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!
Summer is on the horizon, and school will be out in just a few weeks! If you're still looking for summer camps to keep the kids occupied, make sure to check out our guide to summer camps around Tampa Bay!
There are so many fun things going on around Tampa Bay this time of year, and it's the perfect time of year to check out places to pick fruit, vegetables, flowers, and more!
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, Save the Date, What's on Exhibit, and more.
Happy weekend exploring!
A few new stories we think you'll LOVE:
- Where to go for afternoon tea in Tampa Bay
- READ NOW: Flip through the digital version of our May issue!
- DON'T MISS IT: FREE 2026 Busch Gardens Preschool Card (DEADLINE EXTENDED)
Featured Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend
We're giving the following partners' events an extra shout-out since their support helps us provide this amazing weekend guide to you for free!
The James Museum Family Day – Wild About Wolves
- Date: Saturday, May 16, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Location: The James Museum, 150 Central Ave., St. Pete 33701
Head to The James Museum for a drop-in Family Day! Explore the special exhibition, Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan, with gallery scavenger hunts and hands-on artmaking. Enjoy a lively performance by Shana Banana and her puppets as they find their “inner wolves.” Then, visit the studio to create your own paw-inspired print to take home. Ages 3–12 with an adult.
Conservation Connections at ZooTampa
- Dates: Saturday, May 16 from 9:30 am-2:30 pm
- Location: Tampa
Join the Zoo for their monthly celebrations to participate in interactive activities and collect unique stamps. Find out how you can be involved in conservation in your own backyard and take action when you get home to protect wildlife and wild places! ZT Saves Kids’ Club Notebooks and Stamp Passports are available for purchase in any of the zoo gift shops. Use your notebook at the Zoo to collect clues and record observations. Then, use your notebook at home to record the extra activities you complete and to keep track of your conservation journey. This month, celebrate Wild Koala Day!
MOSI Minecract Mania
- Dates: Saturday, May 16 from 1 pm-3 pm
- Location: Tampa
Got a Minecraft master at home? Minecraft Mania at MOSI takes their favorite game to the next level with hands-on challenges designed for ages 7–12. During this drop-off program, participants will take on individual and team-based challenges, build computer and problem-solving skills, learn basic coding concepts, strategize and collaborate, and work together to defend their city from an alien invasion!
WORTH THE DRIVE: Cirque du Soleil Drawn to Life
- Location: Disney Springs, Orlando
- Showtimes: Wed-Sat. at 5:30 pm and 8 pm, and on Sundays at 1:30 pm and 4 pm
Set your imagination in motion with Drawn to Life, a love letter to the art of Disney animation. In this first-ever creative collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney, journey into a whimsical world of animation where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. It’s the magic of Walt Disney Animation interpreted through dazzling performances and the acrobatic mastery of Cirque du Soleil. Live on stage, only at Disney Springs.
MORE Awesome Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend
Go check out the NEW Magic Grasshopper at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete
- Date: on display now
- Location: St. Pete
The MFA just unveiled Magic Grasshopper, a pink-hued fantastical art sculpture by a renowned artist, Yvette Mayorga. It's the first in a series of public art displays the museum will showcase outside of its gallery walls for all to enjoy. No admission is required to experience it!
Empower Adventures Sunset Zip Line Adventures and Moonlight Canopy Tours
- Dates: Friday, May 15-Sunday, May 17
- Location: Oldsmar
Birthday Barnyard Bash at Chick-Fil-A North Dale Mabry
- Date: Friday, May 15 from 3 pm-7 pm
- Location: Tampa
Join Chick-Fil-A for a Birthday Barnyard Bash! Bring the whole crew and enjoy balloon animals, patio games, and some surprise treats along the way. And yes – there will be a real cow!
Skate and Play at United Skates
- Dates: Friday, May 15 from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm
- Location: Tampa
The perfect combination of skating and arcade fun all summer long! Admission includes 20 game credits to use in the arcade.
DIY-U Kids Workshops by Lowe's
- Date: Saturday, May 16 from 10 am-1 pm
- Location: Various Locations
Head to your local Lowe's for a free DIY craft! All supplies included (while supplies last). This month, create a Garden Basket.
Great American Farmers Market at Starkey Ranch TLC
- Date: Saturday, May 16, from 10 am-1 pm
- Location: Odessa
Head to Starkey Ranch for this America 250 celebration honoring our rich farmland and agricultural heritage. Browse 30+ local vendors, explore interactive displays, and enjoy engaging talks from UF IFAS Extension Pasco County. Plus, don’t miss your chance to meet highland cow influencer Jason Moo Moa! Giveaways will be happening throughout the event.
Sharkapalooza at Coachman Park
- Date: Saturday, May 16, from 10 am-4 pm
- Location: Clearwater
Hosted by Sharkapalooza Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the event was created to raise awareness about the critical role sharks play in our ecosystem while supporting organizations working to protect our oceans. By blending creativity with conservation, Sharkapalooza aims to make learning about marine life accessible, engaging, and impactful for all ages. Guests can experience live entertainment, music, art demos, a kids' zone, crafts, and so much more!
