When: January 20, February 2, February 17, March 2 & March 17 (Every First Friday & Third Saturday – Year Round)
GULFPORT, FL: The Gulfport Art & Gallery Walk event, hosted by the non-profit Gulfport Merchants Association, takes place from 6-10 p.m. every first Friday and third Saturday – rain or shine, all year round, and is home to dozens of artisans and craftsmen each month. There is never an admission fee for visitors and complimentary parking is available nearby with courtesy trolley rides available to and from off-site parking areas. Gulfport events are always pet and family friendly. GPS – 3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. For general event information, follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/GulfportArtWalk, go to www.visitgulfportflorida.com or call 727-322-5217.
GULFPORT, FL: The third annual Gulfport Fine Arts Festival is open to the public on February 17-18, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with complimentary admission and parking conveniently located within walking distance. Courtesy transportation is also available from remote parking locations throughout the City.
The juried art show will feature fine works of art from across the region, including but not limited to; 2D, 3D, Ceramic, Glass, Metal, Mixed Media, Wood, Acrylic, Collage, Oil, Pastel, Ink, Fine Photography, Watercolor, and Fine Jewelry
The event will take place at City of Gulfport’s Veteran’s Park, one of Gulfport’s most pristine parks, overlooking Boca Ciega Bay, located at 5350 31st Ave. S., Gulfport, FL 33707.
GULFPORT, FL: Gulfport’s Get Rescued is leashed up and ready for its 14th annual event on Saturday, February 24, 2018. This event has grown faster than your favorite Big Red Dog, with over 45 rescue groups participating and more than 1000 pets ready to find their “fur-ever” homes with you! This is the largest pet rescue festival in the State, with groups traveling to our little town of Gulfport from every side of the Tampa Bay and beyond.
Other pet-related activities include pet care education, a food and supplies drive, animal training demos, contests, our annual Bark-B-Que event, food, music and more. Bring your own critter companion, and join thousands of other visitors in Downtown Gulfport to participate in one of our area’s most beloved traditions. All well-behaved people (and their surely polite pets) are welcome to the daytime event, and it won’t cost a cent to attend! Don’t worry about paying for parking either, as plenty of convenient complimentary parking will be available all around the area.
When: April 7-8, 2018 (10AM to 8PM Saturday, 10AM to 5PM Sunday)
GULFPORT, FL: The Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 24th Annual Springfest Garden Art & Faerie Festival along the green and tree-covered expanse of Gulfport’s 7.5-acre Clymer Park, on April 7-8, 2018. The Garden Art & Faerie themed festival will transform the park into an “enchanted village” inhabited by costumed faeries, sprites, gnomes, ogres and trolls. Renaissance-era characters, gypsies, minstrels, wizards and roving entertainers in costume will also stroll through the event.
Springfest will offer a wide variety of family friendly activities and entertainment. Favorite activities such as May pole dances, a faerie house contest, costume contests and live music will be returning. A children’s area will offer activities including face painting, pixie dusting, bubble blowing, and more. Vendors offer plants, garden art, flowers, herbs, Renaissance-period items, clothing, jewelry, art, hand-made crafts, food & beverages, and other items of whimsical interest.
There is no admission fee for the pet and family friendly event, and complimentary parking is available with gratis trolley rides to and from off-site parking areas. For more information please follow us on Facebook/GulfportSpringfest, go to VisitGulfportFlorida.com or call 727-322-5217.
ST. PETE BEACH, FL: The Veterans of South Pinellas County (VSPC) will host their 8th Annual Salute to the Military fundraising event on April 14, 2018. The Horan Park venue will feature military vehicles and exhibits, a kids fishing tournament and live music. There is no admission fee for the pet and family friendly event and complimentary parking is available nearby.
The fun begins at 10:00 AM and will also include a military enlistment ceremony, a silent auction to benefit veterans support groups, food, beer and wine, vendors, and the One Blood blood mobile.
The VSPC is a 501(c)(3) charity organization and has given more than $75,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to a variety of non-profit groups that support veterans.
We can help lower your tax bill by becoming a supporter for this very worthy cause. Donations from sponsors, vendors and advertisers are tax deductible and as an added bonus, you’ll be supporting local Pinellas County Veterans. For general information or to become a supporter, please call 727-322-5217 or visit VSPC on Facebook at Veterans-of-South-Pinellas-County-Inc.
When: June 8-10, 2018; Friday, 12 p.m.- 10 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.- 10 p.m. &
Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.Where: Along Dodecanese Blvd on the Sponge Docks
TARPON SPRINGS, FL: Head towards the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks on June 8, 9, and 10, 2018 to celebrate Greek heritage and culture at the family-friendly Opa! Palooza Greek Festival, being held at the Historic Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs. The event, hosted by the Tarpon Springs Merchant’s Association, will feature live music, dancing, seminars, workshops, food, pastries, spirits, a kids play area with games, and much more….all Greek-style of course!
