It’s a weekend of love, good causes, new theater, great music, festivals, and so much more! Check out these ‘alternative’ ideas for Valentine’s Day or enjoy one of the cool festivals that will make your Tampa Bay weekend full of fun, food, and spirits. More icons drop in for top concert experiences, and so much of your good time will be for a good cause – Win/Win! #RegistryTampaBay.com knows how to show you the best time!
An ‘Alternative’ Valentine’s Day
There are many wonderful places to enjoy a traditional romantic Valentine’s dinner, but here are a few ‘alternative’ ways to spend
the day(s) that we celebrate LOVE. Think outside the box Enjoy!
11th Annual Valent’ween LOVECRAFT
Art Lofts, DTSP
Let’s face it, love can be scary, so a mash-up of Valentines and Halloween seems an appropriate way to celebrate. What is that emerging from the depths? Valent’ween is back for its 11th annual manifestation. This year’s lens is the weird fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. Connect to your inner Cthulhu, or the Eldritch deity of your choice, and join us for another wonderful time! Our favorite dancing witches, Darjuxena’s Darksplay Bats & Brews Dance Show, will be back again, along with a chocolatier selling hand crafted edible roses! Tarot card love readings are also available and limited to first come, first served. Space is limited, so hurry!
Friday, February 13th (New Date) @5pm – 9pm
Find more information HERE.
Axes and O’s Valentines Day Axe Throwing Event
Hatchet Hangout Axe Throwing, Clearwater
Are you looking for something different this V Day? Nothing says ‘I Love You’ like throwing sharp objects together. What better way to show your love than to come throw axes as a couple? Cupid isn’t the only one hitting his target this Valentines. This year, check out several Valentine Specials that will be a perfect gift for your special someone. BOOKING PRICE INCLUDES: – Bottle of Bubbly – Axe Throwing for TWO – Personal Lane – a Box of Chocolates and Red Rose.
Saturday, February 14th @11am – 11pm (more dates available)
Find more information HERE.
Valentine’s Couples Thai Massage Workshop
Soley Massage, St. Pete
Join Thai Massage therapist Rissa Wray for an fun and unique Valentine’s workshop event for couples where you will learn adaptable and interactive massage and stretching techniques from the Thai tradition. There will be time taken time to practice each technique with your partner – both giving and receiving. After class is finished, Rissa will send participants video recap lessons of what are covered in class so you don’t have to wrack your brain trying to remember everything!
Be sure to wear comfortable clothing, arrive a little early to get settled, and leave your yoga mat at home. How romantic!
Saturday, February 15th @4pm – 6pm
Find RSVP and more information HERE.
For a Good Cause: Paws-n-Kisses Kick-Off Event
Dog Bar, St. Pete
Here’s a great way to celebrate our love for our fur babies and help a good cause at the same time. Pinellas Paws for Prevention / American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Tampa Bay Chapter and Dog Bar St. Pete join forces to host a kick-off event that will feature:
Dog Kissing Booth – Get Photos at the kissing booth with your pup for a $10 Donation
Raffle A Raffle Prize, Event t-shirt (pick up in advance of the Pinellas Paws for Prevention Event), Play time for your dog, and Food truck
Saturday, February 15th @5pm -8pm
Find more information HERE.
Valentine’s Vows & Our Hospitality (1923) Screening
Historic Tampa Theatre, Tampa
If Tampa’s majestic movie palace is part of your love story – or if you would like it to be – you are invited to spend a romantic evening under the stars with Valentine’s Vows and a classic romantic comedy at Tampa Theatre on Friday, February 14!
At 7:00pm: The Right Reverend John Bell (also known as Tampa Theatre President & CEO John Bell, armed with an internet-official certificate of ordination) will invite married couples to participate in an en masse renewal of their wedding vows.
At 7:30pm: After the nuptials, the silent comedy Our Hospitality provides the perfect excuse to sneak an arm around your date. Buster Keaton stars in this 1923 classic.
Friday, February 14th @7pm – 9pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Valentine’s Night Out – Salsa & Bachata Couples Dancing
Iroko Dance Academy, Tampa
Now here’s an out of the box and sexy Valentine’s idea – Latin dances for 2! Bring your partner, friend, or anyone who loves to dance. No experience is necessary, and you receive a free glass of wine with each lesson. You can buy Salsa, Bachata, or both. A Social Hour will also be part of the festivities. Try something new and spread the love across the dance floor.
