![Book sale for Safety Harbor library among best events happening across Tampa Bay this weekend [September 24-October 1]](https://www.newsbeep.com/us-fl/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/1790176216_Safety-Harbor-Library-Holly-Apperson-1920x1024.jpg)
The Safety Harbor Public Library in Safety Harbor, Florida. Credit: Holly Apperson / GinHol Photography
Is there anyone who’s not a friend of a library? (Maybe folks supporting Amendment 3, but that’s another story.)
In Safety Harbor, book lovers from across the Bay area will converge on the small seaside town to support the local public library, a building first established in 1938 by the local Women’s Civic Club. There’ve been expansions and renovations since then, and last year saw the library add a second floor.
More than a dozen volunteers with Friends of the Safety Harbor Library organize books, puzzles, CDs, DVDs, and more to help support new and existing library services and maintain the library’s current offerings. Most items, organizers say, are only $2, because of inflation.
Lisa Kothe, recently retired library director, now volunteers with the Friends of the Safety Harbor Library, told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that there’s easily over 1,000 books and that inventory has grown immensely since the last sale in April. Books that don’t end up moving will end up going to Book Rescuers in Largo.
A&E
Dear Dolly…Friday, Sept. 25. 4:30 p.m. No cover. Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City
MAACM Glass Studio: Dard Hunter Roycroft Flower Friday, Sept. 25 & Thursday, Oct. 2. 10 a.m. $190 & up. Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg. museumaacm.org
MAACM Sense-Sational Tour Friday, Sept. 25. 1 p.m. $25; discounts available for youth, first responders, and seniors. Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg. museumaacm.org
Paint Night and Sassy Wine Party Friday, Sept. 25. 6:30 p.m. $45. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater. aspirationswinery.com
Tampa Bay Fashion Week 2026: Designer Exhibitions Friday, Sept. 25. 7 p.m. $40. Shear Media Studios, Pinellas Park. fashionweektampabay.com
Curated by 24C: 2-Year Anniversary Block Party and Night Market Saturday, Sept. 26. 4 p.m. No cover. Mama’s Soul Food, Brandon
Game Master Council: Guide to Running RPGs Saturday, Sept. 26. 1 p.m. No cover. Emerald City Comics, Pinellas Park emeraldcitycomics.com
Through the Years: Open House & Artist Demonstrations Saturday, Sept. 26. 12 p.m. No cover. GCAA ArtWorks, St. Petersburg. gcaa-artworks.com
Through the Years: Open Mic Sunday, Sept. 27. 2 p.m. No cover. GCAA ArtWorks, St. Petersburg. gcaa-artworks.com
MAACM Glass Studio: Poppy Panel Tuesday, Sept. 29. 10 a.m. $110 & up. Museum of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, St. Petersburg. museumaacm.org
Momentum Choreographers Showcase: Moving Surreal Tuesday, Sept. 29. 7:30 p.m. $20. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
A (Not So Critical) History Of Art Thursday, Oct. 1. 12 p.m. No cover. Clearwater Main Library, Clearwater
THEATER
Jane Austen in 89 Minutes Select times and dates Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 24-Oct. 11. $40 & up. Stageworks Theatre, Tampa
Night of Poe Select times Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 24-26. $57.75 & up. Richey Suncoast Theatre, New Port Richey
Theatre eXceptional: Disney’s The Little Mermaid Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 24-27. 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sunday. $32. Central Park Performing Arts Center, Largo
Nocturne by Adam Rapp Select times Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27. $21.75. The Off-Central Players, St. Petersburg
You Can’t Take It With You Select times and dates Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-Oct. 4. $19.36 & up. Plant City Entertainment, Plant City
Arts Conservatory for Teens: Hadestown – Teen Edition Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 26-27. 6 p.m; added 1 p.m. matinee Sunday. $30. Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
The Wash Select times and dates Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 1-11. $25 & up. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg
BOOKISH
Richard B.C. (Book signing) Friday, Sept. 25. 6 p.m. No cover. Book Rescuers, Largo. werescuebooks.com
Book Discussion: “The Fifth Season” by N.K. Jemisin Saturday, Sept. 26. 3 p.m. No cover with registration. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa
Katya Summers (Book signing and release) Saturday, Sept. 26. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Storytelling @ the Kerouac House with Darrell Nicholson and Clark Brooks Saturday, Sept. 26. 7 p.m. $12.51. Jack Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse.com
