Plus, ride the Cross Bay Ferry with DJ Kitty.
 
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91º | 20% chance of precipitation | Sunrise 6:38 a.m. | Sunset 8:13 p.m. | Tides | Old Tampa Bay | High: 12:43 p.m. | Low: 6:35 p.m. | Clearwater Beach | High: 8:47 a.m. + 8:42 p.m. | Low: 3:02 p.m. | Full Weather Report | Traffic Report
 

Here’s how to spend Juneteeth

10+ Tampa Bay area Juneteenth events
A helicopter flies over Raymond James Stadium before Super Bowl LV. Tampa's skyline is visible in the background.
R.O.C. the Block takes over Raymond James in June. | Photo by US Customs and Border Protection
Juneteenth is only a month or so away, TBAY. The National Juneteenth Museum says the holiday is a day to “celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation’s enforcement and the liberation of the remainder of the enslaved both in Texas and throughout the newly reformed United States.”

This year, the federal holiday falls on Wednesday, June 19. And we’ve pulled together 10+ standout options to take part:

Editor’s note: Some of these events require tickets or registration, so be sure to sign up before

Shades of Pride: Juneteenth | Friday, June 14 + Saturday, June 15 | Times vary | The Factory, 2606 Fairfield Ave. S., St. Pete | Free | The festival, which highlights the Black and Brown experience of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Tampa Bay area, features a poetry slam, night party, panel discussions, live musical performances, and The Honors Ball.

R.O.C. the Block | Saturday, June 15 | 3-9 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa | Free with ticket | The 4th annual festival takes over Ray Jay with live music and performances, a video game truck, 20+ food vendors, local shops, kids activities, and a fireworks show to cap off the night.

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R.O.C. the Block has activities for the whole family.

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Photo via @yokieempire


AfroCAN 2024: Juneteenth Fest | Sunday, June 16 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. | Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1000 E. Harrison St., Tampa | Free entry | Dress in Afro-inspired chic attire, shop the vendor village featuring Black-owned businesses, learn more about the holiday, enjoy African American dishes, and bring a blanket to enjoy live music and performances on the lawn.

Good Stock Out of St. Pete Mentorship Expo | Monday, June 17 + Tuesday, June 18 | 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave. S., St. Pete | Free | Kids can ponder career tracks and make connections with professionals and local resources — make sure to register.

Juneteenth Pints of Science and Vendor Fair | Tuesday, June 18 | 6-9 p.m. | New World Tampa, 810 E. Skagway Ave., Tampa | Free with registration | Listen to experts from the University of South Florida, the Arts Conservatory for Teens, and the Tampa Bay History Center discuss art, history, and healthcare.
6 more events to bookmark
 
