20+ FUN Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend

It's another busy weekend with tons of awesome things to do in Tampa Bay with the kids!

We hope everyone's new year has been off to a great start! It's January in Tampa, you know what that means…Gasparilla season is on the horizon! Whether you're partying like a pirate with little swashbucklers at Children's Gasparilla or leaving the kids at home to hang out at Gasparilla Pirate Fest, we've got all the details and info to know before you go.

But, before we dive into our list of Weekend Top Picks of Things to Do in Tampa Bay This Weekend– here's how we've set it up to make it easier for you to find an event on a day that works best for your family: Featured Events that make this page possible, More Awesome Things to Do, What's on Exhibit, Save the Date, and more.

Happy weekend exploring!

A few new stories we think you'll LOVE:

• A New Year of Strength and Support Begins at the YMCA
• U-PICK IS BACK: Where to pick strawberries, citrus, and more in Tampa Bay!

Featured Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend 

We're giving the following events an extra shout-out since their support helps us provide this amazing weekend guide to you for free!

Pirate Invasion at Glazer Children's Museum

• Dates: January 6-31, 2026
• Location: Tampa

Arrrgh you ready to play? This January, Glazer Children’s Museum invites families to hoist the sails of adventure and dive into Pirate Invasion, a month-long, swashbuckling celebration in honor of Tampa’s legendary Gasparilla season. Beginning January 6, young buccaneers and their crews can explore hands-on pirate fun packed with creativity, history, and play-based learning, all included with Museum admission. Throughout January, families can craft their own pirate gear like swords and necklaces, sharpen their pirate skills with rotating daily activities and demonstrations, and set off on a weekly scavenger hunt using their “pirate’s eye” to uncover hidden treasure. There will be pirate-themed storytimes and visits from special guests throughout the month.

Real Music Series at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

• Date: Now through February 20, 2026
• Location: The Beach Theatre, Clearwater

Lucy Sparrow's Quick Shop at FloridaRAMA

• Dates: Now until the exhibit sells out of the felt art creations
• Location: St. Pete

World-renowned artist Lucy Sparrow is bringing her incredible felt artwork back to Tampa Bay in a 700-square-foot exhibit at FloridaRAMA called Lucy Sparrow's Quick Shop. The whimsical exhibit is filled with thousands of handmade felt art creations inspired by the everyday items you would find at the market, including produce, seafood, laundry detergent, and more. And here's what's really cool–you can purchase the artwork, too. FloridaRAMA is also decorated for the holidays! They also just unveiled Lucy Sparrow's Sugar Rush, featuring favorite candies in felt form!

MORE Awesome Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend

Feline Files: Fact or Fiction? at FloridaRAMA

• Date: Now Open!
• Location: St. Pete

Investigate strange occurrences around Mermaid Star Motel and discover a mysterious new feline species!

World's Largest Rubber Duck is Coming to Coachman Park!

• Date: January 9-26, 2026
• Location: Clearwater

Come see the world's largest rubber duck at Coachman Park in Clearwater! Stop by during the month of January for Duck Days events such as Jeep photo ops, Market Marie, Duck Dash 5K, Rubber Ducky's Birthday Bash with Mr. Brad and Jack Hartmann, and more!

Day of Discovery at Florida Aquarium

• Date: Friday, January 9 from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm
• Location: Tampa

A Day of Discovery provides an Aquarium experience specifically tailored to individuals with sensory differences and their families. Days of Discovery are hosted by The Florida Aquarium in partnership with the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (C.A.R.D.) at the University of South Florida. To address the needs of these diverse audiences, Day of Discovery has limited capacity and is reserved for families and children with sensory differences and/or accessibility challenges. Special effects, lights and music will be adapted for those with sensory differences.

SkyWatch at MOSI

• Date: Friday, January 9 from 7 pm-9 pm
• Location: Tampa

Join MOSI astronomers for SkyWatch, an exciting evening stargazing event! Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just beginning to explore the wonders of the night sky, SkyWatch offers an unforgettable experience for everyone. Throughout the evening, expert astronomers will guide you in viewing the stars, planets, and celestial wonders through telescopes. From the ground level of our outdoor Science Park to the top of the iconic MOSI Dome, they'll have telescopes set up to give you the best view of the night sky. Take in the breathtaking beauty of constellations, distant galaxies, and more while our astronomers provide fascinating insights about the cosmos.

Friday Night Meltdown Public Skate at AdventHealth Center Ice

• Date: Friday, January 9, from 7:45 pm to 9:45 pm
• Location: AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel

Start your weekend off on the right skate on the ice for a 2-hour public skate session! There will be a live DJ, colored lights, and so much more!

Weck Farms Strawberry U-Pick in Lutz

• Date: Saturday, January 9-Sunday, January 11, from 9 am-3 pm
• Location: 213 Warren Road, Lutz

Weck Farms (formerly Bearss Groves Farms) is opening its fields for u-pick strawberries this weekend! Berries are $3.50 per pound, and there is an entry fee. They provide the buckets.

