Top Tampa Bay area events for the week of April 17-23

Kelly A. Stefani, Tampa Bay Times
Updated ·7 min read

Sacred Heart Spring Festival: The annual festival has a midway, amusement rides, games, food, drinks and live entertainment. Free, $12-$75 ride tickets. 6-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Festival grounds, near 46th Street and 82nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park. 727-541-4447.

Mainsail Art Festival: The 48th annual juried festival features more than 250 fine art exhibitors from around the world, along with live entertainment, children’s activities and a food court. Free. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Vinoy Park, 701 Bayshore Drive NE, St. Petersburg.

Sugar Sand Festival: The sand-sculpting festival is in its last few days. Enjoy free activities including a children’s play area, street performers, artisans, live entertainment, fireworks on Saturday, sand-sculpting classes, demonstrations and the master sand-sculpting competition. You can buy a ticket to explore a 21,000-square-foot tent filled with works crafted by world-class sand sculptors. $14, 3 and younger free. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays through April 23. Pier 60, 7 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater Beach. 727-403-0517.

American Stage in the Park: This season for the outdoor performance features the Tony-winning “Ragtime: The Musical,” which is set in New York and weaves together three distinctly American tales. $28-$38. 7:30 p.m. April 19-23, 26-30, May 3-7, 10-14. Demens Landing Park, 525-549 Second Ave. SE, St. Petersburg. 727-823-7529.

98 Rockfest: Breaking Benjamin will be joined by Falling in Reverse and The Pretty Reckless plus Beartooth, Bad Wolves and Dorothy. A free show on the plaza starts at 2 p.m. and features Fame on Fire, New Years Day and more. $35-$95. 6 p.m. Friday. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. 813-301-6500.

Record Store Day: Vinyl lovers can enjoy special releases and sales on music-related merchandise. Participating locations include: Planet Retro (St. Petersburg), Bananas Records (St. Petersburg), Daddy Kool Records (St. Petersburg), Sound Exchange (Pinellas Park and Tampa), The Disc Exchange (St. Petersburg), Kingfish Records (Clearwater), Steelworker Records (Tampa), Microgroove (Tampa), D and J Records (Dunedin), Dunedin Records and Audio (Dunedin) and Mojo Books and Records (Tampa). Hours of participation, titles released and other activities vary by location. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Planet Retro Records, 226 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg. 727-218-7434.

Ecofest 2023: The 13th annual Earth Day celebration is dedicated to sustainability, ecology, equity and economy. It includes live music, demonstrations, informational booths, green living products, local vendors, food trucks, organic farms and gardens with fresh produce, alternative health practitioners, renewable energy specialists and a variety of green businesses. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-948-4190.

Tampa Bay Caribbean Carnival: The 18th annual event features costumes, music and culture with a street parade, concerts by top local and international artists, a steel pan jamboree and a vending village. $30, $15 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free. Noon-10 p.m. Saturday. Perry Harvey Sr. Park, 1000 E Harrison St., Tampa. 813-445-9010.

Opera Cowgirls: The Grand Ole Opry meets grand opera in a mashup of opera, bluegrass and country. $35. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Tampa Theatre, 711 N Franklin St., 813-274-8981; 8 p.m. Friday, St. Petersburg Opera Co., 2145 First Ave. S, 727-823-2040; and 3 p.m. Sunday, The Floridian Social, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

Tampa Bay Rays: The following are some promotions or special events held by the Tampa Bay Rays this week at Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. 727-825-3137. raysbaseball.com.

  • It’s Jackie Robinson Day at Tropicana Field when the Rays take on the Chicago White Sox. All fans get a free Rays belt bag while supplies last. $10-$303. 6:40 p.m. Friday.

  • It’s Dog Day at Tropicana Field when the Rays face the Chicago White Sox. All fans 14 and younger get free Brandon Lowe Dawg Tags while supplies last. $10-$180. 1:40 p.m. Sunday.

Harlem Globetrotters: The world-famous exhibition basketball team combines athleticism, theater and comedy on the court, where they flip, spin, jump and slam dunk. $20-$115. 2 p.m. Sunday. Yuengling Center, 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-974-3111.

Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus: This one-man presentation combines theater and standup comedy. Subjects include Mars and Venus in the bedroom, so leave the children at home. $60 and up. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N Macinnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827.

Bern’s Winefest: The following is a list of events taking place in Bern’s annual celebration of fine wines and food. For more information on Bern’s Winefest, call 813-490-6622.

  • Haven’s Florida Chefs Dinner with Constellation Brands: Enjoy multiple courses of savory and sweet dishes paired with wines handpicked by event host Blake Wood, director of vineyard operations for Constellation Brands. $400. 6-9 p.m. Monday. Haven, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa.

  • Bern’s Steak House Bordeaux Dinner with Cazes Family Wineries: Bern’s Steak House executive chef Chad Johnson and chef de cuisine Brent Hunt prepare five savory courses, which are followed by a dessert course by pastry chef Hannah Thomas. Bern’s sommeliers guide you, along with Kinou Cazes-Hachemian, co-owner and North America brand ambassador for Chateau Lynch-Bages. $650. 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. Bern’s Steak House, 1208 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

  • Krug and Shellfish Tasting Experience: Epicurean Hotel executive chef Jonathan Atanacio hosts a four-course dinner seminar celebrating bubbles and shellfish. The evening includes four premium Champagnes paired with oysters, lobster, king crab and abalone. $350. 6-9 p.m. Wednesday. Epicurean Hotel, Autograph Collection, 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

  • Bern’s Steak House Legacy Dinner: Private Cellar Collection: Guests are treated to a five-course dinner in the Harry Waugh Dessert Room. This seated experience features selections hand-picked from the Bern’s Steak House cellar by Bern’s Family Restaurant Group proprietor David Laxer and wine director Eric Renaud. $1,500. 6-9 p.m. Thursday. Bern’s Steak House, 1208 S Howard Ave., Tampa.

  • Haven’s Winemaker Dinner with Cakebread Cellars: This five-course dinner celebrates the wines from Cakebread Cellars. Guest speaker Aaron Fishleder, vice president of operations at the winery, guides you through paired courses by executive chef Chad Johnson and Haven’s chef de cuisine Martin DeJesus. $425. 6-9 p.m. Friday. Haven, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa.

  • Grand Tasting Experience by Bern’s Steak House, Haven, and the Epicurean Hotel: Savor your favorite wines and libations from all over the globe paired with regional fare and sweet treats imagined by the culinary teams of Bern’s, Haven and the Epicurean Hotel. Also features live music and interactive art. $550. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Haven, 2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa.

Wilco: The alternative country band gets support from The A’s. $53.25 and up. 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. 727-791-7400.

Science After Dark: People 18 and older can explore the world of pollinators and plants as they learn about native bees and create a hydro planter. The hands-on experience includes light appetizers, beer and wine samplings and the MOSI exhibits. $15.95, $13.95 members. 6-9 p.m. Friday. Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-987-6000.

Michael Blackson: The comic who appeared in “Next Friday” and has made guest appearances in music videos and on P. Diddy’s “Bad Boys of Comedy” on HBO performs. $49-$79. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, 7 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Improv Comedy Theater, 1600 E Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000.

Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival A-List Film: This month, Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival’s Distinguished Friend of the Festival Award recipient Cynthia “Sam” Salmons chose 1983′s “Lianna” (R). $12, $10 seniors. 3 p.m. Sunday. Green Light Cinema, 221 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 508-816-8968.