Cyber Bowling Kids Matinee at Pin Chasers
- Date: Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17
- Location: Tampa, Zephyrhills
Cyber Bowling is the fusion of high-energy entertainment and bowling, where anything is possible! Bowling with kids? Enjoy special family matinees with family-appropriate music so families can enjoy the fun together at an earlier time.
Morris's Birthday Bash at Great Explorations Childrens Museum
- Date: Saturday, May 16 from 10:30 am-4 pm
- Location: St. Petersburg
It’s Morris’s Birthday Bash and YOU’RE invited! Get ready for a full day of fun to celebrate everyone’s favorite Explorasaurus in the most epic way! There will be silent disco vibes, Morris dance parties, birthday crafts, and more! PLUS enjoy 30% OFF all Morris goodies.
Esports Open Play at Northdale Rec Center
- Date: Saturday, May 16, from 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
- Location: Tampa
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. 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.
Kids Night Out at Color Me Mine
- Date: Saturday, May 16, from 6 pm-8:30 pm
- Location: Tampa
Drop the kids off for a night they won’t forget filled with painting, pizza, drinks, a movie, and games! Each child will paint a pre-selected pottery project. Pizza and drinks will be included. For kids ages 6 and up.
Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers
- Date: Sunday, May 17, from 9 am-11 am
- Location: Tampa, Zephyrhills
Bring the whole family to Pin Chasers for unlimited bowling plus breakfast! You get two hours of bowling, two eggs (your way), bacon, and toast.
The Market at Water Street Tampa
- Date: Sunday, May 17 from 10 am-3 pm
- Location: Tampa
Sundays start fresh with The Market at Water Street Tampa. Shop 60+ local food and wellness-focused vendors with an array of fresh, local, homemade, handcrafted, fair-trade, vintage or eco-friendly products.
Family Day at Yuengling Draft Haus and Kitchen
- Date: Sunday, May 17 from 12 pm-4 pm
- Location: Tampa
Yuengling has partnered with the Children’s Entrepreneur Market to bring you a Family Day full of fun for all to enjoy. There will be music, face painting, and a market completely run by kids!
Kids Day Out: Summer Splash at Shanna and Bryan Glazer JCC
- Date: Sunday, May 17 from 12 pm-4 pm
- Location: Tampa
Calling all children ages 4-12 for a fun-themed Sunday! Keep calm and splash on at this Kids Day Out with swimming, games, arts and crafts, pizza, and more!
Upstairs/Downstairs at Henry B. Plant Museum
- Date: Sunday, May 17, from 2 pm-2:30 pm
- Location: Tampa
Step back in time and enjoy the single-character performances that bring turn-of–the-century Tampa Bay Hotel staff members and guests to life. Each character is based wholly or in part on actual hotel staff and guests. Performances are 30 minutes and are included with admission to the Museum. Arrive early as limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. This week's character spotlight: Pauline Smith.
Dueling Pianos for Kids at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant
- Date: Sunday, May 17, from 4 pm-6 pm
- Location: Wesley Chapel
Fun for the whole family! Bring the kids out to dance, sing, and request all their favorite tunes! Movie songs, TV shows, and pop music are all on the table! This event is free but reservations are encouraged!
Save the Date for these Awesome Events in Tampa Bay:
Entertainment Revue Auditions!
- Date: Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Location: Britton Plaza: 3802 B-1 South Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa
Step into the Spotlight with The Entertainment Revue! Tampa’s premier song-and-dance ensemble, featuring an all-female cast of young talent. Auditions for girls ages 5-15 will be held on May 30 at the South Tampa studio. Kids will be split up into three groups so they can audition with kids in their age range (based on the grade they will be entering next school year). Known for Broadway-caliber performances, this dynamic troupe electrifies audiences with high-energy productions spanning multiple genres. Performing at major events like conferences, galas, The Today Show, professional sporting events, and for U.S. Presidents, they have captivated crowds throughout Florida. Founded in 1989, this nonprofit organization empowers young women to become confident, driven leaders, and launch successful careers in entertainment.
19th Annual Back to School Fair – NEW LOCATION!
- Date: Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Location: Citrus Park Town Center
Hillsborough County Public Schools presents: The 19th Annual Back to School Fair is headed back to an ALL-NEW location in 2026! Head to Tampa Bay's ultimate back-to-school bash inside the air-conditioned comfort of Citrus Park Town Center during the Sales Tax Holiday, meaning you won’t have to pay sales tax on your school-related purchases. Take pictures with ThunderBug, sing with Princesses, get your face painted, enjoy performances, games and contests, plus, we’re giving away FREE backpacks for the first 1,000 kids in line!
MORE THINGS TO DO: See What’s on Exhibit in Tampa Bay
Galacticoaster at LEGOLAND Florida Resort
- NOW OPEN!
- Location: LEGOLAND Florida, Winter Haven
Be one of the first to experience LEGOLAND Florida Resort's awesome new indoor family coaster, Galacticoaster! You'll find it in the new LEGO Galaxy, where you can immerse yourself in 40+ years of LEGO space history. The ride is a first of its kind, and we're sharing all of the details about Galacticoaster here!
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!
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.
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.