Rooted in Play Pop Up Adventure Playground at Al Lopez Park

• Date: Saturday, January 10 from 9am-12 pm
• Location: Tampa

These popups are built around child-led, open-ended play using loose parts like cardboard, fabric, tape, tubes, wheels, and everyday materials. There’s no agenda, no rotations, and no pressure to “do it right.” Just time, space, and support. Playworkers will be present to hold the space, support safety, and protect children’s play without directing it.

Hello Kitty Cafe Truck 

• Date: Saturday, January 10 (Brandon) and January 17 (Tampa) from 10 am-7 pm
• Location: Brandon Town Center and Westshore Mall in Tampa

The iconic all-pink Hello Kitty Cafe Truck is celebrating the truck’s 10th Anniversary! Fans can expect brand-new treats and limited-edition merchandise, including NEW 10th Anniversary items like keychains, thermal bottles, mugs, tumblers, T-shirts, blankets, sweatshirts and Hello Kitty Cafe plush toys. Plus sweet treats like 10th Anniversary Cookies, 5-piece macaron sets, and Madeleines.

Bricks 4 Kidz Weekend Workshop

• Date: Saturday, January 10, from 10 am to 1 pm
• Location: Bricks 4 Kidz in South Tampa

Unleash your creativity at Bricks 4 Kidz Weekend Workshop! Use STEM techniques to create the perfect themed build. Each child will make and take home a custom LEGO minifigure at the end of each workshop. This week, the theme is LEGO New Year Bricktacular!

Pirate Pup Parade at Water Street

• Date: Saturday, January 10 from 10 am-4 pm
• Location: Tampa

This tail-wagging event is free and open to the public, inviting guests to watch pups dressed in their best pirate gear strut through Water Street Tampa in celebration of Gasparilla, all for a good cause. Guests can also enjoy face painting, pet caricatures, pet adoptions and more! Proceeds will benefit the Pet Resource Center.

Pirate Invasion at IKEA

• Date: Saturday, January 10 from 11 am-3 pm
• Location: Bricks 4 Kidz in South Tampa

Dress in your finest pirate garb and join IKEA for a swashbucklin’ day of entertainment, games, and high-seas fun. Keep your eyes peeled for their grand Flat Cart Flotilla parade, where brave buccaneers proudly show off their handmade floats! They'll be handing out treasures, so bring your krewe and prepare for adventure. First place prize is a $300 gift card! The parade will go through the first floor of the store- Market Hall at 2pm.

Cyber Bowling Kid's Matinee at Pin Chasers

• Dates: Saturday, January 3, and Sunday, January 4, from 12 pm to 4 pm
• Locations: Various Pin Chasers Locations

Cyber Bowling is the fusion of high-energy entertainment and bowling, where anything is possible! Your favorite music and club lighting create a glowing, family-friendly club-like atmosphere while you bowl. At Veterans, Midtown, Brandon, and East Pasco locations.

Esports Open Play at Emanuel P. Johnson Rec Center

• Date: Saturday, January 10, from 1 pm to 4:30 pm
• Location: Emanuel Johnson Rec Center in Tampa

The Esports lounges are staffed with Esports specialists who inspire and encourage new social skills, help develop gaming fundamentals, and set a safe, inclusive, and positive social environment. Our coaches are Esports competitors who have the skills and experience to help any player develop and grow their skills to perform better in competitions. In addition to developing Esports skills, participants socialize with like-minded competitors and make new friends in a high-energy environment.

Ice-Parilla Themed Skate Night at AdventHealth Center Ice

• Date: Saturday, January 10 from 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
• Location: AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel

Celebrate the pirate invasion that takes over Tampa Bay, ice style! Join the Krewe with this on ice event, including DJ music, on-ice games, photo ops, free beads, and more! Dress the part as your favorite pirate!

Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers

• Date: Sunday, January 11 from 9 am-11 am
• Location: Tampa

Bring the whole family to Pin Chasers for unlimited bowling plus breakfast! Breakfast bowling includes two hours of bowling, two eggs (your way), bacon, and toast.

Mutts Gone Nuts at Ruth Eckerd Hall

• Date: Sunday, January 11 at 1 pm
• Location: Clearwater

Harlem Globetrotters at Yuengling Center

• Date: Sunday, January 11 at 3 pm
• Location: Tampa

What started with Curly, Meadowlark, Wilt, and Geese continues on today with Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, TNT, just to name a few! Taking inspiration from the fun-loving and awe-inspiring players of the past, today’s Harlem Globetrotters stars are ready to wow you on the court and in the crowd! Be there as the players dazzle, dunk, and hype the stands as they take on the Washington Generals with high-flying, all-out fun from start to finish.

Dueling Pianos for Kids at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant

• Date: Sunday, January 11, from 4 pm to 7 pm
• Location: Treble Makers in Wesley Chapel

Fun for the Whole Family! Entertainment is focused on music for the kids, from favorite pop songs, movies, and shows as requested by the audience!

