Top Tampa Bay area events for the week of Sept. 18-24

Kelly A. Stefani, Tampa Bay Times
·4 min read

Dessert Wars: The largest dessert festival in America gives you a chance to sample over 50 local dessert vendors you might not know about. Sample cookies, ice cream, doughnuts and more as the vendors compete to be Dessert Wars champion. $45; parking $10. 3-7 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Florida State Fairgrounds, 4802 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. 813-621-7821.

Beats on the Street: Water Street comes alive with local jazz, folk, pop and mixed-music bands. There will also be street food, pop-up shops, live art, an instrument petting zoo, a speakeasy lounge, dance performances and more. No cover. 3-9 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Water Street Tampa, 971 Water St.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Tampa Bay Rays take on the Toronto Blue Jays. All fans get a free surprise 25th anniversary gift while supplies last. $10-$347. 4:10 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. 727-825-3137.

Cracker Country Museum Day: Discover rural Florida history through hands-on activities, pioneer chores, historic building tours, hoop rolling, dipping beeswax candles and live bluegrass music. Free; $10 parking. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Cracker Country at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 N U.S. 301, Tampa. 813-627-4225.

Eric Nam: The entertainer-singer-songwriter-TV personality who is fluent in English, Korean Spanish, and conversational in Mandarin performs. $40 and up. 6:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. 813-248-4050.

Yngwie Malmsteen: The artist who introduced the neo-classical genre to the world of rock performs his greatest hits, and Glenn Hughes performs classic “Deep Purple” live. $35-$65. 7:30 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400.

Bachelors of Broadway: This new three-man act features songs from modern and classic musicals like “Wicked,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Hamilton,” “The Greatest Showman” and more. $17-$22. 8 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, 4951 78th Ave. N. 727-541-0895.

Wu-Tang Clan and Nas: The hit hip-hop acts come to Tampa for a pool party at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with De La Soul opening. $130. 11 a.m. Sunday (Sept. 24). Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. 813-627-7625.

West St. Pete CommUNITY Picnic: Bring the family, including the dog, for a picnic with food trucks including Shiso Crispy, Slammer Shop, Duke of Ribs and Uncle Louie G’s, a K-9 demonstration, a birds of prey demonstration, a St. Pete Police motorcycle display and SWAT truck, a firetruck display and a food drive for people and pets. Free. 5-8 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Azalea Park, 1600 72nd St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-318-9111.

September Sing-Along Sundays: Join hundreds of other moviegoers and sing along to classic movie musicals. This portion of the series features 1965′s “The Sound of Music” (G, 174 minutes). $14.50, $11.50 members. 3 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 24). Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St. 813-274-8286.

Gourmet Feastival: Miranda Parnell and Angelina Salcedo of 10 Tampa Bay serve as emcees for the “Barbecue, Blues and Elvis”-themed food event with Elvis impersonators, food, drinks and silent auctions. Benefits The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women. $50. 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday (Sept. 21). Higgins Hall, 5225 N Himes Ave., Tampa. 813-251-8437.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead: This play was the winner of both the Tony and New York Drama Critics Circle awards when it premiered. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are the awkward college chums of Hamlet, and this is the story of what “really” happens behind the scenes as events pass them by. $40 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday (Sept. 21-23), 2 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 24). David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827.

SZA: S.O.S. Tour: The Grammy-winning singer continues her S.O.S. Tour, named for her sophomore album. Previous SZA tour dates have featured support from Omar Apollo, Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzo. $35-$225. 8 p.m. Friday (Sept. 22). Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-301-6500.

Girl Scout Fest: Whether your child is already part of a troop or just looking for a taste of what Girl Scouts is all about, Girl Scout Fest highlights the opportunities Girl Scouts have to make new friends, try new things and be their best selves $5. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 23). Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. 813-621-7821.

$5 Sundays: This is the final week to experience the wonders of glass, imagination and community at Imagine Museum for just $5. $5, members free. Noon-5 p.m. Sunday (Sept. 24). Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-300-1700.