Banned Book Giveaway, Tampa Riverfest, May Marché: FL Weekend Events

TAMPA BAY, FL — Looking for something fun to do this weekend in the Tampa Bay area? There’s something for every interest – Tampa Riverfest, Kentucky Derby events, vintage and antique markets, banned book giveaways, and more.

Ten Story Challenge

Polk Pace Center for Girls is hosting the annual Ten Story Challenge fundraiser Friday, 3 to 9 p.m., at Lakeland Electric. There will be rappelers down the side of Lakeland Electric, fun activities, guest appearances, food trucks and more. Polk Pace Center for Girls is a nonprofit school that offers support to girls who have three or more risks factors.

Fiesta St. Pete

Join Park & Rec DTSP and The Avenue as they take over 1st Avenue S. in St. Pete between 3rd and 4th streets Friday, 4 to 11 p.m., for Fiesta St. Pete. There will be street tacos and other food available, multiple bars, and a live mariachi band.

Tampa Riverfest

Tampa Riverfest returns for its seventh year Friday, 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., along the Tampa Riverwalk. Riverfest is a public, two-day, free event that is held the first weekend in May each year. The festival spans the entire length of the Riverwalk including several parks and features family-friendly activities and events showcasing Tampa's cultural institutions, local musicians and restaurants. The festival includes the Taste of Riverwalk on Friday night and RiverFiesta on Saturday. There is also a full concert series of tribute bands on the main stage in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and a balloon glow at sunset on both nights.

Mayoral Inaugural Ball

The Economic Club of Tampa, in collaboration with Hillsborough Education Foundation, will host the 2023 Mayoral Inaugural Ballon Friday, 6 p.m., at the JW Marriott, 510 Water Street, Tampa. Beyond the fun and ambience of this formal black-tie event, all proceeds enable HEF to purchase state-matched Florida Prepaid College Scholarships for low-income students who are achieving academic success.

Black Light Silent Disco

3 Daughters Brewing in St. Petersburg hosts a silent disco party Friday starting at 8 p.m. Three DJs play their own music on separate channels that you can only hear through light-up headsets. You can switch back and forth between all three on your headset, and it will light up a different color based on who you're listening to.

Downtown Antique Market

Bartow’s monthly Downtown Antique Market takes place the second Saturday of the month from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. along the 300 block of East Main Street.

3rd Annual Pedal For Prevention

Pasco Alliance for Substance Addiction Prevention hosts its third annual fundraiser, Pedal for Prevention, Saturday morning at Starkey Wilderness Park, Pavilion A. All proceeds from the event go to fund substance misuse prevention programming and education within Pasco County. Start anytime between 9 and 11 a.m. and go at your own pace, any distance up to 12 miles.

May Marché

Scavengers Marketplace presents May Marché, a fun day of shopping and inspiration, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. Florida’s finest merchants, artists, and creators offer highly curated unique, vintage, hand-crafted, re-purposed, and re-imagined treasures.

Pasco County Gaming Extravaganza

The Pasco County Game Extravaganza will take place Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Land O' Lakes Recreation Complex. The event will include various gaming experiences such as video games, board games, trading card games and miniature gaming. There will also be gaming vendors, 3D printing demos, miniature painting sessions and open gaming.

Banned and Challenged Books Pop-Up Distribution

The Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater hosts a distribution of banned and challenged books Saturday, 11 a.m. Adam Byrn Tritt, high school educator and founder of Foundation 451, will bring his wide selection of free banned and challenged books to give away. Young people will be able to pick up two free books of their choosing.

Derby Party & Bluegrass Festival

3 Keys Brewing in Bradenton hosts a Kentucky Derby Party and Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Wandering Hours, Sycamore Shade and Morgan Brake will take the stage.

Love & Gelato: Famous Duets from Operas & Musicals

Opera for Earth presents the most famous and beautiful duets from the operatic and musical theater repertoire on Saturday, 2 p.m., at the First United Methodist Church of Dunedin. This concert features Jodi Karem and Nicholas Simpson, artists who have sung throughout the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and South America.

Derby at the Pier

Proceeds from Derby at the Pier, which is hosted by the 13 Ugly Men Foundation on Saturday, 3 to 9 p.m., at St. Pete Pier’s Spa Beach, will benefit the Phoenix House. The event includes live painting and art, mint juleps and high-end bourbon, cigars, a carnival rollerball derby game, food and drink for purchase, and more.

Heritage Awards

Celebrate this year’s recipients of the Sarasota County Heritage Awards Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m., at the Van Wezel.