- Gasparilla Pirate Festival - late January, this near century old festival sees all manner of swashbuckling antics including a parade where a fully-rigged pirate ship 'sails' into town followed by the all day Pirate Fest Street Festival
February
- Florida State Festival - this festival normally runs for two weeks from the middle of February and is southeast Florida's largest fair. Attractions include over 86 shows and rides as well as exhibits featuring aspects of local agriculture, education and arts and crafts
March
- Gasparilla Festival of Arts - normally running for two days in the second week of the month, this festival is a showcase for the artistic works of artisans, jewelers, painters, photographers and sculptors. With literally hundreds of thousands of visitors attending, this is one of southeast Florida's largest art shows
- St. Patrick's Day Parade - mid-March, Tampa celebrates the life of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle with typical festivities. Expect lots of green clad participants on similarly colored floats accompanied by traditional Irish music
April
- MacDill AirFest - early April, this event sees the MacDill Air Force Base become host to one of America's largest airshows. Expect awesome aerial displays from both Air Force and Navy pilots
May
- Ybor City Bike Bash - the first weekend in May, this event sees literally hundreds of bike enthusiasts gathering to show off their mean machines and admire those of others. Expect lots of leather and loud engines
- Memorial Day Weekend - late May, festivities are held throughout Tampa with the downtown area being especially popular. Busch Gardens and Adventure Island also offer a theme park slant on this popular US holiday
June
- Ruskin Tomato Festival - late June, as the title suggests, this is a festival dedicated to the humble tomato with the crowning of the Ruskin Tomato Queen and the Great Tomato Cook-off being among the festival's highlights
July
- Independence Day - fourth of July celebrations in Tampa are as lively as anywhere else in the US, with events being held across the city. Expect festivities including food, drink and fireworks in all of Tampa's major parks. The Florida Aquarium hosts one of the city's biggest events
August
- No significant festivals in Tampa during August
September
- No significant festivals in Tampa during September
October
- Guavaween - late October, this event sees Halloween festivities given the Ybor treatment. Expect revelers in costume and a huge street party
- Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival - annual event which showcases a variety of international movies dealing with gay and lesbian themes
November
- Annual Tampa Cigar Heritage Festival - late November, as the title suggests this event is a celebration of Ybor and Tampa's cigar industry. Expect an abundance of cigar retailers as well as rolling displays and ethnic food and drink
December
- Annual Victorian Christmas Stroll - late December, this event gives participants the chance to experience a glimpse of Christmas past as the Henry B. Plant Museum dishes up Victorian Christmas fare
Tampa's calendar is full of small local events and restaurants, rather than big crowd and tourist pleasers. However, the city of Tampa does boast one or two large scale festivals, which draw in the crowds from neighboring towns and out of state.
