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 Tampa Bay 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 Picture of Dorian Gray” | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Sept. 14 | 7:30-10 p.m. | TheatreFor, Clearwater | $27+ | Venture back to 1980s London to watch Dorian, obsessed with beauty and pleasure, as he lives out a double life.
“Company” | Friday, Sept. 5-Saturday, Sept. 27 | Times vary | Carrollwood Players | $31+ | Over the course of a series of dinners, drinks and even a wedding, a confirmed bachelor’s friends explain the pros and cons of taking on a spouse.
“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” | Tuesday, Sept. 16-Saturday, Sept. 20 | Times vary | The Straz Center for the Performing Arts | $91 | It’s nothing like the original. This “quick-changing, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the gothic classic, perfect for audiences of all blood types.”
Sports
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Seattle Mariners | Monday, Sept. 1-Wednesday, Sept. 3 | 7:35 p.m. | George M. Steinbrenner Field | $34+ | Watch the boys from Seattle struggle against the Florida humidity in this regular season series.
Largest & Last Fireworks + Season Rewind | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 5:30 p.m. | BayCare Ballpark | $11+ | It’s the last home game of the Threshers’ season capped off by the biggest fireworks display of the season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 1 p.m. | Raymond James Stadium | $104+ | Baker and the rest of the Bucs are back in town to kick off a fresh, unblemished season.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Carolina Hurricanes | Friday, Sept. 26 | 7 p.m. | Benchmark International Arena | $24+ | Bust out the dark blue and black for the Bolts’ preseason faceoff.
Shows
Secret Spaces | Friday, Aug. 29-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church, Tampa | $75 | Sneak into the historic hidden venue for a site-specific journey of live music, dance, immersive theater, and storytelling that reimagines the Cigar City’s past through a bold artistic lens.
Free Downtown Concert: Rock The Park 15 Yearr Anniversary | Thursday, Sept. 4 | 6:30-10 p.m. | Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park | Free | Party and dance along the riverfront to beats from Sooza Brass Band + Have Gun, Will Travel.
KC and the Sunshine Band |Thursday, Sept. 4 | 8 p.m. | Seminole Hard Rock | $176+ | Boogie on down for the Florida-born band’s “Doin It World Tour.”
Thomas Rhett: “Better In Boots Tour 2025" | Friday, Sept. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre | $30+ | The croonin’ country star arrives to rock the outdoor venue’s stage with hits like “After All The Bars Are Closed” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman.”
Adam Sandler | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Benchmark International Arena | $100+ | No need to get all dressed up. Gym shorts and tees are encouraged at the legendary comic’s “You’re My Best Friend Tour.”
Ms. Renee Live One Night Only | Sunday, Sept. 21 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Funny Bone Comedy Club | $27 | “Miss Renee” rakes in the laughs from 3.5 million TikTok followers + 600,000 Instagram followers, but can she make you cackle?
Franz Ferdinand | Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 8 p.m. | The Ritz Ybor | $50.82 | The Scottish rock band brings hits like “Take Me Out” and “Curious” to the intimate Ybor City venue.
Elizabeth Gilbert | Tuesday, Sept. 23 | 8-10 p.m. | Tampa Theatre | $47 | Prepare for some “Big Magic” as the prolific, inspiring author takes the stage to celebrate her new book: “All the Way to the River.”
B.o.B. | Thursday, Sept. 25 | 7-11:30 p.m. | Jannus Live | $43+ | If we had a wish right now, it would be to see the “Adventure of Bobby Ray 15th Anniversary Tour.”
Learn
“Razed” Screening and Q&A | 5-8 p.m. | University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus | Free | Sit back for a screening of the documentary diving into the untold story of the historic Gas Plant Neighborhood and its former residents, followed by a Q&A session.
Duke Energy Free Day | Wednesday, Sept. 10 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | The Florida Holocaust Museum | Free | Stop by the grand reopening of the downtown museum to see the re-imagined core exhibition, an open-air balcony, pieces from The Wiesel Collection, and Thor, the 10-ton Danish rescue boat.
Competitive Edge: AI Will Shape the Future of Marketing | Monday, Sept. 15 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Tampa Bay Chamber | $70 | Learn how AI discovers content so you can better package your content + other marketing tips.
Seasonal
Fall Bouquet Workshop | Sunday, Sept. 14 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | HaleLife Bistro, St. Petersburg | $60 | Expertly arrange fresh flowers over baked treats, then festoon your table with some fall flair.
Fall Glam & Glow | Thursday, Sept. 25 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Hyde House Public Studio | $17+ | Grab the girls and spend a rejuvenating night painting, getting spray tans, arranging blooms, getting IV therapy or permanent jewelry, and take home a financial worksheet.
Fall Vegetable Garden Planning | Saturday, Sept. 27 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Sunken Gardens | Free with admission | Start the fall gardening season strong with tips for planting heirloom varieties proven to thrive in Florida’s unique growing conditions, then shop seeds.