SAVE THE DATE!

2026 Florida State Fair

• Dates: February 5-16
• WEEKDAY Times: Monday – Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• WEEKEND Times: Friday – Sunday & President’s Day, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Location: 4800 US Hwy. 301 North, Tampa FL 33610

Celebrate America at the Florida State Fair—America’s Sunniest Celebration—shining bright February 5–16 in Tampa! Enjoy 12 days of rides, classic fair food, live entertainment, creative competitions, agricultural showcases, and hands-on exhibits that highlight Florida’s talent and traditions. With red, white, and blue moments, photo worthy spots, and fun for every age and vibe, it’s the perfect place to soak up the sunshine and celebrate it all.

MORE THINGS TO DO: See What’s on Exhibit in Tampa Bay

Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine exhibit at MOSI in Tampa

Can a machine think like you? Learn like you? Paint your portrait like Picasso? Starting September 6, visitors at MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry, can find out in a brand-new way with the opening of Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine, a hands-on exhibit that makes the world of AI exciting, accessible, and unforgettable.

Science LIVE! All-New Science Demos at MOSI in Tampa | Daily at 2 p.m.

Watch a MOSI educator bring science to life with exciting, hands-on demos. Each show lasts about 15 minutes and features fun experiments in chemistry, physics, biology, and more. You’ll see colorful reactions, cool demos, and amazing science in action. MOSI makes science easy to understand, and even easier to get excited about!

Wild Oasis at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 

The Wild Oasis Realm is finally open at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! There's a new ride, a splash pad, and so many ways to climb and play!

SEA LIFE Florida at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven

Get ready for this under-the-sea adventure at this all-new indoor attraction! You can expect to see more than 3,000 sea creatures and even walk through a 180-degree underwater tunnel! We'll be there for the official opening on Friday morning!

Forts Exhibit at Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa

The beloved FORTS exhibit returns to Glazer Children's Museum this weekend in its newly expanded and permanent home on the second floor, just in time for spring break! You'll find it on the second floor, where kids can use their imaginations to build an epic fort!

Let's See at Glazer Children's Museum in Tampa

This colorful, bilingual (English and Spanish) exhibit, created in partnership with the Glazer Vision Foundation, invites families to explore the science of vision through hands-on, mind-bending experiences. Discover how your eyes work with playful interactives that bring light, color, and perspective to life. Mix colors on spinning wheels, walk into a giant kaleidoscope, and cast dazzling colored shadows. Peer through a water sphere to see the world flipped upside down – just like your eyes do before your brain flips it back! Try on glasses, test for color blindness, and watch your pupils dilate as you explore how we see the world.

Wonders of Wetlands at Great Explorations Children's Museum in St. Pete

This new permanent exhibit, created in partnership with Tampa Bay Water, was designed to engage young minds and spark environmental curiosity. The immersive experience brings one of Florida’s most vital ecosystems to life inside the museum, and kids can even go face-to-face with some of the creatures that call our wetlands home, like turtles, lizards, and a snake!

See the World’s Largest Triceratops at Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa

Big John, the world’s largest fossil triceratops, is now on display at the Glazer Children’s Museum for a three-year exhibition. For the first time, the museum is waiving its requirement that adults attend the museum with a child, to ensure everyone has a chance to see Big John nose to snout for themselves. While you do not need a reservation to go to the museum, you will need to book a timeslot to see Big John. This will eliminate crowds so you can make the most out of the experience.  Learn more about how to plan your day to see Big John the Triceratops here.

FloridaRAMA in St. Pete

FloridaRAMA (formerly Fairgrounds St. Pete) is an immersive art experience has made its mark in Tampa Bay! There are more than 70 artists featured. You can go and simply enjoy the whimsical art that celebrates weird, wacky, wonderful Florida or choose a different adventure and try to crack the codes and mysteries you’ll find throughout.

Paws for Literacy at Humane Society of Tampa Bay in Tampa | Tuesdays and Thursdays

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay gives children who love animals a chance to spend time with them while catching up on their reading or improving their reading skills. Children are paired with homeless pets who love to hear the stories and look at the pictures. The program is offered for children ages 5 and up. They’ll provide reading stools, books, and treats (for the animals), but children are welcome to bring their own books if they wish. Books provided include animal tales, stories of the animal-human bond, and books that teach empathy to young readers. Supervised by a Florida state certified teacher.

Ruskin Family Drive-In in Ruskin | Wednesdays-Sundays

The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre has over 50 years of continuous service to the Ruskin and South Hillsborough County. It’s been a community gathering place since its first movie, “Singing in the Rain” played in 1952. They offer great movies, good food, and peace and quiet on a continuous basis with a 2000 square foot screen, clean restrooms, snack bar, and clean parking lot. Please note: you must bring a portable radio with you or use the radio in your car to hear the movie. There will be no showings on Monday and Tuesday.