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!
LEGO NINJAGO Weekends at LEGOLAND Florida Resort (Pictured at top of post)
- Date: Saturday, January 17-February 15, 2026
- Location: Winter Haven
Go full ninja! It's time to celebrate 15 years of LEGO NINJAGO and take on the ultimate mission of family fun as LEGO NINJAGO Weekends returns to LEGOLAND Florida Resort! Step into the world of LEGO NINJAGO with your favorite LEGO Ninjas, and reach your true Ninja potential with immersive, thrilling shows and action-packed activities that you can only find at LEGOLAND Florida.
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. There will also 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: Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
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
World's Largest Rubber Duck at Coachman Park!
- Date: Through January 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!
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!
Kids Happy Hour: Double Play at 1983
- Date: Friday, January 16 from 3 pm-6 pm
- Location: Tampa
Enjoy double play credits at 1983's Kids Happy Hour. There will be face painting, kids crafts, & more in the game room and lawn.
Tampa Bay Rodeo's Bull Bash and Country Music Festival
- Date: Friday, January 16-Saturday, January 17
- Location: Hillsborough County Fairgrounds
The Bull Bash and Country Music Festival storms into town for two nights of action-packed bull riding and star-studded country music. Country music legends Justin Moore and Trace Adkins headline the event and country music luminary Lee Greenwod performs as special guest each night. Gates open at 4:30 pm, so come enjoy delicious food and to test your skills on the mechanical bull before the action begins. Don’t miss Tampa Bay’s most popular mix of bull riding, country music legends, patriotic pride and a heartfelt salute to America’s heroes.
Blue Man Group at The Straz Center
- Date: Friday, January 16-Sunday, January 18, times vary
- Location: Tampa
The name Blue Man Group tells you who you'll see – three men with skin painted blue – but doesn't tell you what you'll see, which would require a much longer name. Art, music, comedy, and non-verbal communication are among the tools the aforementioned cerulean trio use in a performance that celebrates connections with people and the world around us.
Friday Night Meltdown Public Skate at AdventHealth Center Ice
- Date: Friday, January 16, 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!
Skyway Family Fun Day
- Date: Friday, January 17 from 9:30 am-1 pm
- Location: Tampa
This free family-friendly event will host games, competitions, local vendors, food trucks, and more! Activities will be available for kids and parents, and sure to be a fun time for all! Registration is free, but required.
Weck Farms Strawberry U-Pick in Lutz
- Date: Saturday, January 17-Sunday, January 18, 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.
A Gasparilla High Tea at Jekyll Hyde Park
- Date: Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18 from 10 am-2 pm
- Location: Tampa
Indulge in an elevated Tampa tradition at Gasparilla High Tea, a luxe afternoon of refined flavors with a subtle nod to pirate-pageantry. Settle in for a beautifully presented tiered service featuring delicate tea sandwiches, scones with accompaniments, and artful petit sweets, all paired with a curated selection of premium loose-leaf teas. For an extra-celebratory touch, add bubbles and toast to the season in style.
Kids Market at Wiregrass Market
- Date: Saturday, January 17 from 10 am-2 pm
- Location: Wesley Chapel
This lively event is a fantastic opportunity for young entrepreneurs to shine, selling their handmade creations, baked goods, art, and more alongside amazing local vendors. With live music, delicious eats, and a fun, family-friendly atmosphere, it’s the perfect weekend destination for the whole community!
Bricks 4 Kidz Weekend Workshop
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 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 Minecraft Mania!
Cyber Bowling Kid's Matinee at Pin Chasers
- Dates: Saturday, January 17, and Sunday, January 18, 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 17, 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.
Lights by the Bay Drone Show at Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Date: Saturday, January 17 from 6 pm-9 pm
- Location: Clearwater
Experience two spectacular drone light shows under the stars at Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Lights by the Bay event as we celebrate an exciting new year! Prepare to be swept away by the magic of this breathtaking drone show, illuminating the night with a symphony of lights and colors. Bring the whole family and immerse yourselves in the joy of this festive occasion, filled with live entertainment, delectable treats, and exciting activities for all ages.
Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers
- Date: Sunday, January 18 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.
Sunday Makebreak at Michael's
- Date: Sunday, January 18 from 2 pm-4 pm
- Location: Various locations
Dueling Pianos for Kids at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant
- Date: Sunday, January 18, 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.