Lucky you. You just found TBAYtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout the Tampa Bay area each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Theater
“The People Downstairs” | Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, Feb. 23 | Times vary | Stageworks Theatre | $45
Watch what unfolds as a funeral home custodian tries to set up his daughter with an inept mortician in this sweet comedy.
“A Beautiful Noise” | Tuesday, Feb. 11-Sunday, Feb. 16 | Times vary | The Straz Center for Performing Arts | $60+
This musical centers around the life of Neil Diamond. Caroline will be present, and she will be sweet.
“Sondheim and Weidman’s Road Show” | Friday, Feb. 14–Sunday, March 16 | Times vary | freeFall Theatre | $25
Follow the Mizner Brothers on their search for the American Dream, from the Alaskan Gold Rush in the 1890s to the Florida real estate boom in the 1920s.
“MJ: The Musical” | Tuesday, Feb. 25-Sunday, March 2 | Times vary | The Straz Center for Performing Arts | $49+
Make that three in a row. This time, the award-winning show is about the King of Pop and his 1992 world tour. It’s going to be a thriller.
Sports
Verizon Super Bowl FanFest | Sunday, Feb. 9 | 4:30-10 p.m. | Sparkman Wharf | Free | Verizon fans can party on the waterfront with game day snacks from local restaurants, tunes, family-friendly lawn games, and of course, a screening of the big game.
MLS Preseason Florida Derby: Orlando City SC vs Inter Miami CF | Friday, Feb. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium | $29+ | Kick off the new MLS preseason with a intrastate rivalry match.
New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays | Friday, Feb. 21 | 1:05 p.m. | George M. Steinbrenner Field | $85+ | Watch as the Rays start Spring Training against the Yankees at their new temporary home.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Yankees | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 1:05 p.m. | BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater | $42+ | What’s more Florida than a Grapefruit League matchup at the Clearwater ballpark between the storied clubs?
Concerts
Whitney James: “Jazz Valentine” | Thursday, Feb. 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Palladium Theater | $30+ | Spend the holiday night at an intimate concert featuring a setlist of timeless love songs.
Andrea Bocelli | Thursday, Feb. 13 | 8 p.m. | The Amalie Arena | $190+ | Enjoy a night of soaring arias, hits, and love songs from the legendary performer, joined by the Opera Tampa Chorus.
Scotty McCreery | Thursday, Feb. 20 | 8 p.m. | Ruth Eckerd Hall | $39 | Don’t be “Lonely,” spend the night at the country superstar’s first Ruth Eckerd Hall show in a decade.
Rod Stewart | Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 8 p.m. | Seminole Hard Rock | $424+ | The iconic rocker takes the Cigar City stage for a rockin’ show featuring hits like “All for Love” and “Maggie May.”
After Hours
Science After Dark: The Science of Attraction | Friday, Feb. 14 | 6 p.m. | Mosi Museum of Science & Industry | $25+ | Spend a romantic, adults-only night at the museum digging into the science of human attraction and feasting on liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Valentine’s Day Comedy Shows | Friday, Feb. 14 | 8-11:30 p.m. | St. Pete Brewing Company | $12+ | Add a dose of comedy to the day of love with back-to-back shows featuring acts from St. Pete Stand Up.
Galentines Glam & Glow | Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 6-8:30 p.m. | Hyde House Heights, Tampa | $10 | Join the gals in your life for some mocktails, spa treatments, tunes, and shopping.
Seasonal events
Made in Market: Chocolate Class | Wednesday, Feb. 12| 5:30-9 p.m. | The Tampa Edition | $65 | Perfect the art of tempering, shaping, and decorating your own box of chocolates to share with your love.
Galentine’s Trolley Experience | Thursday, Feb. 13 | 5-9 p.m. | St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, St. Petersburg | $114 | Grab the gals and set off on a four-hour trolley ride featuring a tasting of Cuban-inspired drinks at St. Pete Distillery, a professional portrait session, and an outdoor dinner.
The Grinch Steals Valentines Day | Friday, Feb. 14 | 12-4 p.m. | United Skates of America, Tampa | $10 | Skate into the holiday weekend with the green meanie.
Wine & Romance: Valentine’s Dinner Experience | Friday, Feb. 14 | 7 p.m. | The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg | $300 | Head to The Pink Lady’s Tea Garden for a “Build Your Own Antipasti” bar, paired with bubbles, a sommelier-led wine tasting, and a four-course meal.
The Market: Valentine’s Day Pop-Up Market | Sunday, Feb. 16 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Water Street Tampa | Free entry | Celebrate love at this monthly market featuring vendors like Steamy Lit, Hampton Chocolate Factory, and Posie’s Flower Truck.
Festivals
Florida State Fair | Thursday, Feb. 6-Monday, Feb. 17 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa | $7+ | It’s an annual TBAY tradition featuring massive musical acts, rides, tons of eats, and Cracker Country.
MarineQuest2025 | Saturday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m. | 100 8th Ave. SE, St. Petersburg | Free | Learn about the magic of the Gulf with the folks from the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and interact with live sea creatures, play games, and join sessions on our local fish and wildlife.
Bark in the Park | Saturday, Feb. 8 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Citrus Hixon Waterfront Park | Free | Trek down the Riverwalk on the Walk for the Animals, then check out entertainment, eats, vendors, a Kid Zone, pet activities, and a showcase of adoptable dogs.
St. Petersburg Beer Wine and Spirits Fest | Saturday, Feb. 15 | 1-4:30 p.m. | Williams Park, St. Petersburg | $15+ | Sip on beer, wine, and spirits at the outdoor park, plus enjoy live entertainment, food, and interactive games.
Tampa Bay Bridal Show | Sunday, Feb. 16 | 12-4 p.m. | The Coliseum, St. Petersburg | $5 | Whether you’ve got a wedding date to prep for or just want inspo, roam tons of local vendors at this love-filled expo.
LOCALTOPIA: “A Community Celebration of All Things Local” | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Williams Park, St. Petersburg | Free entry | Celebrate the businesses, eateries, and people that call the Sunshine City home at this popular street festival featuring 300+ vendors and groups.
2025 Art and Seafood on the Waterfront | Saturday, Feb. 22-Sunday, Feb. 23 | Times vary | Safety Harbor Waterfront Park, Safety Harbor | Free entry | Chow down on fresh seafood and watch the Shrimp Showdown contest right on the waterfront at the seventh annual event.
Florida Strawberry Festival | Thursday, Feb. 27-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City | $4+ | Celebrate all things strawberry with this annual festival full of food, headliner entertainment, and midway rides.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.
City Guides are presented by Water Street Tampa.
