!['Sunshine City Scare,' complete with signing by 'Monster High' creator, among best things to do in Tampa Bay this weekend [August 13-20]](https://www.newsbeep.com/us-fl/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/arts2-listings-shutterstock-081326-scaled-1920x1024.jpg)
Monster High dolls on a shelf in Lviv, Ukraine on Feb. 16, 2025. Credit: AS project / Shutterstock
There are only 82 days left until Halloween, and anyone freaking out over that timeline will want to be in St. Petersburg this weekend for Sunshine City Scare.
Billed as “a new breed of horror convention,” the two-day get together includes about 50 confirmed vendors, plus guests like Garrett Sander, the creator of Monster High. Sander’s dolls have paved the way for TV shows and last year’s “Monster High: The Movie.” Organizers told CL that Sander, 45, will sign dolls for free as they stage panel discussions and photo shoots related to Monster High.
Cosplay contests, lip sync competitions, and a “Halloween Hub” are all part of the festivities.
See even more of things to do around Tampa Bay between Aug. 13-20 below.
A&E
Poetry At The Dalí Every second Thursday. 6 p.m. No cover. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg
Art After Dark: New African Masquerades Preview Party Thursday, Aug. 13. 5-8 p.m. Museum admission $12-$24. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations On view beginning Aug. 15. Museum admission $12-$24. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
Materiality Art Exhibition Through Sunday, Aug. 16. No cover. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin. dfac.org
Oh, Cuore Mia Through Thursday, Sept. 17. No cover. Tempus Projects, Ybor City
Through Their Lens: A Journey of Self Exploration On view through Sept. 20. Free with admission ($12 general). Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, Ybor City. fmopa.org
DRV Gallery: Five On view beginning Oct. 2. DRV Gallery, Gulfport. drvgallery.com
Dalí In America Through Sunday, Oct. 18. 10 a.m. $32 & up. Dali Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
Double Play Friday, Aug. 14. 5 p.m. No cover. 1983, Tampa
Curator Tour with Dr. Amanda M. Maples: New African Masquerades Saturday, Aug. 15. 9 a.m. $25 & up. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
Dr. Stanton Thomas & Dr. Amanda M. Maples (In conversation) Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
Sunshine City Scare Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 15-16. 10 a.m. & 11 a.m. $25. Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront, St. Petersburg. floridacomiccons.com
Empowered Through Education Takeover Sunday, Aug. 16. 10 a.m. No cover. Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, St. Petersburg. mzprogressive.org
Family Day Sunday, Aug. 16. 12 p.m. No cover. Yuengling Draft Haus and Kitchen, Tampa. yuenglingdhk.com
German-Speaking Tour with Anita Birrer Sunday, Aug. 16. 2 p.m. No cover for members; included with admission for everyone else. Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg. mfastpete.org
Hippie Fest Sunday, Aug. 16. 2 p.m. No cover. Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs. exploretarponsprings.com
CrafterSpace Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. No cover. Tarpon Springs Public Library, Tarpon Springs
Dance Social with Pankaj Gupta Tuesday, Aug. 18. 5:30 p.m. $15 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com
Surreal Summer Nights Thursday, Aug. 20. 5 p.m. No cover with admission. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
Zubrick Magic Fridays and weekends. 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $50 & up. Zubrick Magic Theatre, St. Petersburg
Bookish
Ales & Tales Book Club Thursday, Aug. 13. 6 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org
Portkey Books Romantasy Book Club: “The Knight And The Moth” by Rachel Gillig Thursday, Aug. 13. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Portkey Books, Safety Harbor. portkeybooks.com
Charlie Wall’s Tampa: An Evening with Paul Wilborn & Scott Deitche Friday, Aug. 14. 6 p.m. $12.51 & up. Centro Asturiano de Tampa, Ybor City
James Q. Leach (‘Tales From Country Acres: Heirs of the Dirt’ book signing) Friday, Aug. 14. 6 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Ersula’s History Shop, Tampa
Book Discussion: ‘The Wildes’ by Louis Bayard Saturday, Aug. 15. 3 p.m. No cover with registration. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa. ersulashistoryshop.com
