World Oddities Expo, Homebrewer Contest, Bulls Fest: FL Weekend Events

TAMPA BAY, FL — Looking for something to do this weekend? There’s something for every interest — Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, World Oddities Expo, Homebrewer Challenge, Kosher Food Festival.

Lift Every Voice New Play Festival

American Stage presentsthis new play festival at its theater in downtown St. Pete, as well as the James Museum for Western and Wildlife Art. The festival includes a week-long rehearsal and development process for each of the final playwrights and their plays, culminating in public staged readings Friday through Sunday.

Sean Chambers Red Hot Blues Festival

Damon Fowler, RJ Howson & Les Dudek, Doug Deming, JP Soars, Trev Wanvig and more take the stage Friday through Sunday at Big Top Brewing Company in Sarasota.

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts

More than 250 artists take over Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free outdoor art festival also offers live entertainment, culinary experiences, and activities for kids and families.

Bike Your City

The city of St. Petersburg is partnering with Forward Pinellas Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to noon, for an 8-mile group bike ride across the city. The ride kicks off at Childs Park Recreation & Fitness Center.

Bulls Family Fest

This free community event, which coincides with Rocky's Run 5K, takes place Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the University of South Florida in Tampa. It provides an opportunity for our community members to experience USF’s array of offerings, from educational and cultural activities to sports and entertainment.

Awakening into the Sun Festival

This free outdoor festival at St. Pete’s North Straub Park takes place Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers live music, yoga, food vendors and an indie market with more than 100 vendors.

Embracing Our Differences Grand Opening

This show combining art and prose to promote inclusion, kindness and respect makes its debut in St. Petersburg this month. The works will be on display in Poynter Park March 2-31 with the grand opening celebration taking place Saturday, noon to 2 p.m.

World Oddities Expo

This traveling oddities festival comes to the Tampa Convention Center Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., offering a peculiar paradise where weird thrives! The event features artists, vendors, performers, educators, and guest speakers to create a macabre and magical experience for all.

Iron Homebrewer Challenge Beer Festival

Homebrewers try their luck at brewing beer with rather unique and very random ingredients at this outdoor beer festival Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Liquid Garage in New Port Richey.

Cindy’s Pets Strawberry Festival

This event, which takes place Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at New Port Richey’s Sims Park, raises funds to feed the pets of seniors participating in Meals on Wheels. There will be more than 45 vendors, raffles, a kids zone, dog show, Plant City strawberries and shortcake.

Kosher Food Festival

Join Chabad of Bradenton & Lakewood Ranch Sunday, 1 p.m., for a Kosher Food Festival featuring inflatable fun, kosher crafts, Hamentaschen baking, challah making, snow cones, cotton candy and more. The festival will be selling pastrami and corned beef on rye, BBQ hot dogs, BBQ sausages, Falafel with Yoav, stuffed cabbage, potato knishes, chicken matzah ball soup, sourdough Challah, eggplant dip, babka & gourmet popcorn. Live music performance by the Klezmer Freylach Band.