Weekend Digest Tampa January 17 & 18

Your weekend is here, Tampa Bay! Here’s a look at the news and what events are going on in the area.

YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER

The cold air will moderate a little this weekend, but still expect below average temperatures all weekend.

Saturday morning will start out cold with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. Skies will be sunny and highs will reach the mid 60s.

Saturday night will be partly cloudy with lows in the 40s.

Sunday will be partly cloudy and breezy with a 20% chance of a passing shower as yet another front passes through. Highs will be in the low to mid 60s.

Beach and boating

Of the two weekend days, Saturday will be the nicer one for beach activities. Winds will turn gusty on Sunday.

Saturday will be the best day for boating with a light wind of 5 to 10 knots. Sunday won’t be good for boating as winds will increase from the northwest at 15 to 20 knots.

Your Hour-by-Hour Forecast | Check Klystron 9 Radar | Latest on the Tropics | Tropical Weather Graphics

WEEKEND EVENTS

PINELLAS

America 250 Battle Exhibit | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Join Clearwater Historical Society, Battlefields.org and Clearwater SAR for a America 250 Battle exhibit. A live replica of George Washington’s tent on the grounds and period dressed people from Jan. 16 – 25.

Location: Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center | 610 S Ft Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL 33756

Urban Forestry Tree Giveaway | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: In celebration of Florida Arbor Day, Pinellas County Urban Forestry is hosting a tree giveaway for Pinellas County residents. A variety of tree species are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each household may receive up to two trees.

Location: Urban Forestry & Landscape Services Campus | 4550 126th Ave N, Clearwater, FL 33762

Treasure Island Kite Festival | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: Enjoy a weekend filled with kite displays, competitions, workshops and more.

Location: Thunderbird Beach Resort | 10700 Gulf Blvd, Treasure Island, FL 33706

HILLSBOROUGH

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts Local Artists Spotlight | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Presented as part of Gasparilla Arts’ mission to support the region’s creative community, the showcase features five Tampa Bay-based artists selected to receive complimentary booths at the upcoming 56th Annual Raymond James Gasparilla Festival.

Location: Epicurean Hotel | 1207 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL 33606

Plant City Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Parade | 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: The parade, timed to coincide with the national holiday commemorating the life of the late Dr. King features floats, marching bands, a Corvette stroll, a drumline battle and vendors.

Location: Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center | 302 S Maryland Ave, Plant City, FL 33563

4th Annual Black Art Gala | 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | $42: Enjoy fine art exhibits, live performances by local Black artists, and an elegant evening of connection, culture, and community.

Location: Straz Center for the Performing Arts | 1010 N Macinnes Pl, Tampa, FL 33602

POLK

MLK Unity Walk and Wellness Expo | 8 a.m.: Businesses, churches, clubs, organizations, and schools are invited to come out and represent at the annual MLK Unity Walk. The walk will begin at Kiwanis Park and end at A Street Park. After the walk, the James P. Austin Community Center will be hosting the Wellness Expo at 10 a.m., featuring health vendors, valuable resources, and light refreshments for everyone to enjoy.

Location: Kiwanis Park | 943 N Lakeshore Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853

Central Florida Comic Con | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | $35+: Enjoy all things nerdy this weekend, featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, vendors, discussion panels, and a costume contest.

Location: RP Funding Center | 701 W Lime St, Lakeland, FL 33815

Central Florida Gun Show | Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. | $13 – $15: View vendor tables packed with everything from everyday carry essentials to rare collectibles.

Location: Sun ‘n Fun Expo Campus | 3875 W Pipkin Rd, Lakeland, FL 33811

PASCO

Port Richey New Year’s Community Market | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.: Discover local vendors with unique handmade goods, crafts, tasty treats, food trucks, and more.

Location: Port Richey Walmart Parking Lot | 8701 US-19, Port Richey, FL 34668

East Pasco Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade | 10 a.m.: Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King while honoring community leaders.