Bookstore Romance Day (Book signings, tote bag painting, blind date with a book) Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover with RSVP. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Bookstore Romance Day Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com
Toddler Takeover w/children’s author Davon Miller Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. No cover with admission. Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa. glazermuseum.org
Article Club: Tampa Bay Times journalist Lauren Peace Sunday, Aug. 16. 5 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Reading Rainbros Book Club: ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor E. Frankl Sunday, Aug. 16. 10 a.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Book Discussion: ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt Monday, Aug. 17. 11 a.m. No cover with registration. Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, Tampa
Dungeon Crawler Carl Book Club: ‘The Gate of the Feral Gods’ Monday, Aug. 17. 6:30 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor. portkeybooks.com
Book Club: Isola Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $39.23. The Library, St. Petersburg. thelibrarystpete.com
A Dead Thing Like Me with E. G. Young Tuesday, Aug. 18. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
Book Club: Mystery Thriller Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6:30 p.m. $10 & up. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Book Foiling Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $28. The Gilded Page, Tarpon Springs. thegildedpagebookstore.com
Author-sponsored book club: “Lost and Found” by Tarah DeWitt Wednesday, Aug. 19. 6 p.m. $21. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Alysia Li Ying Sawchyn: I Have This Thing For Flowers Wednesday, Aug. 19. 7 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
Storytelling Amateur Hour in collaboration with Purpose-Driven Professionals Wednesday, Aug. 19. 6 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Banned Books Club Wednesday, Aug. 19. 4:30 p.m. No cover. Barbara S. Ponce Public Library, Pinellas Park
Writer’s Happy Hour Tuesdays. 4 p.m. No cover. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Comedy
Majah Hype Thursday, Aug. 13. 7 p.m. $32. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Sam Tallent Thursday, Aug. 13. 8 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
If You Know What I Mean (Improv comedy & musical show) Friday, Aug. 14. 7 p.m. $13.39 & up. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater
Michael Yo Multiple times Friday-Saturday, Aug. 14-15. $25 & up. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Robby Slowik Saturday, Aug. 15. 6 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
Stand-Up Style Comedy Showcase feat. Kortney Shane Williams w/Quinton Greene/Jared Thomas Saturday, Aug. 15. 8 p.m. $18.12. The Commodore, Ybor City
404blac Sunday, Aug. 16. 7 p.m. $25 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
BYOB Standup Comedy Show Thursday, Aug. 20. 7:30 p.m. $13.39 & up. Ultra Mundane, St. Petersburg
Steve Simeone Thursday, Aug. 20. 7:30 p.m. $20 & up. Side Splitters Comedy Club, Tampa
The Strut Thursday, Aug. 20 6:30 p.m. $58. Funny Bone Comedy Club, Tampa
Comedy Night Fridays. 8 p.m. $19.10. R2 Pub, New Port Richey
Dirty Late Night Comedy Fridays. 10 p.m. $13.45 & up. Gimmick Comedy Club, Ybor City
Friday Comedy Open Mic Fridays. 8 p.m. $6.57 & up. Gimmick Comedy Club, Ybor City
Dick Ruse Every fourth Friday. 7:30 p.m. $11. Beech Kombucha, St. Petersburg
New Material Night Wednesdays through Oct. 28. 8 p.m. $8. Gimmick Comedy Club, Ybor City
Learn
The Art of Candle Making Friday, Aug. 14. 12 p.m. $55 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com
Chinese Brush Painting Workshop with Jo-An Thomas Saturday, Aug. 15. 10:15 a.m. $60. Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg. moreanartscenter.org
Florida Friendly Landscaping: Rainwater Harvesting Saturday, Aug. 15. 11 a.m. Sold out. Bloomingdale Regional Public Library, Valrico
Gopher Tortoise Education Program Saturday, Aug. 15. 3:30 p.m. No cover. Seminole Heights Branch Library, Seminole Heights. hcplc.org
Meet the Bird Rescue Crew Saturday, Aug. 15. 6 p.m. No cover. Brenda McMahon Gallery, Gulfport. brendamcmahongallery.com
Short and Sweet Poetry Forms Workshop Saturday, Aug. 15. 1 p.m. $33.85. Kerouac House, St. Petersburg. stpetekerouachouse.com
August Article Club: Mark Katches Sunday, Aug. 16. 5 p.m. No cover with RSVP. Book + Bottle, St. Petersburg. bookandbottlestpete.com
