Tickets

• Three-day passes to the action are $75, or you can buy individual day tickets.
• Want to ensure you have a spot to sit? Consider paying a bit more for grandstand tickets — which run from $105 to $165.
• And for those who want even more of the action, there’s pit passes and Firestone Paddock passes available.
• Buy tickets online.

Eats

• There’s ample options to chow down at the festival — from bars serving frozen daiquiris and cocktails, to massive lemonades, hot dogs, and treats.
• Heads up: Outside food and drinks are prohibited, so leave the cooler in the car.

Parking

• While we recommend not driving to the festival, there is some parking available at city parking garages, which cost $15 for the day Friday, and $25 for the day on Saturday or Sunday.
• Or consider parking at Tropicana Field, where a shuttle will also be ferrying folks to the festival, included in the $15 cost.

Tips

• Some of the Sunshine City’s best eateries line the waterfront, but they book up fast. So we recommend making those dinner and lunch reservations ASAP. Here’s a few spots we think you might like.
• For those heading to the festival on Saturday, rocker Bret Michaels will perform a live concert in the plaza between the Mahaffey Theater and The Dalí Museum.
• Take a peek at the festival map to figure out your gameplan — and get a better idea of where you might want to sit.

• Tampa Connect Fashion Week | Friday, March 8-Sunday, March 10 | Times vary | Locations vary | $33-$88 | The inaugural Tampa Connect Fashion Week showcases a range of local designers at shows at the Cuban Club, The Factory St. Pete, and the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association.

• Cleanup Day | Saturday, March 9 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Florida Learning Garden, 4800 US 301, Tampa | Free with reservation | Join Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful for a day of planting, harvesting, and weeding at the one-acre interactive educational garden — please wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

• Ferg’s Co-ed Walk | Sunday, March 10 | 10 a.m. | Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg | Free | Pull on a black outfit and meet at the sports bar for a two-mile walk — mention St. Pete Girls Who Walk for 20% off at the bar.
• Botanical Bash | Sunday, March 10 | 1-4 p.m. | Tampa Bay Watch, 3000 Pinellas Bayway S., St. Petersburg | $0-$10 | Roam the native plant swap and sale + exhibits, join the scavenger hunt, make a native wildflower seed bomb, and snack away while mingling with outdoorsy folks.
• “The New Couple in 5B” | Sunday, March 10 | 3:30-5 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | $29 | The bestselling author talks about her latest thriller, in which a couple inherits an apartment with a creepy past — ticket includes a signed book.
• Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Pitbull | Sunday, March 10 | 7 p.m. | Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa | $56+ | The three megastars bring their “The Trilogy Tour” to the arena, featuring an electrifying mix of their biggest hits with influences of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance and electronic music.

• The Temptations & The Four Tops | Monday, March 11 | 7:30 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater | $45+ | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members take over the venue with a night of Motown hits like “Baby, I Need Your Loving,” “My Girl,” and “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg.”

• Construction just started on Tampa’s Downtown Interchange. The $223.5 million project aims to ease congestion at the intersection of Interstates 275 and 4. The project should be done in 2027 + includes a new two-lane exit and new exit ramp bridge from southbound I-275 to eastbound I-4. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

• Solidcore is on the way to Hyde Park Village. The nationally-popular brand opens this summer at 732 S. Village Cir. + offers high-intensity, low-impact full-body workouts on Pilates-inspired reformers. Plus, the classes take place in a dimmed room with vibey tunes for a high-energy start to your day.

• Look Alive Coffee is now roasting specialty coffees in the Grand Central District at 1920 1st Ave. S. The wholesale roaster offers blends like The Mile High Blend, Westside Blend, and Colombia Huila. Order your beans online or for pickup. (St. Pete Rising)

• Looking for the perfect waterfront South Tampa lot to build your dream home? For a cool $6.95 million, you can buy a 0.47-acre lot in Madsen Isles. The plot looks out on Tampa Bay + offers 216 ft of water frontage.

• Calling all Arnold Palmer aficionados. Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services — which also cofounded Doc Ford Motor Co. — plans to launch a new spot called Arnold Palmer’s CenterCup. The concept includes a restaurant and bar, alongside golf, cornhole, billiards and other activities. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

• $358. That’s how much rent will start at for tenants at St. Pete’s new SkyWay Lofts II. The 3800 34th St. S. development will offer 66 homes for those making under 80% of the area’s median income — about $46,000 per year. (St. Pete Catalyst)

• The fifth annual TogetHER event returns to Hyde Park Village on Wednesday, March 27. This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion + includes networking and a panel discussion with creatives, entrepreneurs, and TBAY leaders. Plus, the event benefits the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women.

• Time is running out. Visit St. Pete/Clearwater brought back its Gulp Coast Passport program for Tampa Bay Beer Week — running now through Sunday, March 10. The passport guides you to 40 Pinellas County breweries + offers several deals and discounts. Get your pass. (St. Pete Catalyst)

• Will the Bolts make any major changes ahead of today’s trade deadline? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Lightning with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
  

• The Academy Awards air this Sunday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Not sure how to watch? Access the broadcast with a free five-day trial of DIRECTV STREAM.*

• The challenge is led by team captains Lexi Thompson, Megan Khang, Charley Hull, and Carlota Ciganda.
• All women and girls get in free today for the International Women’s Day celebration.
• Weekend passes start at $17.50 for students and cap at $35, with general admission tickets also available.
• The parking lot opens at 8 a.m. + general admission parking is at iHeart Radio (13535 Feather Sound Dr., Clearwater).
• Looking for a VIP experience? 18th Hospitality tickets run $250 and score you access to the the club’s perch overlooking the 18th green, food and drinks, plus panel discussions and Q+As.