Friday, February 14th @7pm & 8pm (2 classes)
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Science After Dark – The Science of Attraction
MOSI, Tampa
Science After Dark, the ultimate adults-only event that brings together science, entertainment, and socializing in one unforgettable evening. Enjoy a relaxing night out while exploring the wonders of science in a fun and engaging environment. Sip on a curated selection of beer and wine samples and indulge in a variety of delicious appetizers throughout the event. Then, head over to the Saunders Planetarium to experience immersive planetarium shows that take you on a journey through the cosmos. There are a series of ‘themed’ experiments to try about a true Valentine’s subject – attraction.
This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate your ‘laws of attraction,’ and learn something at the same time!
Friday, February 14th @8pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
New Theater Thursday
Road Show
freeFall Theatre, St. Pete
From the writing team that brought us Assassins and Pacific Overtures – Road Show is based on the true story of the Mizner Brothers. From the Alaskan Gold Rush in the 1890s to the Florida real estate boom in the 1920s, Road Show is the story of men and women in late nineteenth century America, willing to take risks to grab their piece of the American Dream. Spanning 40 years, Addison and Wilson Mizner are constantly looking for the next way to strike it rich. This quest turns into a test of morality and judgment for the two brothers that will change their lives in unexpected ways.
Opens Friday, February 14th
Find tickets, performance times, and more information HERE.
Opening: Man of La Mancha
Francis Wilson Playhouse, Clearwater
Tilting at windmills, one of literatures most enduring dreamers come alive on stage at the Francis Wilson Playhouse. Tony Award winning Best Musical based on the classic Cervantes novel. Join Don Quixote, Sancho Panza and Aldonza on this epic quest. Score by Mitch Leigh & Joe Darion including The Impossible Dream.
Opens Thursday, February 13th through Sunday, March 2nd
Find tickets, performance times, and more information HERE.
The Complete History of America (Abridged)
TheatreFor, Clearwater
From Washington to Watergate, yea verily from the Bering Straits to Baghdad, from New World to New World Order – The Complete History of America (abridged) is a rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History, reminding us that it’s not the length of your history that matters – it’s what you’ve done with it!
Opens Thursday, February 13th through Sunday, February 23rd
Find tickets, performance times, and more information HERE.
**Mini Review**
Tales by Twilight: Don’t Feed the Animals Presented by American Stage
Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, St. Pete
American Stage’s Beyond the Stage initiative collaborates with non-traditional venues to make compelling live storytelling accessible to all. Part of this initiative is the Tales by Twilight Series in partnership with Boyd Hill Nature Preserve. It’s a truly original way to experience live theater and to introduce it to kids and theater curious friends – all while enjoying and moving through the natural world at this beautiful South St. Pete landmark. The current offering is an original play written just for the park by actor, playwright, and Associate Artistic Director Anthony Gervais.
Don’t Feed the Animals is, in a word, charming. Larry the Racoon (Jonathan O’Brien) beckons the hikers (you) and park rangers, the bubbly Lila (Mackenzie Aaryn) and the skeptical, rule following Calvin (Chad Jacobs), to help him find his friend, a rare Peregrine Raptor.
After getting over the fact that Larry can talk, everyone sets off through the winding trails of the preserve from twilight to after dark to help find Larry’s friend. It’s literally a traveling show as the audience moves through approximately 1 mile of preserve paths with provided red flashlights in hand. Along the way, we meet a number of Larry’s friends who join in the hike and the search (oh, and they can talk too). All of the delightful animal characters represent species that actually exist in the preserve – turtles, coyote, spider, racoon, and more. The plot is sweet, but not too complicated, so that hikers can also focus on their trail footing and overall woodsy experience. During the show, the hikers break into two groups, each with a ‘ranger,’ and experience different encounters with the animals. Everyone comes together again near the end of the hike for the finale. (No spoilers) It’s a nice little extra. The whole experience takes approximately one hour.
