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!

This weekend, everyone gets an extra day of play since Monday is a holiday! If you're looking for fun things to do for the long weekend, check out our picks for Memorial Day Weekend events in Tampa Bay.

Summer is also on the horizon, and most schools will be out next week! 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 flowers, fruit, vegetables, 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:

• 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!

Summer Nights at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (pictured in featured image)

• Dates: Friday, May 22-August 9, 2026
• Location: Tampa

Feel the spark after dark this summer at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay! Summer Nights returns with extended park hours, world-class coasters, and electryfying entertainment. New this year, catch the wave of retro fun at Beach Bash. Move and groove to summer tunes at this high-energy celebration of summer. Beat the heat during the day and catch returning favorites like Cirque Electric, Animal Tales, Icons, and Rhythm of Nature. The fun keeps going into the night with everyone's favorite 90s style dance fest at Boombox Dance Party. End your day with their immersive Wild Skies drone show with fireworks on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with all-new shows and more drones! Plus, sip and savor seasonal eats and capture the moment with fun photo ops. 

AquaGlow at Islands of Adventure

• Dates: Select Nights, Friday, May 22-August 8, 2026
• Location: Tampa

Get ready to light up your summer nights at AquaGlow, a family friendly nighttime event that transforms Adventure Island into a dazzling neon paradise! Experience an electric atmosphere filled with vibrant lights, pulsing music, and immersive surprises around every corner. From glowing entertainment to high-energy vibes, it's the ultimate way to celebrate summer after dark. With limited capacity, you’ll enjoy a more relaxed, exclusive experience with plenty of room to glow, dance, and make memories with friends and family.

Above & Beyond exhibit OPENS at MOSI 

• Dates: Now Open!
• Location: Tampa

From the earliest dreams of the Wright brothers to the future of space exploration, this immersive exhibit lets you design, test, and experience flight firsthand through cutting-edge, hands-on technology. Step into the action as you build your own aircraft, explore the forces of flight, and push the limits of what’s possible.

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 22-Sunday, May 24
• Location: Oldsmar

Summer Kick Off Luau at Skate World of Tampa

• Date: Friday, May 22 from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm
• Location: Tampa

Skate the night away Hawaiian style! Enjoy luau themed foods, drinks, raffles, and more! Grass skirts and Hawaiian shirts are highly encouraged! 

Skate and Play at United Skates 

• Dates: Friday, May 22 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. 

Honor our Heroes 5K Memorial Run

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 7 am-9 am
• Location: Oldsmar

Run for a great cause! In recognition of Memorial Day, Oldsmar Cares along with the All-American VFW Post 12186 in Oldsmar are working together to build a better community, and all net proceeds from the event will support our efforts to serve residents, families, veterans, and community projects. This year, along with a fantastic lineup of sponsors and vendors, they'll welcome back Tampa Bay Brewing Company (TBBC) and Three Brothers NY Pizza to help expand the afterparty menu! 

Kids Market at The Sunshine Market

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 10 am-3 pm
• Location: Tampa

Join The Kids Market at the Midtown Tampa Market with Tampa Bay Markets! This year-round market takes place in Midtown Commons, offering a vibrant space for young entrepreneurs to showcase their businesses. With a mix of artisan vendors, delicious food, and live entertainment, this family-friendly event is a must-visit! Be sure to stop by the Kids Market section and support the next generation of business owners! 

Weekend Workshop at Bricks 4 Kidz

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 10 am-1 pm
• Location: Tampa

Get your brick on! This 3 hour LEGO workshop is full of LEGO robots, LEGO mosaic art, LEGO 3D art, and much more! Each week is a different theme, so there is sure to be one your child will enjoy! And at the end of each workshop, every child will get to take home their every own Bricks 4 Kidz minifigure! All children ages 4.5 – 12 years old are welcome! This week's theme is LEGO End of School Year Mashup.

You can also check out their Memorial Day Camp on Monday, May 25 when the kiddos are out of school!

Super Famliy Paint Party at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 11 am-2 pm
• Location: Tampa

Follow along with creator of Artists on a Roll llc Erica Ferguson step by step on a colorful adventure inspired by a group of super friends you might recognize! Tickets include a hand drawn canvas to take home, all materials, fresh popped popcorn and art goodie bags! Class is designed for all to create together! Bring family and friends out for a fun day full of creativity and memories.

Cyber Bowling Kids Matinee at Pin Chasers

• Date: Saturday, May 23, and Sunday, May 24
• 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.

IKEA Family Summer Camp Scavenger Hunt

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 1 pm-4 pm and Sunday, May 24 from 1 pm-3 pm
• Location: Tampa

Registered IKEA Family members can check in at their scheduled time to pick up a game sheet at the store entrance welcome table and receive a free gift featuring a collectible patch, while supplies last. Once you have completed the puzzle, follow the store instructions during the specified activity hours to return your completed game sheet and receive a small surprise for kids (limit 2 per family member).

Esports Open Play at Northdale Rec Center

• Date: Saturday, May 23, 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.

The Great American Block Party at The Shops at Wiregrass

• Date: Sunday, May 23 from 3 pm-9 pm
• Location: Wesley Chapel

Celebrate a milestone moment in American history at Celebrating America 250, a day filled with music, fun, and community spirit for all ages! Enjoy family-friendly activities and games, live entertainment throughout the day, a car show featuring antique and vintage vehicles, evening concert experience, and more!

Akeelah and the Bee at Stageworks Theatre

• Date: Saturday, May 23 from 6:30 pm-8 pm and Sunday, May 24 from 4 pm-6pm
• Location: Tampa

Akeelah and the Bee follows the journey of Akeelah Anderson, an 11 year old girl from South Los Angeles with an extraordinary gift for words. Despite the challenges around her, Akeelah discovers a passion for spelling that propels her unexpectedly. Along the way, she finds mentors who believe in her, friends who cheer her on, and a community that rallies behind her dreams.

Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers

• Date: Sunday, May 24, 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.

Veterans Memorial Park Memorial Day Ceremony

• Date: Sunday, May 24 from 10 am-12 pm
• Location: Tampa

Veteran Community Services and the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County will host their annual Memorial Day Observance featuring the “Garden of Gold” flag installation depicting the faces and service branches of local Gold Star Family members. Fallen heroes from Operation Epic Fury will also be remembered. Attendees will hear from special guests including American Gold Star Mothers, Maj. Gen. John Gronski, U.S. Army (Retired), and Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Ottenwess for the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base. The event will also feature a JROTC color guard, rifle salute, taps, on-site resources for Veterans and military families, and refreshments following the ceremony. 

Upstairs/Downstairs at Henry B. Plant Museum

• Date: Sunday, May 24, 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: Henry Dobson. 

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

• Date: Sunday, May 24, 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: South Tampa Studio

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

Tampa Theatre's FREE Summer Sing-Along Screenings

• Dates: Select Sundays, at 6:30 p.m.
• Location: Sparkman Wharf

With Tampa Theatre’s historic auditorium closed for restoration ahead of its 100^th anniversary in October, the majestic movie palace is taking the show on the road with a series of FREE Summer Sing-Along Screenings on select Sundays at Sparkman Wharf and other locations throughout Tampa Bay, presented by QC! The first 100 guests at each show will also receive a free LED fan, courtesy of series sponsor QC, and a free bag of Tampa Theatre’s famous popcorn, starting at 6:00 pm.

Monthly Movies at Sparkman Wharf:

• June 28: High School Musical (2006)
• July 26: The Little Mermaid (2023)
• August 23: Wicked (2024)

19^th 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 19^th 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.