7:30 p.m

• Eric Church @ Benchmark International Arena – 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 12

• Tampa Bay Poker Run @ Tampa Convention Center – 7 a.m.

• IUCX 2026 (move-in) @ Tampa Convention Center – 7 a.m.

• Summer Vibes @ Ybor – 11 a.m.

• Gasparilla Music Festival @ Meridian Fields – 3 p.m.

• Straz show @ 5 p.m.

• B2K Reunion: Boys 4 Life Tour @ Benchmark International Arena – 7 p.m.