Coffee and Poetry with Charmaine Jennings Sunday, Sept. 27. 3 p.m. $12.51. Jack Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse.com
Lauren M. Leasure & Kara Reynolds (Dual author signing) Sunday, Sept. 27. 12 p.m. No cover. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Page to Picture: The Perks of Being A Wallflower Sunday, Sept. 27. 12 p.m. $38.16. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Booked for the Night: “We Begin at the End” by Chris Whitaker Monday, Sept. 28. 6 p.m. No cover. Seminole Community Library, Seminole
Florida: Strange, Wonderful & Worth Celebrating w/Craig Pittman (Book talk and signing) Monday, Sept. 28. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City
Mixed Media Journaling – Nautical Theme Monday, Sept. 28. 5 p.m. No cover with registration. East Community Library at SPC, Clearwater
“Threshing Day” by Rebecca Yarros (Midnight release party with flash tattoos) Monday, Sept. 28. 10:30 p.m. $40.61. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
“Threshing Day” by Rebecca Yarros (Midnight release party) Monday, Sept. 28. 10 p.m. $29.24. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexchange.com
Blow Yourself Up – An Evening with Ankur Thakkar Tuesday, Sept. 29. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg
Dark Romance Book Club: “Under Your Scars” by Ariel N. Anderson Wednesday, Sept. 30. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Graphic Novel Book Club: “Raised by Ghosts” by Briana Loewinsohn Wednesday, Sept. 30. 7 p.m. No cover. Riverview Public Library, Riverview
Lars Anderson and Greg Auman (Book talk) Wednesday, Sept. 30. 6:30 p.m. $6.71 & up. Oxford Exchange, Tampa
Rotating Genre Book Club: “The Buffalo Hunter Hunter” by Stephen Graham Jones Wednesday, Sept. 30. 6 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
What Do I Read Next? Wednesday, Sept. 30. 6 p.m. No cover. Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, Tampa
Ariel Sullivan (Book talk) Thursday, Oct. 1. 6:30 p.m. $24.75. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexchange.com
Book + Belonging Book Club: “Silver Sparrow” by Tayari Jones Thursday, Oct. 1. 6 p.m. $35; $25 for members. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
Book Discussion: “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston Thursday, Oct. 1. 2 p.m. No cover. Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, Valrico
Book Discussion: “Vampires of El Norte” by Isabel Canas Thursday, Oct. 1. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, Tampa
COMEDY
Steve Byrne Select times Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 24-27. $30. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Bret Ernst Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday’ 8 p.m. and 10:30p.m. Saturday. $29. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias Friday, Sept. 25. 8 p.m. $43 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa. fluffyguy.com
Jordan B. Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Clearwater Comedy Club, Clearwater
Ken Krantz Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 8:30 p.m. $23.58. Sunshine City Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach
Leslie Norris Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $20. Coconuts Comedy Club, St. Pete Beach
Shelly Belly Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 7 p.m. Friday; 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday. $27.50. Snappers Grill, Palm Harbor
Tacarra Williams Friday-Saturday, Sept. 25-26. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $27 and up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Ybor City
Don Lemon and DL Hughley Saturday, Sept. 26. 7 p.m. $53.65 & up. Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Lee Syatt Saturday-Sunday, Sept 26-27. 6 p.m. $26.94. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Crash Dummies Wednesday, Sept. 30. 7:30 p.m. $35 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Andy Gross Thursday, Oct. 1. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Oscura, Bradenton
Jane Don’t Thursday, Oct. 1. 7 p.m. $37. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Ybor City
FILM & TV
Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty! Select times and dates Friday-Thursday, Sept. 25-Oct. 1. $10 & up. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg
Mārama Friday, Sept. 25. 7 p.m. No cover. Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg
Night of the Creeps Saturday, Sept. 26. 8 p.m. $10. Green Light Cinema, St. Petersburg
Film 101 Sunday, Sept. 27. 9 a.m. $33.85. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org
Razed: A Film About the Gas Plant Neighborhood Wednesday, Sept. 30. 6:30 p.m. Sold out. Florida Holocaust Museum, St. Petersburg. thefhm.org