Location: St. John M.B.C. | 14549 8th St, Dade City, FL 33523

13th Annual Collards Festival & Winter Garden Expo | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Enjoy locally grown vegetable seedlings, bedding plants, garden tips, recipes, and more, all while celebrating the winter growing season in Florida.

Location: Downtown New Port Richey

HERNANDO

Winter Fest Craft Fair | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.: Enjoy music, food, free wine tasting, beer, baked goods and shop the local vendors.

Location: Masaryk Winery | 19125 Phillips Rd, Masaryktown, FL 34604

Florida Gulf Coast Clusters Dog Show | 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.: View several dog shows, including a owner-handled series, a puppy competition and an obstacle course contest. Spectators are encouraged to bring a travel chair or folding chair to the event.

Location: Florida Classic Park | 5360 Lockhart Rd, Brooksville, FL 34602

Arbor Day 2026 with UF/IFAS Extension Hernando County | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Celebrate Arbor Day and get a free tree. There is a tree limit of one per household and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: UF/IFAS Hernando County, Master Gardener Nursery | 19490 Oliver St, Brooksville, FL 34601

MANATEE

Winter Sky & Scope | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. | $15 – $25: This two-part program covers how a telescope works, the different types of telescopes, and observational techniques.

Location: The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature | 201 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Paint Around | 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Five Island Gallery artists will take turns painting on canvases that are passed from artist to artist to add their own unique touch to the painting. Paintings will be raffled at the end.

Location: Herrig Center for the Arts | 888 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Lakewood Ranch Main Street Market | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Discover over 70 local vendors at Main Street Market, featuring talented makers, artisans, and retailers from around the community.

Location: Lakewood Ranch Main Street | 8100 Lakewood Ranch Blvd, Bradenton, FL 34202

CITRUS

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration | 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.: The day will feature local community leaders, inspiring speeches, dance performances, readings, and meaningful moments of community engagement.

Location: Liberty Park | 34420, 268 N Apopka Ave, Inverness, FL 34450

Pancake Breakfast | 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.: Grace Methodist Church of Homosassa hosts free monthly pancake breakfasts. The menu includes homemade pancakes, sausage, coffee and orange juice. There is no charge, but donations are accepted.

Location: Grace Methodist Church | 5030 S Memorial Dr, Homosassa, FL 34446

Market at the Depot | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Check out a wide variety of fresh produce and homemade goods. There will also be a variety of jams, jellies, hot sauce, dried fruits and candies, repurposed furniture, plants and local artisans and crafts.

Location: The Depot | 300 N Apopka Ave, Inverness, FL 34450

SARASOTA

A Century of Cars | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.: The Sarasota Yacht Club and St. Armands Circle are celebrating their 100-year anniversary with a parade and car show.

Location: St. Armands Circle Park | 1 St Armands Cir, Sarasota, FL 34236

Artist Workshop: Applying to the Amaryllis Park Place Mural Project | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: The City of Sarasota Public Art Program invites artists to attend a free, in-person artist workshop in support of the Amaryllis Park Place Mural Project, a public art opportunity located in the historic Newtown neighborhood.

Location: Lois + David Stulberg Gallery | 1188 Dr Martin Luther King Way, Sarasota, FL 34234

Sarasota Winter Carnival | Saturday, 12 p.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. | $29 – $55: Enjoy midway fun for the whole family with rides and games for all ages and deep-fried treats, sweets and other carnival eats.

Location: The Mall at University Town Center | 140 University Town Center Dr, Sarasota, FL 34243

For more events going on in your area, check out our Community Calendar >>

WEEKLY RECAP (JANUARY 12 – 16)

1. DeSantis highlights promises kept and work still to be done in State of the State Address
2. Seniors 65+ qualify for new $6,000 tax break
3. Duke Energy announces early removal of customers’ storm-related charges
4. Rays, Hillsborough College officials may clarify stadium site ideas soon
5. World’s largest duck makes a splash in Clearwater
6. Dog reunited with Hernando County family after 5-year odyssey

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