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!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Spring Break! The weather is beautiful in Tampa and perfect for some outdoor fun. Easter is just a hop, skip, and a jump away, and it's time to start planning for some egg-cellent fun! Check out where you can enjoy egg hunts, Easter bunny pics, and Easter brunch around Tampa Bay!

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:

• DEADLINE EXTENDED: FREE 2026 Busch Gardens Preschool Card
• The Straz Center Annouces its 2026-2027 Brodway Season!
• Clearwater Marine Aquarium welcomes three new harbor seals
• 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!

Bonnet Springs Park Spring Break 2026

• Dates: March 16-20, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Location: 400 Bonnet Spgs Blvd, Lakeland 33815, along the Park's Nature Pathway

Fun and curiosity are on the agenda at Bonnet Springs Park this March as the park hosts its Spring Break 2026 lineup, featuring five packed days of live performances, hands-on STEAM activities and interactive experiences designed to spark imagination in guests of all ages. The Spring Break series blends learning with play, giving families opportunities to explore science, storytelling, technology and the arts in an outdoor setting. Each day features live shows, roaming performers, music and dozens of activity stations led by regional museums, science organizations and creative partners.

Storytime with Slyce at Watermelon Swim

• Date: Friday, March 20, from 10-11:30 am
• Location: 30016 County Line Road, Wesley Chapel 33543
  

Join Slyce for a splash-tastic morning of stories, smiles, and creativity at Watermelon Swim! Families are invited to our first-ever Storytime with Slyce, featuring a special meet-and-greet with our Melon-tastic mascot, Slyce! We’ll read two beloved tales—Water Safety Adventures and Jellybean and the Unbreakable Egg—then wrap up the fun with a spring-themed craft for your little artist to take home. This kickoff event is the first in our Storytime with Slyce series, with more dates and locations coming soon. This event is free, open to the public, and geared towards children 5 and under. Tickets are limited and first-come, first-served; preregistration and parental supervision is required.

Night at the Aquarium

• Date: Friday, March 20, from 5:30-8:30 pm
• Location: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Get ready for an unforgettable evening where the aquarium transforms into an after-hours adventure! This special event invites kids ages 5-10 to experience a magical night filled with captivating stories, hands-on activities, and aquarium exploration. When the lights go out, the ocean adventure truly begins!

Spring Sips & Seals at CMA

• Date: Saturday, March 21, from 6-9 pm
• Location: Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Celebrate the first day of spring – and the excitement of spring break – with a special after‑hours evening at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Be among the first to meet their newest resident seals while enjoying sunset views, full aquarium admission after hours, and one complimentary drink ticket with each adult ticket purchase (21+). Food will be available for purchase throughout the night. The event also includes seal talks led by the animal care team throughout the evening, offering an inside look at the care that goes into welcoming these new residents.

Springtime Bash at ZooTampa

• Date: Friday, March 20-Sunday, March 22, from 3-7 pm
• Location: Tampa

Kick back, relax, and make the most of your extra time at ZooTampa during Springtime Bash – a lively happy hour taking place throughout the Zoo! With a live DJ to keep the party going and food and drink specials, the whole family can enjoy the fun!

Conservation Connections at ZooTampa

• Date: Saturday, March 21, from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
• Location: Tampa

The ZT Saves Kids’ Club returns for another exciting year of Conservation Connections! Join the Zoo for each of 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 during their monthly celebrations. Then, use your notebook at home to record the extra activities you complete and to keep track of your conservation journey.
Use your notebook or your passport to collect your Conservation Connections stamps each month and at the end of the year, show the zoo your stamp collection to redeem small prizes to celebrate a year of conservation in action! This month, celebrate Florida Panthers!

Sounds of the Ocean at MOSI

• Date: Sunday, March 22, from 6-8:15 pm
• Location: Tampa

Prepare to dive into the wonders of the deep with Sounds of the Ocean, an award-winning immersive experience now playing at MOSI’s Saunders Planetarium and Digital Dome Theatre. From the moment it begins, this adventure unfolds through music, art, and mindfulness. It guides you and your family into the calm, enchanting world beneath the waves. Sounds of the Ocean takes audiences on a meditative underwater journey as whale and dolphin melodies meet original music and mesmerizing visuals, the result is a symphony of harmony. In turn, it helps you reconnect with nature and find inner calm.

