Tampa Summer Events You Don’t Want To Miss

Tan lines and the smell of sunscreen, laying out on crystal blue beaches, sipping frozen, fruity cocktails…these are just a few things our minds wander off to with summertime right around the corner. With so many things to do to keep you occupied, you’ll want to make sure you mark your calendars for some of the biggest festivals making a splash in Tampa.

The Sunset Music Festival and the Margarita Festival are bringing those summer vibes a little early this year, but don’t worry! We have your complete guide to some of the biggest festivals so you dive into summer the right way.

The Sunset Music Festival

• When: Saturday, May 23, 2015 – Sunday, May 24, 2015
• Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa

The countdown has officially begun for the Sunset Music Festival or #SMF15. If you don’t recognize that hashtag, you’ll become very familiar on Memorial Day weekend when your newsfeed is slammed with tons of videos, posts and photos showing off one of the largest concerts, with over 60,000 attendees.

Some of the world’s hottest DJs will be in attendance, like Tiesto and Skrillex on May 23rd, and Armin Van Buuren on May 24th, as well as buzzworthy newcomers and local talents. Expect fireworks (literal and musical), light shows, crowd surfing and great music that will set the musical tone for the rest of your summer.

Dress the Part: 60,000 people in one stadium screaming, dancing, jumping…all could raise the temperature and jeans or long sleeves are really not invited to the party. With some of the greatest DJs heating up the turntables all night, it’s important to wear something comfortable and easy to dance in. Crop tops, shorts and tank tops are great choices and make sure to steer clear of dark colors and heavy clothing that could trap heat. Get decked out in festival merch: here. As for footwear, ladies you will want to leave those heels behind for comfortable tennis shoes. Your feet will thank you later.

Stay Hydrated: While you’re breaking it down to all the great music, you’ll also be breaking a sweat. Make sure you don’t get dehydrated by alternating between sports drinks and water, which will be set up at different stations throughout the stadium. Medical personnel will be available throughout the stadium if you begin to feel dizzy and light-headed. If you begin to feel unwell, seek medical attention immediately.

Partner Up: With thousands of attendees dancing and walking around, keeping track of the friends you came with can be a challenge. Make sure you stick with at least one buddy during the night so that you aren’t left alone. Set up and discuss meeting points with friends so that if you do happen to get separated, you can always find your way back to each other. Besides, what fun is dancing alone?

Tickets

• General admission two-day pass (18+): $169
• VIP admission (18+): $259 (Includes: Express entrance, Elevated viewing decks with multiple levels: 18+ level and 21+ level, Private cash bars for those 21 and over, Air-conditioned restroom facilities, Onsite VIP management team, Collectable VIP laminate badge and lanyard)

Tampa Bay Margarita Festival 2015

• When: Saturday, May 23, 2015 from 12PM – 11PM
• Where: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa

Spend fun in the sun the right way sipping and sampling a  huge variety of Margaritas, from traditional to fruity, and even extreme while you listen to an awesome line-up of bands, chill out at the Margarita bars and end the night with a spectacular fireworks show. Rock out with headliner, SmashMouth, and other bands including Mighty Mongo and Lovestruck Robot by the main stage or chill at the Cabo Wabo Rockin’ Bar. Show up early and get cool prizes and SWAG items from each participating bar at the Tampa Bay Margarita Festival.

Party in a Cabana: Bring 10-20 friends and rent out a Don Julio VIP Cabana featuring lounge furniture, air conditioning system and unlimited bottle service of Don Julio tequila from your own personal server. Also enjoy unlimited beer, wine and water. (20 Person Don Julio VIP Cabana – $3,000 or 10 Person Don Julio VIP Cabana – $2,000) Additional amenities/benefits include:

• Prime stage views from elevated cabana area
• Access to the Grand Marnier VIP Cantina
• Private security/special credentialed access only
• Priority Check-in & Entry (Credential delivered prior to event)
• VIP only restroom trailers
• Corporate signage at cabana for marketing/visibility
• Private catering allowed

Don’t Forget the Water: A full day of drinking in the summer sun can take a lot out of you, so make sure you are drinking plenty of water to keep up with all of the margaritas. Being out in the sunlight could be seriously dangerous if you are not staying hydrated, and no, alcohol is NOT the healthiest hydration.

It’s All about the Wristbands: Reap the benefits and skip fumbling around with loose change or cash with personalized RFID-enabled wristbands that double as your fast entrance ticket into the festival and a quick payment method – with a quick tap! The transactions are quick, safe and convenient.

Try the Grand Tequila Tasting: Get started early at the Grand Tequila Tasting on May 22nd from 6 PM to 9 PM at the Tampa Museum of Art. Tickets include unlimited tasting of over 40 tequilas, food items from SONO Café and a collectable tasting glass. Tickets are $65. This ticket does not permit entrance into the Tampa Margarita Festival.

General Tickets:

• Early – $14
• Advance – $17
• Regular – $21
• Door (if available) – $25

Grand Marnier VIP Experience: Enjoy all day in and out access to the festival with this exclusive entrance pass, as well as UNLIMITED margaritas, wine, beer and water (within the VIP Viewing and VIP Grand Marnier Cantina areas only). Tickets are extremely limited so purchase now here.

• Advance – $75
• Regular – $85
• Door (if available) – $125

Tampa Bay Comic Con

• When: July 31 – August 2
• Where: Tampa Convention Center

It’s about that time to visit your closet and pull out your best costume, because Florida’s premiere family-friendly, fan owned comic book convention Comic Con is headed to Tampa Bay. Enjoy a wide variety of exhibitors showcasing a huge variety of comic fans interests including cosplay, manga, toys, games, apparel, etc.

Guest celebrities, creators, voice actors including Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), Jena Malone (The Hunger Games), Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob), Neal Adams (Guest of Honor writer) and more will be in attendance for autographs and photo ops!

Tickets:

• Three-Day Registration – $60
• Friday-Only Registration – $30
• Saturday-Only Registration – $35
• Sunday-Only Registration – $30
• Kids 12 and under are FREE and do NOT require any sort of registration.

Creative Loafing Meet the Chefs

• When: Saturday, June 10; VIP 6-7 PM, GA 7-9 PM
• Where: Coppertail Brewing Co. Tasting Room 2601 E. 2nd Ave. Tampa, FL 33605

Summer is the perfect time to indulge in tons of delicious cuisine. Do just that at the Coppertail Brewing Co. Tasting Room for the official Restaurant Week kick off and Food Issue Release Party with Creative Loafing’s Meet the Chefs event. Guests can expect delicious plates served up by some of Tampa Bay’s best chefs.

Each chef will be sampling a soup, salad, appetizer, main course, or dessert paired with a craft beer handpicked by Coppertail Brewing Co. Head Brewer, Casey Hughes. Also, each attendee will get their hands on Creative Loafing’s Food issue.

Tickets: 

• General Admission: Advance – $40, Door – $45
• VIP: Advanced $65, Door – $75

VIP includes a meet and greet with chefs, an extra hour of sampling, and an exclusive swag bag featuring goodies from Coppertail Brewing Co. and ONLI Beverages.

Make Tampa Bay your one stop for all things Summer: ice-cold beverages, sweet treats, entertainment, dancing, soaking up rays on the beach, etc. With these events, and many more, Summer is an endless pool of possibilities. What are you waiting for? Jump in!