GECKOFEST – Gulfport’s End of Summer CelebrationWhen: Saturday, September 1, 2018; 10am – 10pm
GULFPORT, FL: Gulfport invites you to the 18th Annual Geckofest, celebrating the end of summer with its largest festival of the year, honoring this waterfront village’s unofficial mascot and favorite reptile, the Gecko!
This year’s theme, chosen by public voting on the Gecko Ball Facebook page, is “Gecko Con”! “Gecko Con” will be a celebration of superheroes, villains, cult characters, imaginary locations and more from comics, books, movies, tv shows, animé and other media in pop culture genres akin to the world of popular Comic Con conventions around the world. The Gecko Con theme offers inspiration for a wide array of costumes, as well as music, dancing, food and drink. Festival-goers are always encouraged to arrive in costume.
Additional “Gecko-World” activities include; A Gecko Art Show and Reception on Friday, August 3rd, a Gecko Bar Crawl on Saturday, August 11th and the Gecko Ball on August 25th.
Parking and admission to Geckofest is complimentary and the event is pet and family-friendly.
When: November 9-11, 2018; Friday, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Saturday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 GPS: 615 Hope St.
TARPON SPRINGS, FL: The 31st Annual Sponge Docks Seafood Festival will take place along Dodecanese Blvd with a food court provided at 615 Hope St. on November 9-11, 2018. The event will provide plenty of tasty choices to please everyone’s palate, including non-seafood items for land lubbers. Continuous live music is once again offered in the food court all weekend long, featuring local and regional musicians.
Historic Tarpon Springs is famous not only for the world’s finest sponges, but also for some of the best Greek restaurants, markets, and bakeries in the country. This three day outdoor festival, hosted by The Tarpon Springs Merchant’s Association, will feature tons of fresh local seafood to tempt your taste buds, an art & craft show with up to 60 local and regional artists selling their work, continuous live music, unique retail shops and complimentary festivities for the whole family.
TARPON SPRINGS, FL: The 28th Annual Thanksgiving Art & Craft festival is set for November 24-25, 2018, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM both days.
The historic Tarpon Avenue location is the Downtown’s Main Street and features many independently owned shops and restaurants, including a large variety of antique shops, many of which specialize in certain kinds of antiques.
The outdoor showcase, hosted by the non-profit Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce, has been a holiday favorite for over a quarter of a century, and has always been held during Thanksgiving weekend on Small Business Saturday. During one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, finding that perfect gift has never been easier with a wide selection of offerings from fine art to crafts and independent business owners with products you can trust.
The event encourages holiday shoppers to patronize businesses that are small and local. With the holidays right around the corner, the Thanksgiving Art & Craft Festival is the perfect opportunity for locals and visitors alike to shop small for their gift giving needs and avoid getting mauled at the mall!
Admission and Parking are complimantary! Location: Downtown Tarpon Springs, 1 N Pinellas Ave., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
GULFPORT, FL: The 10th Annual Holiday Hoopla is a celebration of arts, crafts, foods, holiday music and roving holiday characters set in a waterfront atmosphere, from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM on December 10th. The festival will provide shoppers with one-of-a-kind gifts from small businesses, and all of your holiday shopping can be done in one place!
Come early and shop the decorated streets filled with talented exhibitors and unique shops, restaurants & galleries and stay late to view Boca Ciega Yacht Club’s 32nd Annual Lighted Boat Parade.
BCYC members spend many hours planning and then decorating their boats in preparation of sharing the holiday spirit. As an all-volunteer club, BCYC feels strongly about giving back to surrounding communities. Parade participants need only a simple fee to enter – two (or more!) unwrapped toys for Operation Santa. Operation Santa, coordinated by the Gulfport police department, collects toys for the children of Gulfport whose holidays would be sadder without the generosity of the community. Both sail and power boats are welcome to join in the fun. Non-members are invited to participate as well. The more the merrier. Registration is available online at www.sailbcyc.org/ChristmasBoatParade and at the club, 4600 Tifton Drive South, Gulfport.
Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle! There’s never a fee for parking or admission and we even offer you transportation to/from offsite parking areas. As a bonus, a portion of the proceeds from the event hosted by the non-profit Gulfport Merchant’s Association will benefit Operation Santa and Gulfport families in need. Event location and parade viewing is 3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport, FL 33707. For general information, follow us on Facebook.com/HolidayHooplaGulfport, go to www.VisitGulfportFlorida.com or call 727-322-5217.