MORE Awesome Things to Do in Tampa Bay this Weekend

Bay Area Renaissance Fest

• Date: Weekends through March 29
• Location: Dade City

Join the Villagers of Folkstone as they invite one and all to the magical 16th-century European village featuring 15 stages of exciting entertainment, including musicians, magicians, jugglers, and jousting. Over 100 artisans will fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, themed weekends, and fabulous food fit for royalty!

NXL Tampa Bay Open at Raymond James Stadium

• Date: Thursday, March 19-Sunday, March 22
• Location: Tampa

Kick off the 2026 paintball season with the National XBall League’s first event of the year as the Tampa Bay Open returns to the iconic Raymond James Stadium! This legendary venue once again opens its gates to the world of paintball, setting the stage for an unforgettable week of elite competition, high-energy action, and celebration.​

Diamond Art Open Workshop at Armature Works

• Date: Friday, March 20 from 11 am-4 pm
• Location: Tampa

Enjoy a relaxing, hands-on creative experience where you can design their own shimmering diamond art masterpiece. Using colorful resin “diamonds,” you’ll place each gem onto a pre-designed canvas to create a stunning, textured piece of art that truly shines.
This event will be hosted on a flow format, so stop by anytime during event hours to jump in and begin your project, no set start times required. Perfect for kids, teens, and adults, diamond art painting is easy to learn, calming, and incredibly satisfying. All materials are provided. Get creative and add a little sparkle to your week at Armature Works!

Empower Adventures Sunset Zip Line Adventures and Moonlight Canopy Tours

• Dates: Friday, March 20-Sunday, March 22
• Location: Oldsmar

Glow Putt Putt Pop-Up at Sparkman Wharf

• Date: Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 from 6 pm-10 pm
• Location: Tampa

Tee off under the glow of the night at Glow Putt-Putt Pop-Up! Water Street Tampa and Sparkman Wharf are transforming into a vibrant, after-dark mini-golf experience. Each location will feature a 9-hole illuminated course, filled with glowing obstacles, fun challenges, and an electrifying atmosphere. You'll get one round of glow mini-golf (9 holes) at either location in Raybon Plaza or Sparkman Wharf, putter and glow in the dark ball rental, and themed mini-golf course challenges. There will be live music, giveaways, special discounts, and more!

Drone Art Show at Florida State Fairgrounds

• Date: Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21 from 8:45 pm-9:50 pm
• Location: Tampa

The DroneArt Show merges cutting-edge drone technology with iconic music. As hundreds of drones dance above you in perfect synchronization, you’ll be transported into a world where art and innovation meet under the stars. As night falls, hundreds of illuminated drones will take off and create stunning shapes in the sky, moving in time with live classical music. Choreographed perfectly to the music, this open-air concert paints the night with light, color, and wonder, a true concert in the sky.

Day out With Thomas at The Florida Railroad Museum

• Date: Saturday, March 21, Sunday, March 22, and Saturday, March 28
• Location: Parrish

Join Thomas at the Florida Railroad Museum with loads of family games and activities! Say hello to Sir Topham Hatt, enjoy live entertainment, photo ops, an exclusive gift shop, lawn games, and so much more. Take a real train ride with Thomas and spend the day creating memories for the whole family.

Fossil Fest at Florida State Fairgrounds

• Date: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 from 9 am-5 pm
• Location: Tampa

Learn about Florida’s prehistoric past in a Fossil Fest workshop! Experienced collectors will teach you how to find, identify, and preserve fossil treasures of your very own! All workshops are FREE to Fossil Fest attendees! Discovering Florida’s Fossil Treasures with Tampa Bay Fossil Club’s Dr. Bob Sinibaldi PhD. Learn where and how to find fossils of your own, right here in Florida, learn how to get your fossil permit and participate in the science of paleontology, bring your fossils to be identified by experts in the field, and more!

Spring Sip and Sprout Plant Festival at Metals and Nature

• Date: Saturday, March 21 from 9 am-2 pm
• Location: Tampa

Spring is calling…and it’s time to garden! Join Metals and Nature for their Spring Sip and Sprout Plant Festival, a day designed for anyone ready to refresh their beds, restock their pots, and fall in love with gardening all over again. Wander through their multi acre shady oak garden, meet local plant vendors, and gather the inspiration you need to kick off your spring gardening season.
What you’ll find: Plant vendors with fresh spring must-haves and unique varieties, coffee to fuel your early garden planning, wine to enjoy as you stroll through the oaks, and food to keep your tastebuds happy.