Ok, one partial spoiler – A favorite bit for me was the coyote’s (played by Chris Kinney), appearance and his lovely way of rounding out the hike and the story. Director Dylan Barlowe orchestrates a heart-warming experience that all can enjoy. Don’t forget the bug spray and your own water bottle. And remember…Don’t Feed the Animals.
*Path is wheelchair accessible.
Runs through February 23rd – Thursday through Saturday Evenings @6pm & 8pm/Sundays @6pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Friday
Cigar City Tattoo Fest
Cuban Club, Ybor City
Over 100 of the best tattooers from around the globe have been hand selected for this exclusive event. Many artists will be taking walk up clients, so don’t be shy! With thousands of designs to choose from, there is something for everyone! This is a lineup you won’t want to miss. Immerse yourself in the best tattoo experience Tampa has to offer. Over the course of the 3-day event, there will be live bands, a punk rock flea market, food trucks, and much more. Come get your ink (literally) on in Ybor City this weekend!
Friday, February 14th through Sunday, February 16th
Find more information HERE.
Saturday
For a Good Cause: Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival
Woodson African American Museum, St. Pete
Come to a community celebration! President’s Day Weekend 2025, this annual event brings together thousands of attendees to enjoy a unique blend of entertainment, education, and empowerment. Festival Highlights include Collard Green Cook-Off, Inkclusive Pages Book Fair, Intergenerational Agriculture Zone, Youth Entrepreneur Row, Family Zone, Galleria of Greens, and more.
This festival is more than an event, it’s a movement to champion health equity and celebrate cultural heritage. Don’t miss the 2025 Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival, where health, culture, and greens collide!
Saturday, February 15th @9am – 4pm
Find more information HERE.
For a Good Cause: 60th Annual Art Harvest
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Dunedin,
For 60 years, this much anticipated art show that could has grown exponentially – and all for a good cause. Art Harvest has evolved into a highly respected juried show of high-quality art with balanced media involving over 200 artists. This community tradition provides the funding for the work that The Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin does each year. The Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin is currently working to bring awareness and solutions to chronic hunger and poverty in Northern Pinellas County.
Saturday & Sunday, February 15th & 16th @10am – 5pm
Find more information HERE.
Beer, Wine & Spirits Fest
Williams Park, DTSP
It’s always a pleasant weekend day hanging out in Williams Park in the heart of downtown St. Pete. Add beer, wine, food, and other lovely spirits from around the world, and you have the makings of a fantastic weekend day. There will also be live entertainment in the famous bandshell, and interactive games. Gather your gang and head to DTSP for a fest to remember.
Saturday, February 15th @1pm – 4:30pm
Find more information HERE.
**Registry Spotlight Event**
This is a brand new, multi-genre experience that just sounds very unique and worth checking out, so we’re shining a spotlight on
The Aluminum Show for its innovation!
The Aluminum Show
Central Park Performing Art Center, Largo
This new and unique show brings the material, the music and artists together on stage in a magical, mystery-filled creation combining visual theater, dance, and humor into an exciting, multi-sensory experience, the likes of which audiences have never before seen. This is the story of one man’s incredible journey to a parallel universe- a futuristic planet made entirely of aluminum. Aluminum pipes come to life right before the audience’s very eyes, transforming into imaginary, mysterious, and playful characters. The show is suitable for all ages and languages.
Saturday, February 15th @2pm & 6pm (2 shows)
Find tickets and more information HERE.
**Concert Corner**
Andrea Bocelli – In Concert for Valentine’s Day
Amalie Arena, Tampa
Thursday, February 13th @8pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Willie Nelson w/ Special Guest Randall King
BayCare Sound, Clearwater
Saturday, February 15th @7:30pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Chris Botti
Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Saturday, February 15th @8pm
Find tickets and more information HERE.
Shen Yun: China Before Communism
The Mahaffey, DTSP
Sunday, February 16th through Wednesday, February 19th
Find tickets, performance times, and more information HERE.
Ongoing:
Don’t forget about these ongoing events featured in previous Top 10s:
Florida State Fair
Twilight Tales: Don’t Feed the Animals @Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
The People Downstairs @Stageworks
Love, or Best Offer @Early Bird Dinner Theater
Have a great Top 10 weekend!
Cindy
Don’t forget to send your events to: cstovall5 @gmail.com