Events
Friday, May 17
  • Coastal Comedy Night with Tyler Horvath | Friday, May 17 | 8-9:15 p.m. | Coastal Creative, 2201 1st Ave. S., Tampa | $15+ | The comedian with 25+ million views on Instagram and TikTok performs his standup set.
Saturday, May 18
  • Annual Brazil Festival | Saturday, May 18 | 12-10 p.m. | Ybor City, 1700 E. 7th Ave., Tampa | $0-$35 | Enjoy performances by samba dancers, kids’ rides, exhibitors, and Brazilian cuisine aplenty at this yearly event.
  • Kevin Hart | Saturday, May 18 | 7 p.m. | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. MacInnes Pl., Tampa | $208+ | The Mark Twain Prize for Humor-winning comedian lights up the stage on his “Brand New Material” tour.
Sunday, May 19
  • Vanessa Autrey | Sunday, May 19 | 2-3:30 p.m. | Oxford Exchange, 420 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa | $11 | Make your way through a restorative flow class + take home a copy of “The Art of Balancing Burnout” — bring a yoga mat and water.
  • “Food Roots” | Sunday, May 19 | 7 p.m. | Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa | $10 | Watch along as this 2023 documentary follows Emmy award-winning Chicago restaurateur Billy Dec’s adventures through his mother’s native Philippines and its 7,641 islands.
Monday, May 20
  • Rays vs. Red Sox | Monday, May 20-Wednesday, May 22 | 6:50 p.m. | Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Dr., St. Petersburg | $10+ | Head to the ball-paaahhk to watch the Rays take on the Northeast team.
Events calendar here
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News Notes
Open
  • Meet the newest spot on Beach Drive. Helyx, an avant-garde eatery, has only five tables + serves a six-course menu steeped in science. The inventive menu features dishes made with sourdough bread-making, curing, pickling, and fermenting techniques. Check out the menu. (I Love the Burg)
Try This
  • This weekend is your last chance to catch The Warehouse Arts District Association’s American Classics Film Series. Bring your own blanket or snacks to catch the outdoor screening of “The Third Man” tomorrow, May 18 at 9 p.m. Buy tickets online. (I Love the Burg)
Real Estate
  • Pour one out for Beer Can Island. Pine Key, Tampa Bay’s former party spot, is off the market. Now, the owners are selling 1,000 shares of the land + plan on hosting events on the island. The friends plan to reinvest the money back into erosion efforts for the property. (Tampa Bay Times)
Sports
  • Sweaty or not to take a piece of Bolts history home with you? The Tampa Bay Lightning are hosting a locker room sale at Amalie Arena tomorrow, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to browse game-used and player-worn apparel, benefiting the Lightning and Hockey Development. (That’s So Tampa)
Coming Soon
  • A slew of new spots are opening in Water Street Tampa this summer. Three businesses — Tidewater Home & Gift, Biomefit, and Sip & Dry — will all start serving customers in no time. (That’s So Tampa)
Travel
  • Pinellas tourism is back on top, baby. The county reported an 8% year-over-year increase in tourist tax revenue in March, bringing in $14.6 million. That’s the highest monthly collection in Pinellas history. The news follows a rough start to the year that saw declining tourism numbers. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
Sports
  • Catch up on the Rays’ series against the Red Sox before tonight’s game. Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
    Finance
    • Ah, the art of the balance transfer. This card offers not one, not six, but 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers, giving you nearly two years to save big. (Plus, you can earn 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee.) Learn more and apply.*
     
    Sports

    🛥️ Hop on, we’re headed to the Rays game

    Ride the Cross Bay Ferry with the Rays’ mascots
    The Tampa Bay area's double-decker Cross Bay Ferry sits docked waiting for its next ride, surrounded by blue skies.
    Get ready for a whole new ride. | Photo by TBAYtoday
    Seadogs and cats first.

    The Rays’ beloved mascots — Raymond and DJ Kitty — are boarding the Cross Bay Ferry today for a Rays Up celebration. The duo are riding along with fans on the ferry’s 4:45 p.m. departure from St. Petersburg + heading back on the 6:15 p.m. departure from Tampa to catch the 7 p.m. game against the Blue Jays, duh.

    In addition to grabbing photos with Raymond and your favorite friendly cat, riders can also win Rays swag and raffle baseballs signed by Rays players Shane McClanahan + Yandy Díaz.

    Book tickets to the star-studded ride now. Please note: if you’re hoping to ride round trip, you need to book two separate tickets.
    The Buy
    Small biz. Celebrate National Small Business Month by exploring our retail shop, Six & Main, featuring local brands from across the country. Find unique gifts for your friends or treat yourself to something new.
    Answered

    Earlier this week, we asked “Which park makes you want to pack your bags?”
    A fort surrounded by cerulean water, a wall, and mangroves
    Here’s a peek at Dry Tortugas’ Fort Jefferson. | Photo by Ruggy Bea rLA Photography via Wikimedia Commons
    We know how you really feel... about Florida’s national parks. Here’s which pristine paradises our readers would most like to explore:
    • Dry Tortugas was the standout favorite — with 60% of readers making it their first national park pick.
    • A respectable 30% of readers claimed Biscayne was calling their name.
    • And finally, a surprising 10% of readers chose Florida’s most famous national park, the Everglades, as their ultimate road trip.
     
    The Wrap
     
    Bailey Lefever in a park near a pond

    Today’s edition by:
    Bailey
    From the editor
    We’re on the hunt for the best locally brewed brewskis, like this one from Three Daughters. Share your fave cold one.
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