01 / Plan your upcoming weekend
The Weekend 5.
Your guide to the best events across Florida’s Gulf Coast.
OCTOBER 30 – NOVEMBER 1, 2026
01OCT 30 – NOV 1
Oktoberfest Tampa
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park · Tampa
Fri 4–11 PM · Sat 11 AM–11 PM · Sun 11 AM–6 PM
Bavarian food, live music and waterfront festival fun. See the official listing for admission details.
Official details ↗OCT 31 – NOV 1
Downtown Tampa Craft Festival
Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park · Tampa
Saturday & Sunday · 10 AM–5 PM
Browse handmade arts, crafts and a green market by the water. Free admission.
Official details ↗SATURDAY, OCT 31
Halloween Pet Costume Contest
Saturday Morning Market · Al Lang Stadium, St. Petersburg
Contest starts at noon · Sign up onsite
Dress up your well-behaved pet and join the market’s Halloween contest. Register at the market information booth.
Official details ↗SATURDAY, OCT 31
Ybor City Saturday Market
Centennial Park · Ybor City
9 AM–3 PM
Make a morning of Ybor City with a stop at its weekly outdoor market. Free and open to the public.
Official details ↗FRIDAY, OCT 30
Halloween Skate Jam
Carrollwood Village Skate Park · Tampa
6–7:30 PM · Registration starts at 5:30 PM
Bring your board and costume for contests and Halloween fun. The county lists free entry.
Official details ↗ All times Eastern. Checked against official listings October 27, 2026. Schedules can change; check the linked organizer before heading out.
02 / Make room for a good meal
Where to Eat.
Five places to explore in Tampa & Ybor City. Find a table, browse the menu, and make a meal part of your next outing.
Ybor City
Columbia Restaurant
Spanish & CubanA historic Ybor City dining room for Spanish and Cuban cooking. Pair a meal with a stroll along Seventh Avenue.
On the menu
Spanish & Cuban classics
2117 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605Ybor City
Carmine’s Restaurant & Bar
Italian · Cuban · SpanishA Seventh Avenue stop whose menu brings together three of Ybor’s culinary traditions.
On the menu
Cuban sandwich or deviled crab
1802 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605Ybor City
Casa Santo Stefano
SicilianSicilian cooking in a former macaroni factory, with a setting inspired by family Sunday suppers.
On the menu
Explore the Sicilian lunch & dinner menus
1607 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33605Ybor City
Bernini of Ybor
ItalianAn Italian restaurant on Seventh Avenue with pasta, seafood and a full bar—an option for a sit-down meal during an Ybor outing.
On the menu
Italian eggplant or pistachio-crusted grouper
1702 E. 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605Tampa Heights · Riverwalk
Ulele
Florida-inspiredFlorida-inspired dishes and a barbacoa grill in a restored waterworks building beside the Riverwalk.
On the menu
Explore the grill and seafood selections
1810 N. Highland Avenue, Tampa, FL 33602A starting list to explore, based on the restaurants’ official information—not firsthand reviews. Menu offerings and availability can change; check each restaurant before visiting. Links checked October 27, 2026.
03 / Take the detour
Top 5 Hidden Gems.
A fresh collection of local discoveries. Start with the shortlist below and find your next stop.
Business descriptions and official website links checked October 27, 2026. Check each venue’s website for current hours before visiting.
Earlier collection · Edition 01
Whimzeyland · FloridaRAMA · Seaside Seabird Sanctuary · Tampa Bay Automobile Museum · Jungle Prada Site History Tour.
The Weekend 5 and Hidden Gems each keep their own edition sequence. The item numbers 01–05 identify picks within a collection.
TAMPA BITES & SITES PRESENTSTAMPA
BAY
like a local.YOUR 3-DAY WEEKEND GUIDE
TAMPA · ST. PETE · CLEARWATER
EDITION 01 / DIGITAL GUIDE
05 / Keep the good finds close
COMING SOONLess planning.
More exploring.
Tampa Bay Like a Local brings food, neighborhoods, beaches, and day-trip inspiration together in one digital travel guide.
Built for a three-day escape. Made to help you discover more of the Bay.
Ask about the guide ↗The guide is in development. Download and purchase links will be added when it’s ready.