El ángel exterminador (The Exterminating Angel, 1962) Thursday, Oct. 1. 5:30 p.m. $5 & up. Will Raymund Theater at The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
LEARN
Foto Fotowalk with Derrick Buckner Saturday, Sept. 26. 5 p.m. No cover. Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa
South Ward School Site Ghost Hunt Saturday, Sept. 26. 8 p.m. $129. Clearwater Historical Society Museum and Cultural Center, Clearwater. silentslayertours.com
Treasure Your Health Day Saturday, Sept. 26. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. No cover. Lealman Exchange, St. Petersburg. lealmanexchange.org
Lady Leaders Book Club: “Hype Women: Breaking Free from Mean Girls, Patriarchy and Systems Silencing You” by Erin Gallagher Sunday, Sept. 27. 10 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Street Photography Class Sunday, Sept. 27. 10:30 a.m. $81.88. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Tampa. fmopa.org
Self Defense/Early Danger Identification and Response Workshop Monday, Sept. 28. 6 p.m. No cover. Kinetix Inspired Fitness, Pinellas Park. weaponbrand.com
Using U.S. Land Records in Genealogy Tuesday, Sept. 29. 1 p.m. No cover. Largo Public Library, Largo. pinellasgenealogysociety.com
HomeSmart Series: Selling? Let’s Talk Value Boosters Wednesday, Sept. 30. 5:30 p.m. No cover with registration. Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City
HYPE Networking Event Wednesday, Sept. 30. 5:30 p.m. $12.51. Hyatt House Downtown, Tampa. hypetampabay.com
Metro BrigAIDe Outreach Wednesday, Sept. 30. 10:30 a.m. No cover. Bruton Memorial Library, Plant City. metromin.org
Podcasting for Your Business Wednesday, Sept. 30. 10:30 a.m. No cover with registration. Entrepreneur Collaborative Center, Tampa
Light & Composition Workshop Wednesday, Sept. 30. 5:15 p.m. $81.88. Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org
Onbikes 15-year soiree Thursday, Oct. 1. 6 p.m. $100. Rialto Theatre, Tampa. onbikes.org
Tampa Bay Real Estate Networking Social Thursday, Oct. 1. 6 p.m. No cover. AC Hotel Tampa Airport, Tampa
MARKETS & RETAIL
Code Orange Night Market Saturday, Sept. 26. 5 p.m. No cover. Angry Chair Brewing, Tampa. angrychairbrewing.com
Hauntizaar: A Halloween Art Bazaar Sunday, Sept. 27. 10 a.m. No cover. St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, St. Petersburg. craftyhag.com
Tampa Bay Lightning Vintage x Mezzo Market Sunday, Sept. 27. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. No cover. Ford Thunder Alley at Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Tampa Plant Market’s Plant Bingo & Mini Market Sunday, Sept. 27. 4 p.m. $26.88 for bingo admission. Corner Club, Seminole Heights
NEWS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Everything You Want to Know about the Immigration Crisis But Don’t Know Who to Ask with Sarah Towle Wednesday, Sept. 30. 7 p.m. No cover. Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg
Pinellas Opportunity Council: Better Together Anniversary Reception & Partner Recognition Wednesday, Sept. 30. 5:30 p.m. $75 & up. Savant on Second, St. Petersburg
What’s on the November 3, 2026 Ballot Thursday, Oct. 1. 6 p.m. No cover. Sunshine Senior Center Auditorium, St. Petersburg. lwvspa.org
Drag Bingo Friday, Sept. 25. 6:30 p.m. $10 for 10 games. Allendale United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg
Lick and Flick: Sapphic Dive-In Movie Night Monthly Mondays. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. No cover. Cocktail St. Pete, St. Petersburg
AFK: Nerds Night Out at The Ball Wednesdays. 8-10 p.m. No cover (two-drink minimum). 21+. The Ball, St. Petersburg
Drag Bingo w/Alexa at Mad Hatters Kava Bar Wednesdays. 9-11 p.m. $10 (10 games). Mad Hatters Kava Bar, St. Petersburg
Drag Queen Bingo with Crystal Reigns Every final Wednesday. 7:30 p.m. No cover. Corner Club, Seminole Heights
Meet Your Match: Queer Edition Monthly Thursdays. 7-10 p.m. No cover. Lost & Found, St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Black Lesbians: Sisterhood of the Traveling Mug Coffee Meetup Monthly Sundays. Noon-2 p.m. No cover. Rotating locations (check @tampabay_blacklesbians on Instagram for monthly location)
Sapphic Sunday Fourth Sunday of each month. 5-8 p.m. No cover. Rotating locations in St. Petersburg (check discord.gg/J4dCNd7Vu for monthly location)
SPORTS
Tampa Bay Sun Foundation Free Youth Soccer Clinics Various dates Aug. 7-Spring 2027. Free. Select locations across Tampa Bay
17th Annual a Select times Friday-Sunday, Sept. 25-27. No cover. Pier 60, Clearwater Beach
Notre Dame v Purdue Watch Party Saturday, Sept. 26. 2 p.m. No cover. Mary Margaret’s Olde Irish Tavern, St. Petersburg
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 27. 4:05 p.m. $96.38 & up. Raymond James Stadium, Tampa
Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky
This article appears in Sept. 17 – 23, 2026.
Related