Tampa’s weekend lineup serves up barbecue, harvest fun, and hands-on Halloween science. The 15th annual Tampa Pig Jig takes over Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park with live music from Thomas Rhett and Midland, a corporate barbecue showdown, and fundraising for rare kidney disease research. Carrollwood’s Fall Fest invites families and pets outdoors for pumpkin painting, food trucks, and local tunes. Spooktacular Science turns MOSI into a haunted lab filled with slime, drones, and liquid nitrogen ice cream. A bubbly 5K, Lightning hockey, and Buccaneers football round out a packed few days across the city.

15th Annual Tampa Pig JigWhat: Thomas Rhett headlines a barbecue bash for a causeWhen: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.Where: Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, 1001 North Blvd., TampaCost: Tickets start at $140

Go hog wild at the 15th annual Tampa Pig Jig, a waterfront celebration of live music, barbecue, and ice-cold beer at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park. Thomas Rhett headlines a lineup that also features Midland, Kameron Marlowe, Sister Hazel, and Cassidy Daniels, while corporate teams battle it out in a fierce barbecue competition. Born in a South Tampa backyard in 2011 to support a friend’s diagnosis, the event has grown into NephCure’s largest annual donor event, raising millions for research into rare kidney diseases and helping launch nearly 60 clinical trials.

Fall FestWhat: Pumpkin painting, live music, and harvest fun in CarrollwoodWhen: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Where: Park at Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, TampaCost: Free admission; vendors will have items available for purchase

Carrollwood Village’s Phase II and III homeowners associations welcome the community to Fall Fest, a harvest-themed celebration in the oak-shaded park at Carrollwood Cultural Center. Families can spend the day enjoying live music from local performers, browsing artisan vendors, and sampling bites from a lineup of food trucks. Kids can paint pumpkins, bounce in inflatable houses, and play games, while pets are welcome to join the fun. As one of three community-wide events the neighborhood hosts each year, Fall Fest offers a relaxed way to soak up the season with neighbors.

Spooktacular ScienceWhat: Slime, drones, and spooky science for the whole familyWhen: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.Where: Museum of Science and Innovation, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., TampaCost: $20 nonmember child, $30 nonmember adult, $5 off each ticket for members

Tampa’s MOSI turns into a haunted lab of discovery for Spooktacular Science, a night of hands-on experiments and Halloween fun for the whole family. Guests can kick off the adventure with a spooky cosmic journey in the Saunders Planetarium, then cool off with festive liquid nitrogen ice cream and creepy candy stations. Young scientists can mix up slimy monster muck in the potions lab and pilot drones on a phantom flight, while a magician, balloon artists, and face painters add to the fun. Hair-raising demonstrations round out a frightfully educational evening.

Other Events

Tampa’s weekend packs in colorful fun and big-league excitement. Runners and walkers of all ages can splash through mountains of foam at a bubbly 5K, while the city’s hometown hockey team takes on a Western Conference opponent downtown. Football fans can also cheer on their home team as it battles a storied AFC rival.

Bubble Run – Tampa: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 8 a.m. at Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. Highway 301 N., TampaTampa Bay Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks: Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. at Benchmark International Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, TampaTampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, TampaMore To Explore Next Week

Tampa’s week ahead leans into the spooky season with a mix of creativity, mystery, and laughs. Artists can unwind with a ghostly Florida-themed painting session, while a psychic medium connects audiences with messages from beyond at a popular comedy club. Movie lovers can catch a stop-motion fright favorite under the stars by the water, and a rising stand-up comic closes out the week with an evening of big laughs.

Florida Ghost – Manic Monday!: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Painting With a Twist, 2821 S. MacDill Ave., TampaPsychic Medium Anthony Mrocka: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Side Splitters Comedy Club Tampa, 12938 N. Dale Mabry Highway, TampaMovie on the Deck: “Coraline”: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. (recurring event) at Lower Deck, 601 S. Harbour Island Blvd., Suite 110, TampaAnthony Fuentes: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Funny Bone Comedy Club Restaurant, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., C-112, Tampa