Downtown Tampa braces for a packed weekend as Riverfest, one of the city’s largest annual events, gets underway today along the Hillsborough River.
The free festival, hosted by Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk and presented by Publix Super Markets, runs Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, with events stretching along the riverfront between Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and Water Works Park. This year marks the festival’s 10th anniversary.
Friday night festivities begin at 5 p.m. at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, featuring live music, beer tents, and food trucks. The Taste of the Riverwalk runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m., with wristbands available for restaurant samplings. Saturday’s schedule opens at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 10:30 p.m., highlighted by the 5th annual TacoFest, the Wiener Dog Derby, a water ski show, and a lantern parade along the Riverwalk beginning at 8:30 p.m.
Riverfest isn’t the only event drawing crowds this weekend. A Tampa Bay Lightning watch party is scheduled Friday evening at Water Works Park, Life Surge — a faith-based business conference — is taking place at the Tampa Convention Center both days, and the Straz Center has performances running throughout the weekend.
The City of Tampa is warning drivers to expect heavy traffic and large pedestrian crowds, with congestion potentially extending four blocks or more from Curtis Hixon Park. Officials are encouraging attendees to use alternative transportation, including the free TECO Line Streetcar, DASH service, the Pirate Water Taxi, HART buses, rideshares, or scooters. Free bike valet will also be available on Ashley Drive at Curtis Hixon Park.
Current road closures can be found at Tampa.gov/road-closures.
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