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!

School's out and it's time for some summer fun! There are still some awesome summer camps to check out around Tampa Bay and plenty of ways to splash and play at some of the best beaches, waterparks, and splash pads!

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!

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

Sunshine Sunday at Glazer Children's Museum

• Dates: Sunday, May 31 from 8 am-10 am
• Location: Tampa

Sunshine Sunday is a special monthly event for children with special needs and their caregivers. Come explore the Museum with lights and sounds turned down and sensory-adapted tools, special programs, and community resources at your fingertips. During this time, children and their families can experience the museum and unite with others on a similar journey.

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

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

Summer Nights returns with extended park hours, world-class coasters, and electrifying entertainment. New this year, catch the wave of retro fun at Beach Bash. 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! 

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.

Peppa Pig Theme Park: Pig Family Travel Adventure

• Dates: Launches Saturday, May 23
• Location: Winter Haven

PEPPA PIG Theme Park Florida is kicking off summer with an all-new limited-time event, “Pig Family Travel Adventure,” running May 23 through June 28. Designed for preschoolers and their families, the experience invites guests to join Peppa and her family on their first holiday as a family of five through a playful, globe-trotting adventure filled with interactive activities and hands-on experiences.

Above & Beyond exhibit 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!

Screen Free Week at Bonnet Springs Park

• Dates: Monday, May 25-Saturday, May 30
• Location: Tampa

Storytime with the Animals at Fat Beet Farm

• Date: Friday, May 29 from 9:30 am-10 am
• Location: Tampa

K-Pop Last Day of School at Skate World of Tampa

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

Skate the night away the last day of school along to your favorite K-Pop music! There will be cafe specials, trivia, games, prizes, and more! 

Skate and Play at United Skates 

• Dates: Friday, May 29 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. 

Empower Adventures Sunset Zip Line Adventures and Moonlight Canopy Tours

• Dates: Friday, May 29-Sunday, May 31
• Location: Oldsmar

Welcome to Summer Party at Starkey 

• Date: Friday, May 29 – Monday, June 1
• Location: New Port Richey

Celebrate the end of the school year and kick off summer break with four days of nonstop fun! $10 unlimited wristbands include bounce houses, obstacle courses, giant dance dome, Gellyball target gallery, and more!

5K for Foster Kids at Al Lopez Park

• Date: Saturday, May 30 at 6:30 am
• Location: Tampa

This chip-timed race is a purposeful event dedicated to supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community. This morning run serves as a vital fundraiser for the Children's Network of Hillsborough County, an organization committed to improving the lives of at-risk children and families through compassionate care and essential services. Participants have the opportunity to transform their miles into meaningful change, with all proceeds directly benefiting programs that provide stability and hope for children in the dependency system.

Mr. Beast Workshop at Lowe's

• Date: Saturday, May 30 from 10 am-1 pm
• Location: Various Locations

Join Lowe's every month for a NEW Mr. Beast Workshop featuring exclusive Builder Toys. Spots are limited so register and pay for your kit now to secure your spot.

NPR Summer Kickoff: Touch-A-Truck and Hurricane Expo

• Date: Saturday, May 30 from 10 am-1 pm
• Location: New Port Richey

Kick summer into high gear with Touch-a-Truck! Explore firetrucks, police vehicles, and more at this annual event. Face painting and other activities will be available inside the Library, where you can register for our Summer Library Challenge. This event also includes a Hurricane Expo, featuring safety information and vendors to help you prepare for storms. Don't miss this year's special guest, ABC Tampa Bay 28's Meteorologist Greg Dee will share tips on how to stay safe and prepare for hurricane season.

Sensory Saturday at FloridaRAMA

• Date: Saturday, May 30 from 10 am-12 pm
• Location: St. Petersburg

This special sensory-friendly event at FloridaRAMA is designed to provide a calming, enjoyable experience for individuals with sensory sensitivities. During this time, they’ll adjust the environment to create a more accessible and inclusive atmosphere, with reduced noise levels, dimmed lighting, and quieter interactions. They’ll also have sensory kits available for guests to borrow, as well as designated quiet areas to provide a peaceful retreat when needed.

Summerfest at Keel Farms

• Date: Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31
• Location: Plant City

Spend your weekends soaking up summer at Keel Farms! Bring the family out to enjoy free kid-friendly fun while parents relax in the backyard with food, drinks, and plenty of space to unwind and hangout. There will be water slides, bounce houses, food truck style eats, and more! 

Cyber Bowling Kids Matinee at Pin Chasers

• Date: Saturday, May 30, and Sunday, May 31
• 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.

Esports Open Play at Northdale Rec Center

• Date: Saturday, May 30, 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.

KRATE Foam Party at KRATE at the Grove

• Date: Saturday, May 30 from 6 pm-10 pm
• Location: Wesley Chapel

Family fun just got an upgrade! This isn’t your typical Saturday – it’s a foam takeover! Bubbles in the air, music in the background, and a whole lot of laughter in between.

Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers

• Date: Sunday, May 31, 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.

Upstairs/Downstairs at Henry B. Plant Museum

• Date: Sunday, May 31, 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: Maggie Stroud. 

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

• Date: Sunday, May 31, 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:

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.