Arts
Pajama Night | Monday, Sept. 1-Friday, May 1 | Times vary | Color Me Mine, Tampa | $1+ | Tug on those jammies and pay just $1 in studio fees to paint your new tea mug, dessert plate, or other ceramic creation.
“When the sky falls, we will catch Wrens” | Tuesday, Sept. 2 | 11 a.m. | USF Carolyn M. Wilson Art Gallery | Free | Peruse the collaborative show between Lauren Gourgues and Michael Lonchar’s individual works, plus two large-scale pieces they made together.
Coffee with a Curator: Beyond the Walls | Wednesday, Sept. 3 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | The Dali Museum | Free | Head to the renowned museum for a behind-the-scenes look at “Outside In: New Murals Inspired by Dalí” + the SHINE Mural Festival.
Paintings & Pimms | Thursday, Sept. 4 | 5-7 p.m. | ARTicles Gallery & Fine Art Services, St. Petersburg | Free | Fancy yourself an English broad by sipping a glass of Pimms or lemonade and learning about a few special pieces and artists displayed in the gallery.
Charley Harper Cardinal Glass Class | Friday, Sept. 5, Friday, Sept. 12 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement | $110+ | Don’t wait for the cardinal to visit your bird feeder. Cut and solder your own red bird bedecked stained-glass panel.
First Friday in the Heights DIY Night | Friday, Sept. 5 | 7-10 p.m. | The Disco Dolls Studio, Tampa |Price of craft | Get crafty by sewing a lavender-filled eye pillow, knitting your own pumpkin, creating a collage, or join in a guided meditation.
Art & Aces 2025 | Friday, Sept. 19 | 8-11 p.m. | Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa | $200+ | Siip into something sparkly and play roulette, craps, blackjack, and other games in support of the Tampa Museum of Art’s innovative art education programs.
Free Museum Day 2025 | Saturday, Sept. 20 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Locations vary, St. Petersburg | Free | Now’s your chance to visit some the Sunshine City’s best arts institutions completely free — make sure to register before.
Active
Labor Day Skating Fun | Monday, Sept. 1 | 12-4 p.m. | United Skates of America, Tampa | $10 | Celebrate a day off work with a super totally easy no-effort skate around the rink, followed by a a large pizza and pitcher of soda for $22.
Mat Pilates | Thursday, Sept. 4 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Armature Works | Free | Let the folks from Fit as Fire set your torso ablaze (metaphorically) with this strength-building and muscle-toning workout — BYO-towel.
Suncoast Field Trip: Dead River Park | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 8-11 a.m. | Dead River Conservation Park, Thonotosassa | Free with registration | Set out on a shady walk to the Hillsborough River searching for jingle bell orchids in bloom, ferns, vines, and wetland plant.
18th Annual Superhero Walk | Sunday, Sept. 20 | 9 a.m. | Vinoy Park | Free with registration | Suit up in a cape and sneaks for this outdoor walk benefitting the Bleeding Disorders Foundation of Florida.
Eat
Kickoff National Bourbon Heritage Month | Saturday, Sept. 6 | 4-10 p.m. | Shuffle, Tampa | $25 | Let bourbon fuel your performance in this charity shuffleboard tournament benefitting Tampa’s Downtown Meacham Urban Farm Ag Ed Program and local working musicians.
Keel Farms Food Truck Wars | Sunday, Sept. 7 | 12-5 p.m. | Keel Farms | Free | Reap the culinary benefits as the Farm’s Sisimito Food Truck goes head-to-head against Mama J’s Jollijeep.
Flavors of Spain Dinner Featuring Wild Child | Tuesday, Sept. 9 | 7-9:30 p.m. | The Dali Museum | $225+ | Chef Rob Reinsmith of Wild Child chefs up a multi-course meal inspired by the surrealist painter’s homeland for the latest installment of the dinner series — featuring dishes like Arroz Negra.
Hop-toberfest featuring Weihenstephaner | Friday, Sept. 12 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Epicurean Hotel | $85 | Experience five crafted beer tastings from the world’s oldest brewery — Weihenstephaner — paired with gourmet bites.
Shop
Totally Rad Vintage Fest | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Special Events Center, Tampa | $11+ | Skip sifting through fast fashion at the thrift store and browse curated threads from the 1980 through early 2000s, plus toys + home goods, the free vintage arcade, and the Rad Rewind Museum.
Art Yard Sale | Saturday, Sept. 13 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Glass Studio and Hot Shop at Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg | Free | Score great deals on art and miscellaneous items from local artisans — prices start at $1 and max out at $100.
The Market | Sunday, Sept. 21 | Times vary | Water Street Tampa | Free entry | What’s better than a Sunday morning spent sifting through 60 booths offering everything from fresh local produce and eats to handcrafted goods.
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.