Introduction to Genealogy Monday, Aug. 17. 6 p.m. No cover with registration. New Tampa Regional Library, Tampa
Book Discussion: ‘The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store’ by James McBride Tuesday, Aug. 18. 1 p.m. No cover. Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, Tampa
CrafterSpace Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. No cover. Tarpon Springs Public Library, Tarpon Springs. tarponlibrary.org
Workshop: Surreal Pet Portrait Painting Tuesday, Aug. 18. 6 p.m. $50 & up. Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg. thedali.org
MiRAjO Vision Board Workshop Wednesday, Aug. 19. 6 p.m. $30. GÜD Essence, Clearwater
Book Discussion: ‘Atmosphere’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid Thursday, Aug. 20. 4 p.m. No cover with registration. Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library, Tampa
Book Discussion: ‘The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau’ by Kristin Harmel Thursday, Aug. 20. 11 a.m. No cover. Seffner-Mango Branch Library, Seffner
Medicare 101 Thursday, Aug. 20. 1 p.m. No cover. East Lake Community Library, Palm Harbor. eastlakelibrary.org
Paint and Sip Night Done Right Thursday, Aug. 20. 7 p.m. $43.99. Aloft by Marriott, Tampa. classpop.com
Writing For The Screen: The Short Screenplay Mondays between Aug. 3-Aug. 31. 7 p.m. $250. The Studio@620, St. Petersburg
Literacy Conversation Class Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org
Cigar City: Bringing Industry to Tampa Thursdays through Dec. 31. 2 p.m. $18.95. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Cafe con Tampa Fridays, 8 a.m. No cover. The Portico, Tampa
Every Map Tells a Story Fridays through Sept. 25. 2 p.m. No cover. Tampa Bay History Center, Tampa. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Chinsegut Hill House Tour Multiple times Saturdays and Sundays. $10. Chinsegut Hill Historic Site, Brooksville. tampabayhistorycenter.org
Dino Quest Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 9. 10 a.m. $11. DK Farms & Gardens, Largo. dkfarmsandgardens.com
Markets & retail
813 Day Market Thursday, Aug. 13. 6 p.m. No cover. M. Bird, Tampa. mbirdtampa.com
Card Syndicate Trade Show Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 15-16. 10 a.m. $10 & up. Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, Tampa. syndicatetradeshow.com
Cyber Goth Night Market Saturday, Aug. 15. 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation. Deviant Libation, Tampa
Community Quarter Auction and Shopping Expo Sunday, Aug. 16. 1 p.m. No cover. Beacon Square Civic Association, Holiday
Quarter Auction Sunday, Aug. 16. 1 p.m. No cover. Beacon Square Civic Association, Holiday
Dunedin Friday & Saturday Markets Fridays & Saturdays. 9 a.m. No cover. Pioneer Park, Dunedin
The Market at Water Street Every third Sunday. 10 a.m. No cover. Water Street, Tampa
St. Pete Sunday Market Every third Sunday. 11 a.m. No cover. University of South Florida, St. Petersburg
Sunday Makers Market Every third Sunday through September 20. 12 p.m. No cover. Gulf View Square Mall, Port Richey. doggiecakes.net
Drag Bingo Every first and third Wednesday. 9 p.m. No cover. American Legion Seminole Post 111, Tampa
Sports
Monster Jam Freestyle Mania Multiple times Friday-Sunday, Aug. 14-16. $31.50 & up. Benchmark International Arena, Tampa
Tampa Tarpons vs. Daytona Tortugas Multiple times Tuesday-Saturday, Aug. 18-22. $2.25 & up. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Theater
The Last Unicorn (World premiere play adaptation) Multiple times and dates Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 13-23. $30. The Fringe Theatre, Ybor City. tampafringe.org
The Gods of Comedy Fridays and weekends from Aug. 14-30. 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sundays. $23 & up. Carrollwood Players Theatre, Tampa. carrollwoodplayers.org
Jobsite Theater: Penelope Select times and dates from Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Sept. 6. $71.40 & up. Shimberg Playhouse at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
Travel & leisure
813 Day Bash Thursday, Aug. 13. 11:30 a.m. No cover. Unlock Tampa Bay Visitors Center, Tampa
Tantra Speed Date St. Petersburg Sunday, Aug. 16. 4 p.m. $43 & up. The Temple at Revo Wellness, St. Petersburg. tantrany.com
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This article appears in Aug. 06-12, 2026.
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