There’s something magical about the aroma of fresh coffee mingling with the hum of creativity. That’s exactly what guests will experience on October 25th at the Florida State Fairgrounds when caffeine and creativity come together at the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival (TBCAF).
Caffeine and culture meet October 25th at the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival.
Event coordinator Thom Schultz says the festival is all about fostering artistic expression through a shared love of coffee and art.
“Tampa Bay Coffee and Art Festival is an annual event designed to inspire creativity and artistic expression in Tampa Bay through coffee and art,” Schultz says. “Proceeds from this event go to support our broader mission to inform, inspire, and empower artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs in the Tampa Bay area.”
How it all began
Dubbed the “first craft coffee festival of its kind in the Southeast,” the festival was born out of a casual conversation among friends in 2016.
“Our team was discussing our love for art, coffee, and all things wonderful,” Schultz recalls. “Then, in a stroke of pure genius, someone said the phrase ‘Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival’ and that was it – we were hooked.”
What was intended to be a small gathering quickly went viral overnight. Thousands of people expressed interest, and the team pivoted quickly to make it a reality. The first festival sold out, and the success was so overwhelming that they hosted another one just six months later to meet demand.
Brewing bigger and better
This year, TBCAF is leveling up. The festival will have more than 200 vendors, 20 coffee roasters, and an expected crowd of 2,000 to 3,000. That’s nearly triple the size of last year’s event, which drew 80 vendors, 12 roasters, and just over 1,000 attendees.
The 2025 Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival will have more than 200 vendors.
“The past two events we sold out our original venue, The Noise Box in Brandon,” Schultz continues. “Selling out was awesome, but it also meant overcrowding. To fix that, we took the leap, booked the Florida State Fairgrounds, and expanded everything.”
Guests can look forward to a full-sensory experience with coffee tastings from top local roasters, curated art exhibits, live demonstrations, and interactive workshops. A highlight is the art gallery featuring work by professional local artists, as well as submissions from high school and college students competing in art contests.
Fueling art and entrepreneurship
What truly makes TBCAF stand out is its mission-driven purpose. The festival isn’t just about art or coffee; it’s about community.
“TBCAF is a place to connect,” Schultz explains. “A place to discover exciting new flavors and meet talented local artists. It’s a place for friendships to begin and creativity to blossom.”
Beyond the festival, TBCAF offers ongoing programs such as the high school and college art contests and Vendor 101 and Coffee Biz 101 seminars, helping young artists and small business owners build skills and confidence.
“Through these outlets, we hope to build a foundation of outreach efforts designed to inform, inspire, and empower the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs,” Schultz says.
An event to savor
Funded through sponsors, vendor fees, and ticket sales, the Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival continues to grow in size and impact. From a viral idea to a must-attend Tampa Bay tradition, TBCAF celebrates the perfect blend of community, creativity, and caffeine – and proves that when passion brews, magic happens.
The festival is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. October 25th at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Hwy 301 in Tampa. Take the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard entrance. For more information and tickets, goto Tampa Bay Coffee & Art Festival