Celebrate the Tampa Bay Lightning postseason run

Here’s the details on watching the playoff games, and celebrating around town

unnamed (4).jpg

Mayor Castor, Thunderbug, and crew raise the flag at City Hall

Photo via the City of Tampa

The Lightning are in the postseason for the sixth season in a row. They don’t call us #ChampaBay for nothin’.

The first playoff game is tomorrow night, April 18, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. But the celebration starts now (well, really over the weekend).

Here’s a few ways to jolt into the action:

  • Mayor Jane Castor and the Lightning (hopefully including Thunderbug) will raise the Bolts flag at Tampa City Hall at 12 p.m. today. Plus, the Blue Crew will hand out souvenirs.
  • Since the first two games are on the road, head to Thunder Alley for pre-game festivities + a watch party Tuesday and Thursday night during the games — it’s sure to be just as electric as inside Amalie for games three and four
  • Snap a pic of Old City Hall (315 E. Kennedy Blvd.) at night when it lights up electric blue.
  • Host a watch party at home with all of your favorite local, Bolts-themed eats... and hockey fans. We recommend a custom charcuterie board from Tampa’s Adored Boards (complete with a lightning bolt cut-out brie).
More from TBAYtoday
The Florida Aquarium is celebrating the upcoming World Penguin Day with a free meet-and-greet with their tuxedo-ed crew.
What do you do on vacation? You can do those same things here.
And that’s not all: Hillsborough just opened a new call center to help residents apply for grants, and a downtown Tampa park reopened.
We’re sharing the lineup for this fall’s country music and barbecue festival at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.
Check out some of the coolest, most unique Airbnb and Vrbo rentals around Tampa Bay, FL and plan for your next adventure or staycation.
Ybor’s final operating cigar factory is fully restoring the century-old Sanchez Y Haya building across the street into a new inn, restaurant, and cigar lounge.
We’re talking parking, shade, dining options, and all the other tea.
The festival is back — at its new home within Water Street Tampa — with huge headliners like Mt. Joy and Gov’t Mule.
Take a peek at the Rays’ new-yet-old digs, complete with new luxury clubs, a speakeasy, and the Cownose Clubhouse.
The Florida Aquarium won’t need to evacuate its crew the next time devastating storm surge is forecast for the Tampa Bay area.