Weekend Workshop at Bricks 4 Kidz

• Date: Saturday, March 21 from 10 am-1 pm
• Location: Tampa

Take part in this 3 hour LEGO workshop full of LEGO robots, LEGO mosaic art, LEGO 3D art, and much more! Each week is a different theme 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! Spots are limited to just 20 builders per workshop! This Saturday, participate in a LEGO City Travel the World Workshop!

DIY-U at Lowe's

• Date: Saturday, March 21 from 10 am-1 pm
• Location: Various Locations

Head to your local Lowe's for a FREE DIY Workshop. All supplies are included for a free project. This month, create your own Lawn Mower!

Hyde Park Village Art Fair

• Date: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
• Location: Tampa

The brick-lined streets of historic Hyde Park will once again come alive with eye-popping art during the Hyde Park Village Art Fair. The event offers visitors a unique experience with brick courtyards, fountains and tree-lined streets. Creating an old world setting and making Hyde Park Village a perfect location for a fine art fair for families and kids!

Cyber Bowling Kids Matinee at Pin Chasers

• Date: Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22
• 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.

USF Society of Women in Engineering STEAM Challenge at Glazer Children's Museum

• Date: Saturday, March 21 from 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
• Location: Tampa

Explore mixed media and learn how women creators have shaped art through creativity, courage, and innovation.

Esports Open Play at Northdale Rec Center

• Date: Saturday, March 21 from 1:30 pm-4:30 pm
• Location: Tampa

Esports lounges are staffed with Esports specialist 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.

Sunday Breakfast Bowl at Pin Chasers

• Date: Sunday, March 22 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, March 22 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. Based on original research conducted by the Henry Plant Museum, these characters recreate the attitudes and mores of a bygone time, along with the sorrows and joys of their existence. From the reminiscences of Henry Plant himself on what led him to build such a palace, to the letters home written by a Spanish-American War soldier, you will learn more about the time period through each character’s particular vantage point. 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, March 22 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!

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

Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion at MOSI

Step back into time and explore full-scale machines created from da Vinci's drawings. Ultimately, Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion invites you to explore the mind of one of history’s greatest thinkers. Discover his ideas. Experience his creativity. And feel the impact of his genius. On display through May 26.

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!

Feline Files: Fact or Fiction? at FloridaRAMA

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

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.

Save the Date for these Awesome Events in Tampa Bay:

Tampa Bay Rodeo & Family Festival

Water Days at MOSI

Saturday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
4801 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa 33617
This family-friendly event shows how natural resources shape daily life and impact the future of our region. Explore a variety of interactive learning stations led by MOSI educators, community partners, and local experts where hands-on learning makes stormwater science, conservation practices, and sustainability easy to understand for all ages. Families can also take a closer look at real challenges facing Tampa Bay including stormwater issues and long-term environmental resilience. Included in general admission.

Gasparilla Music Festival Family Fest

Saturday, April 11 – Sunday, April 12, from 12-3 p.m.
Sparkman Wharf
Kids Fest is FREE for parents and kids at Sparkman Wharf while Gasparilla Music Festival is taking place down the street at Meridian Fields. In addition to live music, there will be plenty of family-friendly activities, including the beloved instrument petting zoo, face painting, a kids rave on Saturday and more.

The Incredible Duck Race

April 18
Curtis Hixon Park
10,000 rubber ducks will race down the Hillsborough River in front of Curtis Hixon Park to compete for amazing prizes. The family event will feature games, food, and entertainment leading up to the big race. Ducks can be purchased in advance for $5 at TampaDuckRace.com, you don’t have to be present to win. Benefiting The Tampa Kiwanis Foundation, which supports many local children’s programs.

Get Your Ticket to Style, Stories, and Hope on the Runway

April 18
The Motor Enclave
Join the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation on April 18 at the stunning Motor Enclave in Tampa for Fashion Funds the Cure, an evening where glamour gives back. Enjoy delicious food and great company as you watch incredible pediatric cancer warriors steal the spotlight on the runway. Every ticket fuels life-saving research for better treatments. Come dressed to impress and ready to be moved.

19^th Annual Back to School Fair – NEW LOCATION!

Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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!